Bell, 29, was hired from the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury to replace Kevin Calabro, becoming the NBA’s youngest lead broadcaster.But the Blazers terminated his contract after tweets he wrote at age 15 resurfaced online.In December 2012, Bell tweeted, "I’m not racist at all..
But not gonna lie..Asian people p— me off! Hahaha #Honest." In July 2013, he posted, "no blacks either.
#racist."THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Bell retained sports employment attorney Arnie Herz, who previously represented San Antonio Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey in his reinstatement after a team suspension.In a statement provided to OutKick, Herz called for the Blazers to bring Bell back to the booth."Should the worst words a fifteen-year-old ever wrote decide the rest of his life? That is the question now before the Portland Trail Blazers," the statement read in part."Braiden is not asking anyone to excuse what he wrote.
He has owned it, without excuses.What he is asking is whether a boy’s words from fourteen years ago should outweigh everything the man has done since.
If that is the standard, there is hardly a person in any organization in America who could meet it.Accountability means owning what you did and showing who you have become.
Braiden has done both."Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles on the Portland Trail Blazers center court logo during the third quarter against the Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Jan.31, 2024, in Portland, Ore.
(Getty Images)A view of the center court logo before the Emirates NBA Cup game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on Nov.12, 2024.
(Getty Images)KARL RAVECH STUNS MLB FANS BY RETURNING TO ESPN BOOTH WEEKS AFTER BEING LAID OFFBell also apologized for the posts in a statement."I am deeply sorry for the language that I used on Twitter.These tweets, while wrong, were written by me 14 years ago while I was on...