WONDERS NEVER CEASE: Meet Banana-Throwing Fan

A San Francisco Giants fan stepped forward on Monday, claiming responsibility for tossing a banana on the field Sunday and arousing the anger of Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones.

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The fan-identified by the San Jose Mercury News as Alexander Poulides – says the incident wasn’t racially motivated as most, including Big League Stew, interpreted. Tossing bananas at black players isn’t something we see often in America, but it’s a well-known sign of racism at European soccer matches.

But Poulides tells the Merc’s Daniel Brown it was a frustrated toss by a frustrated Giants fan upset by a season that gets more frustrating by the game for the defending world champs. According to the story, Poulides discovered on Monday morning that his banana toss had become a big deal and “his heart sank.”

 

“Oh, my god,” Poulides said. “I threw a banana on my way out.”

Poulides, 42, said he grabbed a banana off a catering cart and hurled it toward the field in disgust at the Giants near the end of a 10-2 loss at AT&T Park on Sunday. The banana apparently sailed toward Jones, who tweeted about the incident after the game.

Above all, Poulides stressed repeatedly that the incident was not a racially motivated, as some had speculated. He was upset at the Giants, not Jones.

“I’m embarrassed and shocked by the outcome,” the Northern California resident said. “In hindsight, I wish I didn’t do it and I apologize. I’m very sorry.”