DETROIT (WXYZ) — Former Detroit Tigers TV play-by-play announcer Mario Impemba has broken his silence, months after it was announced neither he nor Rod Allen would return to the broadcast booth.
In a post on Twitter, Impemba wrote, "the last three months have been challenging for both myself and my family. I would like to thank the countless Tigers fans who have reached out to me to offer support. I would also like to thank my broadcasting colleagues who have provided both support and encouragement."
According to the tweet, Impemba said it was his intention to return to the Tigers' booth in 2019, but "that decision was out of my hands.
Fox Sports: Rod Allen, Mario Impemba no longer scheduled for future Tigers telecasts
"As a native Detroiter, I grew up in this city and chose to raise my family here. I will always view Detroit has my home," he continued. "I have spent 32 years building my professional reputation in broadcasting and stand by that reputation today. I truly appreciate the opportunity I had to broadcast for my hometown team the last 17 seasons."
Impemba finished the tweet saying he looks forward to what the new year may bring.
To all Tigers fans: pic.twitter.com/0OkfXzX5BM
— Mario Impemba (@mario_impemba) December 12, 2018
Impemba and Allen were pulled from the broadcast booth for the remainder of the season after they were reportedly involved in a physical altercation on Sept. 5 after the Tigers' game against the Chicago White Sox.
However, the agent for Rod Allen is denying the report in a statement to 7 Action News:
We have not commented because Fox Sports Detroit is handling this professionally and thoroughly. 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.
