Reporter who made a creepy comment to Caitlin Clark is suspended

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It should be a thoroughly joyful occasion. 22-year-old college hoops phenom and No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, Caitlin Clark, was introduced to the media and fans of the Indiana Fever, who drafted her. Then there was a back-and-forth with longtime Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel.

Doyel began the interaction by repeating the heart-shaped gesture Clark makes on the court in recognition of her family.

“You like that?” Clark asked him, smiling.

“I like that you are here. “I like that you’re here,” Doyel replied.

“Yes, I do that to my family after every game. Pretty cool,” Clark said.

“Well, start doing it with me and we’ll get along just fine,” Doyel said.

Later that same day, Doyel wrote a mea culpa calling his behavior “creepy” and saying he acted out of “ignorance.”

He continued: “In my haste to be smart, familiar and welcoming (or so I thought), I insulted Caitlin and her family… I now realize what I said and how I said it.” was wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean, it was easy incorrect.

“Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry.”

However, the April 17 interaction had already gone viral, and now Doyel has been suspended by Indianapolis Star owner Gannett, according to local station WISH News 8 and national reports. Doyel’s sentence is reportedly two weeks. His out-of-office email response reportedly states that Doyel will return to work on May 13.

However, if he does, a spokesperson for the newspaper also confirmed to News 8, “Indianapolis Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel will not be covering Indiana Fever.”