Trail Blazers fire new announcer hours after hiring for tweets made as teenager
· Yahoo Sports
NBA team Portland Trail Blazers fired Braiden Bell hours after announcing him as their new television play-by-play broadcaster. The decision came after racist and misogynistic posts Bell made as a teenager surfaced online.
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KGW reporter Devon Haskins identified the posts while preparing a report. The tweets remained on Bell’s active X account Thursday evening. The posts included offensive comments targeting Asian people and derogatory remarks about women. KGW’s review did not find offensive tweets from Bell after he became an adult.
Bell’s public posts became largely sports-focused by the latter half of 2015. His agent directed questions to the Trail Blazers after KGW contacted him.
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The team announced Bell’s dismissal in a statement posted on X. The 29-year-old Bell served as the TV play-by-play announcer of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
“The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments,” the statement read.
“Social media posts made by our recently announced play-by-play broadcaster are in clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations.”
Trail Blazers apologize after hiring process
A view of the NBA logo and Portland Trail Blazers logo at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The organization also acknowledged its responsibility for the situation.
“We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City,” the team said.
The Trail Blazers added that the broadcast position carries a long history and requires high standards both professionally and personally.
“The play-by-play role carries a long legacy of excellence, on the broadcast and in character,” the statement said.
Bell had been hired to replace Kevin Calabro, who served as Portland’s television voice since 2016. Calabro departed after the team offered him what he described as a “subprime” contract. He later joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The latest controversy adds another issue for the Trail Blazers organization. The franchise has faced scrutiny over layoffs, a proposed $600 million Moda Center renovation and questions surrounding its future in Portland.
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The team said it will search for a broadcaster who reflects its stated values.
“We believe strongly that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe,” the Trail Blazers said. “We will do better.”
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