PHILADELPHIA -- The setup was plausible. A news conference announcing that right-hander Tommy Greene, who pitched a no-hitter for the franchise in 1991, was retiring as a Phillie.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jamil Ali had no way of knowing it was an elaborate hoax.
All the soldier -- who has served 19 years in the military, including deployments in the Middle East -- knew was that he had been offered a tour of Citizens Bank Park on Friday. When he entered the Media Room, sure enough, Greene was at the podium talking about his favorite Phillies memories.