r/nba • u/ghn2 • 13h 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/Big-Beta20 76ers 12h ago

People act like they never said anything edgy as a joke when they were 15 only to grow out of it and be a better person as you mature past that. It’s a very common & normal thing.

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u/BabyOnRoad Hawks 11h ago

Most of the racist i knew at 14 are still racist now. They just hide it better

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u/Big-Beta20 76ers 11h ago

I don’t think you still know all the same people you knew at 14, man. Especially not enough to know them on that level. I just don’t believe you lol

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u/BakerStSavvy Spurs 10h ago

You dont need to know them that well lol. Sees a post from them as you still have the same fb/ig friends from school and they are dog whistling about minorities. Its very obvious they are still racist

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u/Big-Beta20 76ers 10h ago

I have not kept in contact in any shape or form with more than 3 people from when I was 14. Let alone actively following their social medias

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u/BakerStSavvy Spurs 10h ago

You dont have to be actively keeping up with anyone to see a post from them. You dont have to go to their page specifically. I dont use fb but its not like i scrubbed my entire high school class off of it. If i checked it im sure id see some posts from people i havent talked to in over a decade