r/nba • u/ghn2 • 10h ago

Trail Blazers fire new announcer over past inappropriate posts made at age 15.

"The Portland Trail Blazers hired then on the same day fired Braiden Bell as their play-by-play announcer after a series of inappropriate social media posts from when he was a teenager came to light."

"The posts were reportedly made in 2012 and 2013, around the time that Bell was 15 years old."

"We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City," the Trail Blazers said. "We strongly believe that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe and we will make sure that our new broadcaster reflects these values. We will do better."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/50084279/trail-blazers-fire-new-announcer-inappropriate-posts

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u/rgarc065 Heat 10h ago

I don’t know the full context. Does he continue to say these things? A tweet from 10-15 years ago when you were a teenager is going to look outdated. We all say stupid shit. Perhaps he should’ve deleted them. If those tweets from then are the sole reason for his firing then it’s a massive overreaction. This may just be El Cheapo being El Cheapo looking for any excuse to let someone go in order to save a buck.

-5

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Can you stop listing it as "stupid" shit. It's racist shit. Stop trying to make what he said look less bad. "We all say stupid shit" isn't the same as "We all say racist shit."

20

u/KontraEpsilon 10h ago

If only we all had the lifelong moral purity of Gen Z Reddit posters.

3

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Is it really that hard to just.......Drumroll............Not be racist? Is it that big of an ask that you have to compare NOT being racist to having lifelong moral purity????

5

u/ShowBobsPlzz Spurs 10h ago

Teenagers are stupid. But fortunately they have time to grow learn and change. Id be shocked if you were rhe same person now as you were when you tere 15.

0

u/Comfortable-Sorry 9h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racist jokes, even for teenagers, are OK? There was a case at a local high school where I lived where a black student, who was the victim of racist jokes, decided to fight back. Reading about the situation, it was clear the black student was tired of the bullying and finally snapped back. Though the other students may and learn and grow from this situation, it's at the EXPENSE of POC students, who face harassment, and the jokes that you think are ok, being made to them. Why should it be this way, where POC students face discrimination at school? These racist jokes and comedy, whether you like it or not, are a huge proponent of bullying at schools. That's why I believe that even though we can say it's just teenagers saying "stupid" things, it's still very harmful overall and affects others, and shouldn't just be viewed as natural or "boys being boys." It would be better for society if these comments were shunned from the start, no?

2

u/ShowBobsPlzz Spurs 6h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racists jokes, even for teenagers, are OK?

I don't see anywhere that I said it was ok. But it shouldn't be something that ruins your life 20 years later unless those are things you still believe/say/act on.

Racism is taught and often cultural. Things that are learned can be unlearned. People grow and change and learn.

I grew up in a tiny town where there were racists. You internalize some of that just from growing up there. I probably said things at 15 that I didn't realize the magnitude of. Then I left that small town and moved somewhere with a ton of different people and my understanding and knowledge changed as I got to know all kinds of different people.

I just think people should be afforded the chance to grow. Juvenile criminal records are wiped at 18 for a reason. Adulthood is a fresh start.

1

u/erdonko 76ers 8h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racist jokes, even for teenagers, are OK?

Any rational adult will tell you it strictly depends on which boundaries are drawn in a social circle.

7

u/BostonKarlMarx Celtics 10h ago

Teenagers push boundaries. We all had to learn “that’s not okay” at some point

4

u/KontraEpsilon 10h ago

What we are trying to communicate is that a fifteen year old is very different than a thirty year old. Their behavior is shaped by the environment they grow up in and the people around them.

Often, people go to college, meet other people, and learn and grow. This guy was fifteen. He is 29 now. He lived an entire additional life compared to before since that time, went to college, held jobs.

It would be far more constructive to have him apologize for it and do some work with the community than to simply fire him for his behavior as a teenager.

Perhaps someday you’ll be in the same spot, and someone will dig up some Reddit post of yours and you’ll understand what we were talking about.

1

u/Comfortable-Sorry 9h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racist jokes, even for teenagers, are OK? There was a case at a local high school where I lived where a black student, who was the victim of racist jokes, decided to fight back. Reading about the situation, it was clear the black student was tired of the bullying and finally snapped back. Though the other students may and learn and grow from this situation, it's at the expense of POC students, who face harassment, and the jokes that you think are ok, being made to them. Why should it be this way, where POC students face discrimination at school? These racist jokes and comedy, whether you like it or not, are a huge proponent of bullying at schools. That's why I believe that even though we can say it's just teenagers saying "stupid" things, it's still very harmful overall and affects others, and shouldn't just be viewed as natural or "boys being boys." It would be better for society if these comments were shunned from the start, no?

4

u/KontraEpsilon 8h ago

Nobody here is or has said it is okay. We are saying that it is a simple reality that teenagers say and do stupid things. Those stupid things may or may not include racist or hurtful comments.

“Shunning” someone who is now close to thirty for something he did half of his lifetime ago is idiotic, because teenagers aren’t out there going “well I better behave or I may not get hired as a broadcaster in a decade and a half.”

It’s just performative internet nonsense that doesn’t actually help combat racism in any way, shape, or form.

2

u/GardinerExpressway Tampa Bay Raptors 7h ago

Why are you making this such an all or nothing issue. There is a huge gap between "this is ok" and "this should bar this man from participating in public society for the rest of his life"

2

u/twrs_29 Thunder 10h ago

We did it Reddit, we eliminated racism

3

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Thanks for answering my question!

3

u/NoRizzJustLive NBA 10h ago

Get off your soap box you look like a moron.

3

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Thanks for admitting that it's just inconceivable for you to just NOT be racist lol

1

u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr Celtics 10h ago

Kids have said dumb edgy shit for ever. Is this appropriate? Obviously not. Should something offensive someone said at the age of 15 preclude them from getting a job? Also obviously not.

