The Portland Trail Blazers officially fired their new play-by-play broadcaster, Braiden Bell, just hours after announcing his hire. What a mess, right? The team got wind of some absolutely unacceptable misogynistic and racist social media posts Bell had made when he was a teenager, and that was that. Talk about a swift reversal.
Old Tweets, New Problems: Bell’s Short-Lived Stint
Bell, 29, was previously working as the play-by-play announcer for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and he was set to start his new gig with the Blazers next week. He was going to work alongside color commentator Lamar Hurd and sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam. The plan was for him to replace Kevin Calabro, who the Blazers had let go earlier this summer as part of broader layoffs under owner Thomas Dundon. Calabro had been the team’s TV broadcaster for nine seasons. But, Bell’s past quickly derailed his future in Rip City. According to KGW-TV, the troubling social media posts date back to 2012 and 2013. We’re talking tweets like one from December 9, 2012, that stated, “I’m not racist at all.. But not gonna lie.. Asian people piss me off! Hahaha #Honest.” Seriously?
The Blazers Speak Out: “We Did Not Meet Our Own Bar”
The Blazers were quick to release a statement, making it crystal clear where they stand. “The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments,” the team said. They didn’t mince words, adding that Bell’s posts were “in clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with this broadcaster.” They had to backpedal hard, acknowledging they dropped the ball during the hiring process. “The play-by-play role carries a long legacy of excellence, on the broadcast and in character, and we hold that standard without exception,” the team’s statement continued. “We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City.” They finished by stating their commitment to making sure everyone in Rip City feels welcome and safe, promising their next broadcaster will reflect those values. “We will do better,” they said.
So, what’s next for Portland? Well, they’re back to square one, needing to find a play-by-play announcer who actually aligns with their stated values. It’s a huge hire, especially after letting a nine-year veteran go. The team has to get this right, not just for the fans in Rip City, but to prove they genuinely mean it when they say they’ll “do better.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply