Trail Blazers fire new broadcaster Braiden Bell hours after hire
OregonLive.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The Portland Trail Blazers fired newly hired play-by-play commentator Braiden Bell just hours after announcing his hire due to offensive, years-old tweets containing racist and misogynistic content.
- The tweets, posted by Bell as a teenager, were uncovered by KGW, prompting the Blazers to rescind their contract offer and issue a statement condemning the remarks.
- The team emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for racist or sexist comments, acknowledging the failure in their hiring process and apologizing to fans for not meeting their standards.
- The Blazers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a welcoming and safe environment for all and stated they will seek a broadcaster who reflects these values.
- It remains uncertain whether the team will consider runner-up Kyle Draper for the role or initiate a new search entirely.
