The Giants fan who chucked a banana near Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones during a game in San Francisco this weekend said he was shocked to learn he was at the height of the controversy.
Alexander Poulides, 42, insisted to the San Jose Mercury News that he’s embarrassed and shocked, and in no way meant the banana as a racial attack.
Mr. Poulides said he was oblivious of the uproar until Monday morning when he turned on the TV, only to hear of an “unidentified Giants fan” who threw a banana at Jones, who is black.
“Oh, my God,’’ Mr. Poulides said. “I threw a banana on my way out.”
He immediately called the newspaper to confess.
“I’m embarrassed and shocked by the outcome,’’ he said. “In hindsight, I wish I didn’t do it and I apologize. I’m very sorry.”
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Mr. Poulides said he grabbed the banana from a catering cart, and then tossed it on the field out of frustration for his team doing so poorly.
An angry Adam Jones took to Twitter on Sunday after the incident.
“I want to thank whatever [expletive] threw that banana towards my direction in CF in the last inning. Way to show ur class u jackass,” he said to his 131,000 followers, gaining almost 4,000 retweets.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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