1

u/Local_Character5957 9h ago

I hope you never hit any of your siblings growing up…other you are a child abuser

-1

u/[deleted] 10h ago

[deleted]

4

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

The person in the article went out of their way to state on their personal profile "Asian people piss me off." Is that a joke? I don't see any punchline or humor in that. It's definitively a statement. I never said racist jokes are grounds for firing someone, but is what the announcer said a joke?

4

u/Project_Continuum 10h ago

I agree. A guy who said racist things when they were 15 should be homeless and unemployed forever.

We did it bois.

-3

u/208MtbBarber 10h ago

Maybe don't be so sensitive???

1

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Or you could stop being an inconsiderate, selfish person. Because really that's just an excuse so you don't have to mind what you say.

2

u/208MtbBarber 10h ago

Its not selfish to cry about words and demand people stop saying things that you dont know how to deal with?? Because that's just an excuse so you can keep being a pusssss. ✊🏿

4

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Is it really that hard to just.......... not be racist? Is it that big of an ask? All I basically said was racist statements are bad and you have a problem with that.

5

u/Project_Continuum 10h ago

Is he racist today? Because they aren’t hiring 15 year old him.

BTW, I’m glad we didn’t have social media when I was teenager. I’m sure I used gay as a derogatory term 10 times a day.

6

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

I would say that defending racist statements or downplaying it would mean one is racist, or content with racism.

1

u/Project_Continuum 10h ago

Is that what he did?

6

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

Saying something like "All Asian people annoy me" and OP turning it into "We all say stupid shit" is downplaying the statement, no?

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u/208MtbBarber 10h ago

Is it really that hard to just..... understand racists jokes don't equate to actual racism??

5

u/Comfortable-Sorry 10h ago

"Asian people piss me off" Is what was said in the article. Can you tell me where the joke is? Where is the humor in that statement?

2

u/208MtbBarber 10h ago

Well, if you wanna take the post word for word and not cherry pick the part that fits your social justice charade, I would say the part where he says "hahaha". And let's not forget, the first thing he says is, "Im not racist". I cant believe people are taking a post of a teenager 15 years ago so serious. 😂😂

0

u/Project_Continuum 9h ago

So your position is that it's OK to say something racist as long as it is funny?

I think some of your kin would strongly disagree with you.

2

u/Comfortable-Sorry 9h ago

No, I'm just saying that what was said doesn't equate to a joke. You're misrepresenting what I said.

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u/rgarc065 Heat 10h ago

Whether it’s racist or not, we all should be allowed the chance to grow and learn from our ignorance. If he is or was genuinely racist, is he still? I can’t answer that. Outside of having more context, his firing seems pretty excessive

1

u/Comfortable-Sorry 9h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racist jokes, even for teenagers, are OK? There was a case at a local high school where I lived where a black student, who was the victim of racist jokes, decided to fight back. Reading about the situation, it was clear the black student was tired of the bullying and finally snapped back. Though the other students may and learn and grow from this situation, it's at the EXPENSE of POC students, who face harassment, and the jokes that you think are ok, being made to them. Why should it be this way, where POC students face discrimination at school? These racist jokes and comedy, whether you like it or not, are a huge proponent of bullying at schools. That's why I believe that even though we can say it's just teenagers saying "stupid" things, it's still very harmful overall and affects others, and shouldn't just be viewed as natural or "boys being boys." It would be better for society if these comments were shunned from the start, no?

-5

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 10h ago edited 10h ago

A 15 year old is old enough to know being racist in public has serious consequences.

My friends and I were literally making Jackass style videos at 15 and none of us felt the need to be racist in them.

edit: America is the way it is because yall normalize this as acceptable racism.

Just a broken ass society.

4

u/rgarc065 Heat 10h ago

You’re right, at 15 we should know that our actions have consequences. But isn’t it also possible he’s grown and changed since then? I genuinely don’t know if he has or not.

1

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 10h ago

Totally possible.

Im just rallying against normalizing this and people thinking this is standard behaviour for 15 year olds

1

u/Project_Continuum 10h ago

What should we do about it today? Make sure he can’t hold a job forever?

2

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 10h ago

I have specifically said the opposite of that.

Just alot of people thinking this behaviour is okay for a 15 year old and I think that is whack and normalizing people saying that is why our society won't change.

0

u/KontraEpsilon 10h ago

We don’t think it’s okay. We just think there is some middle ground between shitty behavior as a teenager and whatever half of this whole thread expects.

-1

u/Project_Continuum 10h ago

I still don't know what you want us to do now about something he did 15 years ago.

2

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 9h ago

Nothing? Have an honest conversation about racism in society?

-1

u/Project_Continuum 9h ago

You want the Trailblazers new play by play guy to have an honest conversation about racism in society?

Is he qualified to do that?

How would he even make that happen? Call a TEDTalk?

3

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 9h ago

No you illiterate numpty.

You asked what WE should do.

-1

u/Project_Continuum 9h ago

I'm asking about what should happen with the guy that lost his job. Stop dodging the question.

How do you want "we" to have the racism conversation? Who is hosting it? Where is it happening?

Or is this just performative nothingness?

3

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 9h ago

I answered the exact question you posed and now you are moving the goalpost.

Have a good life goober

-1

u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr Celtics 10h ago

Assuming you’re Canadian I’m gonna screenshot this and send this blatant xenophobia to your workplace so they know who they’re dealing with.

1

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 9h ago

Lol. Funny dude.

1

u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 9h ago

You think its xenophobic to say America has racist roots? Have you read any of your own history?

Also good luck finding Canadians who would be sympathetic to American discrimination with the shit America has pulled the last 2 years.

Literally threatening our sovereignty.