SI.com's Tiffany Oshinsky reported Fox Sports has suspended NBA analyst Gary Payton "following a lawsuit alleging assault." Payton is "accused of assaulting multiple women at an awards gala in Seattle back in January." Payton has been with FS1 since the net's launch in '13, but has "not been seen on the network since early February." Fox suspended him "as soon as they found out about the allegations" ("SI Wire," SI.com, 4/22). In Seattle, Percy Allen notes a woman filed a lawsuit Monday alleging that Payton "assaulted her three times after they attended the 80th MTR Western Sports Star of the Year Awards on Jan. 21." Payton's agent, Eric Goodwin, said, "Unfortunately with the climate of claims against athletes for monetary gains, Mr. Payton is just another victim and will fight this frivolous lawsuit" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 4/22).
MOTOR CITY MADHOUSE: In Detroit, Tony Paul notes FS Detroit is "choosing not to send out an advance copy" of the RSN's analyst rotation for Tigers games. The "reason appears to be" that a "complete schedule hasn't been finalized." Rod Allen "has done most games, and every game he's not in the booth, he'll be in the studio." Meanwhile, Kirk Gibson "hasn't done much since Opening Day, and is likely waiting until Michigan State's baseball season is over," as his son plays for the team. Finally, Jack Morris "already has done several games, though he will do the fewest overall because he has similar commitments with the Twins" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/23).
MORNING, JOE: On Long Island, Neil Best notes NHL analyst Joe Micheletti "worked a triple-overtime game between the Predators and Blackhawks" on Tuesday night for NBC, went to bed around 2:30am CT, and "had a wakeup call at 4:30." Micheletti also is working as an analyst for MSG Network on the Penguins-Rangers series, and had to be at yesterday's morning skate in Pittsburgh. Michelleti during this First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs also has gone "from a double-overtime game in Nashville to a game" in N.Y. Michelleti: "This is a special time of the year and I understand my responsibility for all this" (NEWSDAY, 4/23).
