Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel is currently serving a two-week suspension for controversial remarks toward Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark . He will also no longer attend any Fever games this season.
Doyel is expected to return Monday afternoon, according to veteran local reporter Bob Kravitz . The columnist has not published an article for the Star since April 28 and will no longer cover the Fever for the publication.
The Star's parent company Gannett told Mirror Sports US: "As a matter of policy, we do not comment on personnel matters or personnel actions." In a statement regarding coverage of the team, Indy Star spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton added, "Indianapolis Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel will not be covering the Indiana Fever."
READ MORE: Angel Reese responds to WNBA debut broadcast snub with upbeat perspective
READ MORE: Ex-UConn star Nika Muhl learns WNBA rule she didn't know - 'Very excited about that'
Doyel graduated from the University of Florida in 1992 and began his career at the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald before beginning a lengthy stint at CBS Sports as a national college football reporter with the outlet. He began as a sports columnist in 2014 with the Indianapolis Star, a market that recently received a tremendous surge of attention with the arrival of Clark.
Clark emerged as a national household name during a historic career at Iowa where she became the NCAA's all-time leading scorer and led her Hawkeyes to consecutive national championship appearances. The Midwest native separated herself as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, which belonged to the Fever, and 15,000 people piled into Gainbridge Fieldhouse to watch Clark's selection. Doyel got himself into trouble upon Clark's arrival, however, participating in what many people saw as an inappropriate exchange with the point guard at her introductory press conference.
After mimicking Clark's famous heart-shaped hand celebration, Clark asked the reporter if he was a fan of the gesture. Doyel responded by saying “I like that you’re here, I like that you’re here," and sparked national outrage with his final remark, saying “Well, start doing it [the hand gesture] to me, and we’ll get along just fine.” Following criticism from fans and prominent sports media, Doyel offered an apology for the event on April 17, admitting his mistake in both a tweet and a subsequent Indianapolis Star column.
"Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming Caitlin Clark to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature [heart gesture], Doyel wrote on Twitter . "My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better."
Doyel previously wrote on the near-sellout crowd watching Clark's announcement in Indianapolis and evaluating the expectations fans should place on the rookie in her first season. In the six subsequent articles since Doyel's apology column, however, the veteran journalist hasn't covered Clark or the Fever, instead focusing on the Pacers ' playoff run and analysis of the Colts ' NFL Draft selections.
Most Popular
Comments / 0