Local: THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!
I … I … I …
I am at a loss for words:
From a press release:
In honor of our “home run hero†Jim Thome, Mayor Jim Ardis and the Peoria City Council are declaring the City of Peoria “Thome Town.†This designation will be in place during the playoffs to recognize our home grown son and his many accomplishments.
Jim has hit 541 home runs and it was his home run against the Minnesota Twins that helped to clinch the American League Central Division crown, and secure the White Sox a spot in the playoffs.
Jim Thome and his wife Andrea have been true All-Stars in Peoria and other communities, and they are greatly respected for their generous charitable endeavors such as the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Easter Seals, the United Way, Chicago Children’s Home + Aid, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, just to name a few.
This honorary designation recognizes Jim Thome not only for his big swing, but for his big heart. A resolution giving Peoria the honorary designation of “Thome Town†will be passed by the Peoria City Council at their October 14, 2008 meeting.
What gives these people the right to rename my city after a member of the stinking Chicago Black, excuse me, WHITE Sox?
The White Sox are one of only two major leage baseball teams in Illinois, and they are the third most popular team in the state. That sort of says it all.
I blame this on the fact that there are so many stinking Cardinals fans on the Peoria City Council. Most of them are fair-weather fans anyway, so sucking up to the White Sox now that they are in the playoffs is sort of typical for them.
Folks, I call upon all Chicago Cubs fans to loudly protest this outrage. And I call upon all Cubs fans on the Peoria City Council to vote NO.
October 1st, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I think you should have to rename your blog the “Thome Town Pundit” during the playoffs. Ha ha ha!!!
October 1st, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Do it!
October 1st, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I thought Jim Thome was from East Peoria, but don’t worry, this designation will only last three or four games.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I thought he was from Bartonville. He went to Limestone & ICC.
October 1st, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I bet Gary Sandberg will want the White Sox or Thorne to reimburse the city for cost of this redesignation. I bet he can find an old ordinance that says city funds cannot be spent favoring one team over another. That is unless he is a White Sox fan
October 1st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
ORACLE: LOL!
GO CUBS!!!!!!
October 1st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I was surprised to see Peoria jump on the Thome bandwagon. I was visiting Peoria from Galesburg over the weekend, and saw a sign that said Peoria, hometown of Jim Thome. I always thought there was a clear distinction he was from Bartonville?
October 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Thome grew up in the northeast part of Limestone Township, the area south of Laramie Street that appears to be (but isn’t) part of the south side of Peoria.
I guess he is a South-sider by birth…
October 1st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Real men wear black. Here is a real horse laugh for Cub fans – great game tonight – Ha Ha Ha!!!
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Billy: Wow, I had no idea there were still such bitter Cubs fans alive… I thought most of them had died-off in the past 100 years.
While the White Sox MAY be the 3rd most MLB popular team in the state, they ARE the MOST successful MLB team in the state (i.e. White Sox = 2 World Series titles in past 99 years; meanwhile, Cubs = 0 -zip, zilch, nada- World Series titles in past 99 years).
And don’t even get me started on our nearby neighbors just across the big river… the most successful team in National League history (10 World Series titles in 80 years).
As for “Thome Town”, he’s a local hero -NOT from East Peoria, either- Jim Thome is the greatest baseball player to ever have lived & played in Peoria, at any level (of course, in another 10 years, he’ll be eclipsed by the man who is currently becoming THE greatest baseball player OF ALL TIME – who spent one glorius Summer playing ball for the Chiefs: Mr A J Pujols. So why not honor a local boy who made good? Thome gives back to his community, and deserves the recognition!
In addition, neither Thome nor Pujols have ever been associated with the steroids scandal – that would not “play in Peoria”… ooopps! I forgot about former CUBs player, Rafeal Palmerio, who played for the Chiefs, then many years with the Cubs — remember that great ex-Cub/ex-Chief sitting before Congress and waiving his finger: “I have NEVER taken steriods”.
Oh you poor, bitter, misguided Cubs’ fans. Have you so quickly forgotten that just 3 years ago, the White SOX went 11-1 in the play-offs – including a World Series sweep?!
Or, just two years ago, when the most successful NL team ever won their 10th World Series??
Why do you torture yourselves into thinking (every year) that “this year” finally belongs to the Cubs?? Maybe it’s all those great old videos of the Cubs last World Series win? Or, is it the great radio recordings of their last World Series title??
Whoops! Never mind… there was NO video or even radio at the time the Cubs last won the WS.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
This sort of reminds me of how people in Peoria used to call Mudvayne “Pekin trash” and say their music was total crap and their fans were inbred trailer dwellers, but as soon as they went big, Peoria radio was super-quick to claim them as “Peoria’s Native Sons” and say how much everyone in the Peoria music community supported them and how everyone just knew they would be huge someday.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
I will have to say, MM has a real point. There are plenty of people who thought that Richard Pryor was lewd and crude, just like Sam Kennison, just to name a few, but now they are revered as “true Peorians.” I’m not even a baseball fan, but I think we should be proud that one of our Peoria natives is in the playoffs, no matter what team he plays for. I think if Thome had been on the Red Sox or any other team besides the major 3 you refer to, that this discussion would not have happened.
Cubs fans should just be happy with getting into the series instead of trying to bring down everyone else. You need the energy to get through the series, as was told by last night’s events.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
Funny thing is Jim Thome grew up a big time Cubs fan. And really why be bitter about the Sox? How are they even a rival to the Cubs? They play a few meaningless games a year and that is only a recent thing. So I don’t see a reason to hate them like the Cards.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Talk to anyone who grew up in Chicago, and they can explain it to you.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I love Jim Thome, I don’t care who he plays for. Every time that man comes into town, often unannounced, he stops by the Children’s Hospital and pays those kids visit. What other Peoria celebrity does or did that?
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Hear, hear, Swede.
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Swede – indeed, that is a fabulous thing he does! And given his reputation vs. those of Pryor or Kinnison (not that they don’t deserve some honor) Thome is definitely a great role model and Peoria should be proud to honor him!
slightly off topic – and funny – on Mike & Mike (ESPN) this morning – they talked to Obama. (McCain was on a few weeks ago). Anyway, they asked him if he would be watching the debate tonight OR the White Sox game (Obama is a huge Sox fan) – and he said “I decline to answer that question on the basis that my running mate may be listening.” or something like that!
Hope that doesn’t kill any votes for Obama among you Cubs fans.