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Tigers broadcaster Rod Allen's agent claims no fight with Mario Impemba

Published  September 7, 2018 12:00am EDT
News
FOX 2 Detroit

(WJBK) - The agent for Rod Allen is calling reports of a fight with his broadcast partner untrue. 

Allen allegedly attacked Impemba during an altercation Tuesday after the Chicago White Sox game, causing Matt Shepard and Kirk Gibson to call Wednesday's broadcast on FOX Sports Detroit, The Athletic was the first to report Thursday. 

UPDATE (11 p.m.): Rod Allen tweeted a statement at 11 p.m.

"I've always conducted myself as an honorable professional and I always will. Because this is a personnel matter. I can't comment right now," he said.

Impemba was reached at his house by FOX 2's Jessica Dupnack. He said "I'm fine but I don't have further comment."

 

Further reports later Thursday by other outlets including Deadspin, claimed that Allen choked Impemba from behind and that the dispute began over a chair.

Rod Allen's agent Tom Shaer released a statement refuting the alleged incident.

"We have not commented because Fox Sports Detroit is handling this professionally and thoroughly," said Shaer's statement. "But these ridiculous, blatantly false descriptions require me to speak the truth and say they are utter fabrications. 

"There was no 'fight.' Nobody followed anybody, there was no contact from behind, and a 'choke hold' is a shamefully untrue way to describe anything which occurred in that very brief altercation.
 
"Anonymous fiction by others does injustice to the very concepts of fairness and professionalism. Those who give such gross untruths to media should be ashamed of themselves."

Sources told The Athletic that tension has been simmering between Impemba and Allen - on-air partners for 17 years -  until boiling over Tuesday. The two were said to have separate travel arrangements afterward due to the altercation.

A source said the altercation had to be broken up by a thirty party. It is not clear if there will be any disciplinary action.

"My only comment is this we are addressing an internal matter and we will not have any further comment at this time,” FOX Sports Detroit general manager Greg Hammaren told The Athletic.