Braiden Bell's new job as the Trail Blazers' television play-by-play announcer lasted only a few hours.
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Portland announced his hiring Thursday, then reversed course after racist and sexist social media posts from 2012 and 2013 surfaced. Bell, now 29, wrote the posts when he was a teenager, according to KGW-TV. reuters.com
"The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist or harmful comments," the team said in a statement reported by The Athletic. The Blazers said the posts violated team and league policies, as well as their values, and apologized to fans for falling short in the hiring process.
Bell had been selected to replace Kevin Calabro, who spent nine seasons calling Portland games. Bell previously worked as the television voice of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and was expected to appear at the Blazers' Fan Fest on Sunday.
The decision has also sparked a debate about the age of the posts. As Hoops Wire noted, some commenters have condemned what Bell wrote while questioning whether statements made at roughly 15 should end an opportunity at 29. That reaction does not change the Blazers' decision, but it has become part of the story.
Portland now needs a new television voice with the season approaching. Bell has lost the position before calling a game for the team.
