Fox changing TV crew for Tigers

Fox Sports Detroit will apparently have a new television broadcast crew for Detroit Tigers games in 2019. The Detroit Free Press reported that play-by-play man Mario Impemba and colour commentator Rod Allen have been let go after the two had a physical altercation on Sept. 4 in Chicago.

Neither the station or the Tigers confirmed the move and neither Impemba or Allen, who did not appear on the air following the incident, has spoken publicly about what transpired.

The 55-year-old Impemba, who is a Detroit native, had served as the team’s playby-play man since 2002. He worked in broadcasting for the Los Angeles Angels from 1995-2001 before joining the Tigers.

The 59-year-old Allen played 15 games for the Tigers during the team’s World Series championship season in 1984, but wasn’t on the team’s playoff roster. Allen was hired as the primary colour commentator in 2003. He worked for the Arizona Diamondbacks the previous five seasons for Fox Sports Arizona.

Matt Shepard handled play-by-play duties for the club in place of Impemba for the final 22 games of the season.

Former Detroit star Kirk Gibson, who had shared colour-commentary work with Allen over the past three seasons, took on the role solo for the remainder of the 2018 season.

LIONS ADD PIPKINS

The Detroit Lions got cornerback Lenzy Pipkins off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday.

To make room on the roster, the club cut linebacker Marquis Flowers.

The 24-year-old Pipkins appeared in 12 games for the Packers last season with one start. The six-foot, 195-pound Pipkins started this season on the Colts’ practice squad, but was promoted for the team’s 38-24 loss to New England on Oct. 4th.

Flowers played for Lions head coach Matt Patricia in New England last season and appeared in all 16 games, making two starts.