Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Sports stars often get perks in their respective cities that the average fan may not receive, but on some occasions, it doesn't always pay to be a professional athlete.

In fact, as Philadelphia 76ers rookie T.J. McConnell learned this year, it can actually cost him.

Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had an interesting feature on McConnell's rookie season Wednesday. Right away, White gets your attention with a terrific anecdote:

T.J. McConnell had just finished a recent game with the Philadelphia 76ers when he and his father, a few family members and some friends decided to visit an establishment within walking distance of Wells Fargo Center. T.J. was first to the door when a worker announced there was a $10 cover charge, but free admittance with a 76ers ticket stub. “He played,” said Tim McConnell, pointing at his son. The worker still wanted $10. “No, you don’t understand. He played in the game,” Tim McConnell tried to reason. No matter. It was $10.

McConnell is on an NBA contract, so the 24-year-old can obviously afford a $10 cover charge. That's not the point, though.

It's just crazy to think that a professional athlete wasn't able to get in for free like some 76ers fans were able to because they had ticket stubs—and all because he was playing in the game.

If you put it in perspective, fans probably paid more than $10 (insert joke about how the 76ers should be paying fans to come to their games) to attend the contest. Assuming that's the case, McConnell actually made out better than most fans. But again, this is a matter of principle.

Life is all about learning from past experiences. Maybe anytime McConnell goes out in Philadelphia next season, he will ask the team if he can get a ticket stub.

[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, h/t The 700 Level]