Jerome Williams

One of the great things about social media is how ordinary people can interact with those they may never get to run across in real life, such as celebrities and athletes. However, a total lack of a filter makes many regret being so open and available.

Angels pitcher Jerome Williams got a hateful, ugly tweet following his last start on Tuesday, when he allowed five runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings in a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. Williams retweeted the message, something I won't do. But here is the link to his tweet. Williams added "let's let this guy know its [sic] never ok to use hateful words."

The account that sent the offending tweet has since been deleted. However, one of Williams' followers found a name and phone number for the person who had registered that Twitter account. Williams retweeted that, which prompted this interaction:
The number was not in service, when CBSSports.com tried to call it for comment.

Williams was asked about the incident before Wednesday's game, and said it hurt.

"It's shocking," he told the Orange County Register. "I thought those days were over with, and when that was said it kind of bothered me. … It hurts me to have people say that to me, but when I grew up and I kind of figured out what was going on, I kind of let it go. Let it go and blow it off and keep on going with my life."

His teammate, LaTroy Hawkins also chimed in on Twitter.
Williams noted that growing up in Hawaii, he was one of very few African-Americans in his school and he was often teased.

"When I was younger I dealt with that in a different way than how I deal with it now," he told the OCR. "Back in the day, I'd lash out and try to hurt somebody. My dad (Glen Williams Sr.) instilled in me, he said, 'Don't even worry about it. Those type of words will come, especially with the color of your skin, especially when you're in Hawaii.'

"He dealt with it when he was in Hawaii. I try and blow it off, but in the back of my mind it gets to me."

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