It took a while to come out, but popular Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel was suspended for an awkward exchange with Caitlin Clark during Clark's introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever, per veteran sportswriter Bob Kravitz.
As Kravitz noted, Doyel's last byline appeared in the paper on April 29. The press conference ordeal took place on April 17.
"Doyel's most recent column, a Colts-related piece, was published April 29," Kraviz wrote. "He has not written a word since then despite the fact the Pacers are in the throes of a second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. The Star had hoped to keep this under wraps, but it's hard to hide the fact a lead columnist at a major metro has disappeared just weeks after an uncomfortable and unfortunate give-and-take with Clark at a significant press conference."
Kravitz also reported that Doyel won't be attending any Clark/Fever games this season. He will instead be relegated to covering the team via television.
Interestingly, the Star didn't reveal as much, given the blowback Doyel received for the exchange — which clearly was well-intentioned, but also clearly backfired.
In case you missed it, Doyle began his question at the press conference by making the hand-heart-shaped gesture in Clark's direction. (Clark directs that same gesture toward her family after games.)
"You like that?" Clark asked, smiling, when she noticed Doyel's gesture.
"I like that you're here," Doyel responded, repeating that sentence.
Clark seemed a little surprised by the exchange.
"I do that at my family after every game, so pretty cool," she said, handling it like a pro's pro.
That's when Doyel took it a step further.
"Start doing it to me and we'll get along just fine," he told her.
It wasn't really what you'd expect from a reporter interviewing a subject, to say the least. Clearly, Clark was caught off guard.
In Doyel's defense, he later tweeted an apology.
"After going through denial, and then anger - I'm on the wrong side of this? Me??? - I now realize what I said and how I said it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean it was just wrong," Doyel wrote.
"Caitlin Clark, I'm so sorry."
Doyel is expected to begin writing his column again on May 13 after completing his suspension, Kravitz wrote.
Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature ?. My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) April 17, 2024
