Robert Refsynder (Harry How/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE (WLTX) - The two games between USC and Arizona in The College World Series were marked by good sportsmanship and play. But some apparent remarks by people toward an Arizona player--and his repsonse to them--briefly caused a stir on Twitter in the hours after the game.
Arizona Junior Robert Refsynder said early Tuesday through his Twitter account that some fans had made racially insensitive remarks toward him during the games. (Refsynder is Asian) By his remarks, it seems that the fans in question were in support of the Gamecocks, leading him to lash out at the home state of USC.
"I will never live in South Carolina because they can't accept Asians playing baseball," Refsynder tweeted.
Refsynder doesn't say precisely what was said in the comments to him, but offered that the heckling included threats.
"When people make death threats to my family and myself for being a certain color or race...caused some animosity," he said in one tweet.
Later, some USC fans took to Twitter to explain that most Carolina fans don't share the opinions of the people that had made those remarks. Refsynder agreed, and ultimately deleted the "I will never live in South Carolina" tweet.
Refsynder posted these comments:
"Haha man people are racist, wish you could have heard the things people were yelling at me tonight and the messages ive received! #forgive"
"I know you guys [Gamecock fans] are passionate and diehard fans are what makes college athletics go!" he wrote in another comment. "Poor judgement on my part I apologize, nothing but respect for South Carolina and Ray Tanner."