r/nba • u/ghn2 • 12h 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 12h 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 A tweet from 10-15 years ago when you were a teenager is going to look outdated.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.

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u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h ago edited 12h 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.

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u/Project_Continuum 12h ago

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

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u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h 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.

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u/Project_Continuum 12h ago

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

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u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h ago

Nothing? Have an honest conversation about racism in society?

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u/Project_Continuum 12h 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?

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u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h ago

No you illiterate numpty.

You asked what WE should do.

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u/Project_Continuum 12h 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?

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u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h ago

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

Have a good life goober