Over 16 years as the Tigers color commentator for Fox Sports Detroit, Rod Allen was on the mic for a host of memorable moments.
Justin Verlander's first no-hitter. J.D. Martinez's pinch-hit home run in his return from the disabled list -- off Chris Sale, no less. Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game.
Allen certainly remembers it. He harkened back to that moment in the latest episode of 97.1 The Ticket's podcast The Time That.
"It's funny that you would bring that up, because that is my absolute personal favorite moment in the broadcast booth," Allen said. "Armando Galarraga's throwing that perfect game and (Mark) Grudzielanek hits that ball to center field to lead off the inning, and out of nowhere Austin Jackson just makes a catch that no one thought he was going to make. It was just one of those get-out-of-your seat kind of moments. I forgot, really, that I had the microphone on. I just stood up and screamed, 'Oh, Jackson!' probably like I would have done if I was sitting in the seats as a fan. That’s one of the things that I took from that call."
That being said, Galarraga's brush with history isn't the moment for Allen that stands out the most. Nor is it Verlander's first no-no.
Allen's run in the broadcast booth coincided with one of the Tigers' best stretches in franchise history. The team won four straight division titles from 2011-2014, reaching the World Series in 2012, and compiled the most wins (366) in baseball. It was a span speckled with individual brilliance, from Miguel Cabrera winning back to back MVPs in 2012 and 2013 -- and a Triple Crown for good measure -- to Justin Verlander claiming both MVP and Cy Young in 2011.
So from that dominant stretch, which moment resonates the most with Allen?
Asked about the incident, Allen said the reports were overblown.
"I will tell you this much. What was reported on September 5th about me chasing him and choking him over a chair, I can emphatically tell you, 100 percent, that was not true. I still don’t know where that came from. I have not heard anybody put their name to that. But I’ve told you several times that I did not chase him, I did not choke him. Why somebody decided to say that, I really don’t know," said Allen.
He characterized it as a "mostly verbal" dispute.
"There was a little bit of hand touching, but there were no punches thrown, there was no choking, there were no police reports, there was no arrest. There was really not a whole lot of physicality in that situation," he said.
Once the story exploded -- exaggerated or not -- Allen understands that Fox Sports Detroit had no choice but to end the relationship.
"I think based on the information that came out on September 5th -- and I don’t know where it came form -- but what was said and what went national, I thought Fox and the Tigers and Fox Sports Detroit had no choice. When I saw that on September 5th, I kind of thought I had broadcasted my last game as a Tiger. I really did. But I wish that there had been a little bit more research into the whole situation. I think had that not come out that night, the way that it came out, we probably would both still be working," said Allen.
Initially, Allen acknowledged, the reports left him incensed.
"You run through the anger, you run through the frustrations, you run through everything -- all the adjectives that tell you that you want to get back at someone or this situation because someone wronged you. But then when it really comes down to it, you really have to think about it. If I want to move on with my career and get another job and stay in baseball, this is something that I can’t talk about all the time," he said. "At some point in time I'm going to have to let it go. I'm going to have to be a bigger person. Forgive, let go, so that you can be healed and so that you can let go.
"I mean, I was pissed off. There’s no doubt about that. When you lose a situation like this -- the fans, 16 years broadcasting big-league baseball games -- that was a dream job. There’s no question about that. But now it's time to move forward, and I'm looking forward to that next opportunity."
On that note, Allen said he's close to making a comeback on TV.
"Absolutely. I mean, I’m good at what I do, I have a great voice, I still love the game of baseball. I’ve already had several conversations with several teams and several prominent people," he said. "My opportunity’s going to come soon."
As for Impemba, his opportunity has already arrived. He joined Boston's WEEI radio this year as a part-time play-by-play announcer for the Red Sox. Allen doesn't begrudge Impemba his second chance.
"Mario’s a good broadcaster. And the people there in Detroit, they know that he's a good broadcaster. I know that Mario is good at what he does," said Allen. "I knew there was going to be some time before he got a job, and actually it encouraged me because once he got a job I was very encouraged that my opportunity was coming very soon, and I still believe that it’s coming. I wish Mario and his family all the best in whichever direction he decides to take."
It was widely understood that Allen and Impemba had a rather tense relationship before their altercation. Ultimately, their emotions boiled over. While Allen admits this is true, he said things weren't as bad as some people suggested.
"For me, I really had no problem with Mario. We’d have some nice conversations. We'd talk about our kids, we’d talk about baseball, we’d talk about life stuff," said Allen. "I mean, we worked together for 16 straight years in very close quarters. My seat is literally three feet from his seat on a nightly basis. You don’t work with somebody for 16 years if it’s really that bad. We weren't the best of friends, but we were cordial toward one another on a day-to-day basis.
"At the end of the day, the main objective was to make sure that the Tigers broadcast was entertaining and the fans enjoyed it. I think for the most part we were able to master that on a nightly basis. I will tell you this -- in baseball there’s a lot of guys that aren't the best of friends but still are able to go out and get their job done."
There's a chance Allen and Impemba will see each other this weekend. Allen plans to be in Detroit to catch up with old friends and colleagues, and the Red Sox will be in town to play the Tigers. So, if they come face to face, how will it go?
At this point in his career, Allen is trying to move forward. He's eyeing his next TV gig, and said the incident hasn't been much of a hindrance in that pursuit.
"It’s not a big deal at all," he said. "It really isn’t. It was initially because teams would have had to explain, but it’s not an issue. I think at some point in time, your character over the 42 years that you’ve been in the game and the people that you know, I think that will overshadow any mistake that you have made in your life. Baseball’s a a forgiving sport, life is forgiving and there's no question I’m going to get another opportunity."