Fox Sports 1 suspended Oregon State great Gary Payton earlier this week amid an allegation he assaulted a woman in January.
The woman reportedly filed a lawsuit Monday alleging that the 46-year-old Payton assaulted her three times after she attended the 80th MTR Western Sports Star of the Year Awards with him Jan. 21 in Seattle.
According to TMZ, which obtained a copy of the lawsuit, the woman claims Payton began shoving her at a bar after the banquet. The suit alleges that Payton struck her again when they got into a car to leave together, and a third time when they returned to their hotel room.
Eric Goodwin, Payton’s agent, has denied the allegation. He told The Seattle Times that Payton is “another victim” of lawsuits “against athletes for monetary gains.”
Fox Sports 1, where Payton has worked as an analyst since 2013, released the following statement to multiple news outlets: “Regardless of the circumstance, domestic violence is abhorrent and inexcusable and FOX takes these accusations very seriously. As soon as we were made aware of the claim, we began an internal investigation. Mr. Payton was suspended immediately pending the completion of the investigation. Out of respect for both parties we will not be making any additional statements.”
Payton was a three-time All Pac-10 selection at OSU before going second overall to the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1990 NBA draft. The Hall of Fame guard still holds Beavers career records for points (2,172), assists (939) and steals (321).
Payton was a fixture courtside at OSU games last season, where he rooted for his son, Beavers star guard Gary Payton II.
— Connor Letourneau
cletourneau@oregonian.com
503-221-8168; @ConnOregonian
