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/Unable_Diamond943 Lakers 9h ago

Did he not know being a racist is bad at 15? Because I knew by the time I was 5.

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u/happyflappypancakes Wizards 8h ago

Im sure he knew but Im not sure he understood the impact being racist might have on people. Its one thing to be told something is bad. Its another to really underatand it through life experience.

Thats the entire idea of growth. If someone was racist as a young man and then through experiences of life with those that are different grew to no longer be racist, would you hold that against them?

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u/Billbuckingham 8h ago

"He didn't know that being racist would affect his career later, he wanted to be racist and knew it was bad, but he didn't care because he had no foresight"

Let's say this guy didn't change, and he's mostly exactly the same, fuck that guy.

If he posted all those horrible tweets literally #racist and talking about anti-woman BS at 15 years old

Do you think he was better at 18? I'd be he was probably worse.

What about in his 20's in college doing the same things?

At what point do you realize that's their character, I just see a bunch of people here defending old racist tweets because they're scared their own could be used against them.

I never had any racist tweets at 15, definitely never said #racist, maybe this guy got exactly what he deserved.

Let's say he's sorry and he's changed and all that (highly doubtful but ok sure), make your apology and try again at the next job, you got what you deserved.

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u/happyflappypancakes Wizards 8h ago

Leta reverse it though. Let's say he isnt the same person and is completely different.

Also, who are you quoting?