Veteran sports columnist Gregg Doyel has returned from his two-week suspension from the Indianapolis Star over an awkward interaction with Caitlin Clark.
In addition to the two-week absence, Doyel is barred from covering Clark’s games with the Fever in-person during her rookie season, according to Indianapolis sportswriter Bob Kravitz.
After Clark and the Fever struggled out of the gate against the Connecticut Sun in the first game of the WNBA regular season on Tuesday, Doyel urged patience for the situation.
“This is a journey, and it’s going to be fabulous, and don’t you dare let Tuesday night temper your enthusiasm for the Indiana Fever, or for Caitlin Clark, or for the most anticipated WNBA season in history — locally and afar,” Doyel wrote.
“All of that is true, by the way. Let’s make a deal, OK? None of that prisoner-of-the-moment nonsense from me, and none from you either.
“Our pact, and this journey, will be one of facts — and it starts with the first sentence of this story. This is the most anticipated WNBA season in history — anywhere. Tickets sales prove it. So does the national television schedule. Record TV ratings will follow, a fact we’ll see someday soon. Same goes for the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark being fabulous. Those are facts that haven’t been written yet, but get your pen ready because it’s coming.”
Doyel did not use any quotes from Tuesday night’s postgame press conference, and cited previous quotes in the story from the preseason from Fever head coach Christie Sides attributed as “told local reporters.”
Neither Doyel nor the Star has said anything on the record about the suspension or in-person banishment.
Doyel declined to comment to The Post on Wednesday.
The idea that newspaper sports columnists should be in-person for the local teams that they write strong opinions about is based in part on what they can observe in the arenas with their eyes and ears, but perhaps more importantly so that they can be accountable and present to physically stand behind anything negative they may have written.
At Clark’s introductory press conference in April, Doyel made the heart gesture that Clark had often made toward her family in the stands at games when she was playing college basketball for Iowa.
“You like that?” Clark responded.
“I like that you’re here, I like that you’re here,” Doyel answered.
After Clark said that she made the gesture for her family, Doyel responded, “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Doyel left CBS Sports digital for the Star in 2014.