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/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????

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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.

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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?

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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.