Seahawks radio announcer and Pro Football HOFer Warren Moon is “taking an indefinite leave of absence in the wake of a reported lawsuit against him alleging sexual harassment,” according to Gregg Bell of the Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE. The move comes after a report surfaced yesterday in which a woman who “worked for Moon and his sports marketing firm,” Sports 1 Marketing, filed the suit, which in part accused Moon of sexual battery. Moon is in his "14th season as the team’s radio analyst” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 12/7). The Seahawks in a statement said Dave Wyman and Brock Huard will assume the role of game analyst indefinitely, with Wyman joining play-by-play announcer Steve Raible and sideline reporters Jen Mueller and John Clayton this Sunday for the team's game against the Jaguars (Seahawks). In DC, Craig Whitlock reported the lawsuit was filed by Wendy Haskell, who joined Moon's firm in July as his executive assistant and "traveled with him on a weekly basis for speaking engagements, charity events and personal appearances." She claims that she was "demoted by the firm in October after she complained about Moon's sexual advances" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/6).
DAMAGE TO MOON'S REPUTATION: In Seattle, Matt Calkins writes if Haskell's claims are accurate, Moon would "instantly go from all-time great to reprobate," and he "wouldn't deserve to see a broadcast booth again." Celebrities have "consistently shown that their private actions don't reflect their public images," as Moon would be the "latest to lead us astray" if the claims are true. Calkins: "Moon didn't have a spotless record before this week, but he was admired in this town. He endeared himself to Seattleites through his accomplishments on the field, in the broadcast booth and in the community. But if what's written in that reported lawsuit really happened, all that disappears" (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/7).
