[MJHMarc]

I just wanted to let you all know about an experience I had with Jim Thome, last year.

It was a simple regular season game at Shea Stadium between the Mets and the Phillies. Before the game, the security let us down to the lower level to get some autographs and annoy the opposing team. As I went over to the Phillies dug-out, Jim Thome popped out. I was shocked, because I was a huge Jim Thome fan. However, my friend convinced me to wear my Piazza jersey instead of my Thome jersey because he wanted us to leave the stadium in good health. In other words, he was afraid a bunch of Mets fans would topple us because we were the only Phillie fans in the crowd. But I doubt that.

Anyway, I asked Jim Thome if he could sign a piece of paper I pulled out of my pocket. I handed him the pen and the paper, as I waited for him to scribble his name. He looked up at me, and handed me back the paper. I was astonished because I was getting rejected for no reason. He responded, "I don't sign for Mets' fans!".

That was truly an experience of ultimate prejudice from such an All-Star slugger. I was shocked that one of my favorite players would reject me just because of the team I rooted for. For he did not know that I was one of the only Thome fans in the crowd, excluding the peanut guy.

As it all played out, I ended up "booing" him throughout the game. I even went over to the Phillies dug-out and started banging on it, because I was so frustrated with Thome's response. What is baseball all about anyway, the players or the fans?

The fans pay the money so that the player get the money. It is a chain of cash!