JUST IN: ‘ Caitlin Clark’ Gregg Doyel is penalized and humiliated which she is forced…
Citing unnamed sources, Indianapolis-based journalist Bob Kravitz reported Tuesday on his Substack that Doyel had been given a two-week suspension over the incident with Clark.
The IndyStar declined to comment on the alleged suspension, citing its policies.
“Indianapolis Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel will not be covering the Indiana Fever,” Star spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton said in a statement to HuffPost.
The news comes weeks after Doyel was criticized for making cringey remarks to the Fever rookie during her introductory press conference with the team on April 17. The back-and-forth between Doyel and Clark began after he made a heart sign at her during the news conference.
“You like that?” Clark said in response to the gesture, a reference to the athlete’s signature move that she does to her family after games.
“I like that you’re here,” Doyel said.
“I do that with my family after every game,” Clark added.
“Start doing it to me, and we’ll get along just fine,” Doyel replied
Doyel’s remarks were seen as creepy, sexist and inappropriate by people on social media, leading the columnist to apologize for the exchange.
In a post on X, formerly called Twitter, Doyel said that his comments were “clumsy and awkward,” adding, “I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.”
He apologized to Clark again in a column he wrote addressing the incident shortly after it happened.
However, some people took issue with his column, saying that it centered on him and not Clark or the reason for Doyel’s apology.
Indy Star Writer Barred From Covering Indiana Fever Season After Predatory Comment Toward Caitlin Clark
Indy Star Writer Barred From Covering Indiana Fever Season After Predatory Comment Toward Caitlin Clark
Indy Star sportswriter Gregg Doyel won’t be covering the Indiana Fever’s upcoming WNBA season after making predatory comments toward Caitlin Clark during her introductory press conference on April 17.
“Indianapolis Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel will not be covering the Indiana Fever,” Indy Star spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton confirmed to TheWrap.
Former Indy Star writer Bob Kravitz wrote on his Substack that Star owner Gannett issued Doyel a two-week suspension and barred the writer from attending Indiana Fever games this season. He will, however, still be allowed to cover the team by watching the games from home. Doyel’s last published story appeared on April 29 and his suspension ends on May 13, per local media reports.
Gannett did not offer further comment regarding Doyel’s actions, per company policy.
The April 17 incident came about when Doyel asked Clark about her heart hands gesture she’s often seen making. It was the reporter’s comment to her response that earned him the suspension.
“Yeah, I do that at my family after every game,” Clark answered, to which Doyel replied, “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
The news comes as Bob Iger announced that Clark’s opening WNBA game will stream on Disney+. The May 14 game against the Connecticut Sun will also stream on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
The basketball phenom is no stranger to pulling in a crowd on her own. Clark led her Iowa Hawkeyes to an NCAA Tournament Final Four victory over UCONN that also broke the record for highest-ever viewership for a basketball game – including NBA, WNBA, any men’s or women’s basketball – with 14.2 million viewers.
Leave a Reply