Report: Tigers Broadcasters Impemba, Allen Got Into A Fight
If you were watching Wednesday night's Tigers game from Chicago, maybe you too thought it was interesting that Matt Shepherd and Kirk Gibson were announcing the game instead of Mario Impemba and Rod Allen. The Athletic- Detroit's Katie Strang is reporting it's because they got into a fight after Tuesday night's ballgame. Strang says a long "simmering tension" boiled over after the game Tuesday night, and led to physical altercation.
Reached Wednesday night, Fox Sports Detroit general manager Greg Hammaren did not deny the incident but said: “My only comment is this we are addressing an internal matter and we will not have any further comment at this time.” -The Athletic (paywall)
Strang quoted someone close to the situation as saying the two were like an "Odd Couple" but have managed to keep their working relationship on a professional level, at least until now.
Impemba came to the Tigers in 2002. Allen was a member of the 1984 World Series championship team. In recent years his role has been diminished as Kirk Gibson was added to the booth after leaving the managerial job in Arizona, and newly minted Hall of Famer Jack Morris was a part of the broadcast team for a short time prior to this season.
The Tigers are off Thursday and then begin a weekend series vs. St. Louis, as the team celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1968 World Series championship team.