Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel truly requested a pair of creepy questions throughout Wednesday’s press convention with Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.Along with his weird request that Clark make heart-shaped hand gestures to him earlier than video games – a remark that sparked nationwide outrage – Doyel additionally referred to the WNBA sensation as ‘that’ and ‘it’ throughout a query geared toward coach Christie Sides’You have been simply given the keys to that,’ he stated to Sides, referring to Clark as if she have been a sportscar. ‘What are you going to do with it?’Sides responded by humanizing Clark: ‘Hopefully we’re gonna win a variety of video games to star. She’s gonna assist us out with that.’Spokespeople for the Indy Star and its guardian firm, Gannett, didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com’s request for touch upon Thursday morning. Caitlin Clark (left) and Fever coach Christie Sides have been left dumfounded by Gregg Doyel Doyel, a father-of-two, is a columnist for the Indy Star. He beforehand labored for CBS Sports activities The gesture Clark does on the finish of video games is seen right here, with the previous Iowa star smilingThe headline from Wednesday’s press convention was the awkward trade Clark endured with Doyel. He started by imitating the celebratory hand gesture Clark offers to her household after each recreation wherein she makes the form of a coronary heart together with her palms. ‘I do this at my household after each recreation,’ stated Clark. Doyel then made probably the most regrettable remark of the press convention: ‘OK, nicely pay attention, begin doing it to me and we’ll get alongside simply high quality.’Doyel has since provided his apology on-line. ‘Right now in my uniquely oafish method, whereas welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I shaped my palms into her signature,’ the reporter wrote on X.’My remark afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my coronary heart (actually and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I’ll do higher.’ Gregg Doyel has apologized on social media and in a column since Wednesday’s incident Dave Portnoy labelled Gregg Doyel a ‘sexist pervert’ after Caitlin Clark’s press convention Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever talks to the media throughout an introductory press conferenceBarstool Sports activities boss Dave Portnoy has since branded Doyel a ‘sexist pervert’ and is demanding his employer take motion.’Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever Profession Begins With Gregg Doyel Being A sexiest pervert at Introductory Press Convention,’ Portnoy wrote. ‘@IndyStarSports do one thing about this pervert.”To make clear I meant to name Gregg Doyle a sexist pervert. Which he’s primarily based on his nauseating actions immediately,’ Portnoy added later.Portnoy was not alone in his fury over Doyel’s remarks, with a number of different outstanding voices within the trade publicly taking situation with the reporter’s feedback.Katie Mox of CBS Sports activities, stated: ‘What occurred to Caitlin Clark immediately at her first press convention in Indy was actually gross.’ CBC Sports activities senior contributor Shireen Ahmed even urged Doyel must be stripped of his credentials.’Virtually each considered one of my ladies colleagues & college students in sport media and sports activities journalism are sharing that clip of Gregg Doyel and Caitlin Clark with disgust,’ Ahmed wrote on X.’We’re rightly livid and fed up. His creds must be revoked and provided to an unentitled journalist who respects ladies.’ Gregg Doyel (proper) is pictured alongside considered one of his two sons following a latest commencement Doyel is pictured alongside his two sons. A local of Hawaii, he was raised in MississippiDoyel, a father-of-two, is a columnist for the Indy Star. He launched a profession in journalism after finding out on the College of Florida, earlier than happening to work for The Tampa Tribune, Miami Herald, Charlotte Observer and CBS Sports activities.In his writer biography, he highlights his expertise as an novice boxer and brags about being an all-state in baseball and soccer throughout his highschool years.He notes that lecturers, veterans, Hospice care, the Phoenix Society and elevating ALS consciousness are among the many points essential to him.In 2023 he was named one of many 250 most influential individuals in Indiana by the Indianapolis Enterprise Journal.Doyel’s comment comes amid a nationwide debate over Clark’s meager rookie wage of $76,535. A $338,056 sum dispersed over 4 seasons, Clark’s rookie deal was restricted by the phrases of the WNBA collective-bargaining settlement rookie pay scale – a labor deal that was negotiated in 2020, earlier than her freshman yr at Iowa.Regardless, Clark’s rookie wage is lower than 1 % of NBA first-overall choose Victor Wembanyama’s $12 million take, and that truth has reignited the controversy over the gender wage hole in sports activities.’Girls in sports activities proceed to push new boundaries and encourage us all,’ learn a publish on Biden’s X account. ‘However proper now we’re seeing that even if you happen to’re the perfect, ladies aren’t paid their justifiable share.’It is time that we give our daughters the identical alternatives as our sons and guarantee ladies are paid what they deserve.’ Biden says ladies to be ‘paid what they deserve’ as individuals hold forth on-line over Clark’s dealTo be truthful, Clark is on the verge of signing a brand new eight-figure endorsement take care of Nike that may embody her personal signature shoe, in accordance with The Athletic’s Shams Charania. However even that large contract falls nicely in need of bridging the pay hole between the NBA and WNBA. Not solely is Wembanyama’s rookie take care of the San Antonio Spurs value $55 million, however the 7-foot-4 Frenchman has his personal Nike contract rumored to be valued at greater than $100 million.That is not solely stunning, given the NBA’s reputation, which makes it extra worthwhile than its sister league. For starters, its $2.7 billion annual nationwide tv income dwarfs the WNBA’s $60 million annual contract.However Clark has seemingly modified the mathematics for the WNBA, which loved its highest-rated draft on Monday with 2.45 million viewers. And again in Indianapolis, the Fever reported greater than 17,000 attendees at their WNBA Draft watch celebration.Clark will not make her WNBA regular-season debut till Could 14, however ticket costs on the secondary market have already soared over $500. In the meantime, the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces have made plans to open up 7,000 extra seats when the Fever come to city on Could 25. Clark has already signed profitable offers with firms like State Farm and GatoradeOther athletes – and never simply feminine sports activities stars – have taken discover. ‘These women deserve a lot extra,’ Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson wrote on X earlier this week. However not everybody agrees. ‘Russ, no snark, however clarify to me why they deserve a lot extra,’ responded podcaster Jason Whitlock. ‘Are they curing most cancers, educating youngsters, constructing rocket ships?’ Whitlock continued down this path, arguing that the WNBA is not worthwhile sufficient to justify bigger salaries for its gamers.’A whole bunch of 1000’s of younger individuals go away school annually and begin careers for lower than 70k a yr,’ continued Whitlock, a sports activities pundit reportedly value hundreds of thousands. ‘Is a basketball participant in a league that loses cash yearly value greater than {an electrical} engineer?’Stroll me by way of it. Thanks and good luck in Pittsburgh.’ Caitlin Clark indicators autographs for followers throughout the 2024 WNBA Draft on April 15Of course, Clark has already earned hundreds of thousands in endorsement offers with manufacturers like State Farm, however the controversial podcaster was solely addressing her present WNBA wage – one thing she was unable to essentially negotiate, per the present collective-bargaining settlement. Whitlock didn’t get a response from Wilson, however there are encouraging indicators for the WNBA’s backside line. (From proper to left) Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink on the WNBA Draft The league jumped from a reported $60 million in income in 2022 to a reported $200 million in 2023. And with a brand new media rights deal on the horizon, these figures can proceed to extend, given the recognition of Clark and the remainder of the 2024 WNBA Draft class.Earlier than changing into the apparent first-overall choose by the Fever, Clark spent the final month guiding Iowa to its second consecutive NCAA championship recreation whereas garnering the most important tv audiences in match historical past. In the previous few days she’s been on Saturday Night time Reside and NBC’s Right now Present, to not point out numerous publications, web sites, in addition to the lips and ears of sports activities followers throughout the nation.Sponsors have already taken discover, with Opill, SKIMS, Peloton, La Crema, and Tissot saying partnerships with the WNBA in latest weeks.The league already plans so as to add a brand new crew in 2025, however with Clark’s arrival, there’s extra enlargement speak within the works, to not point out a brand new media deal that would dwarf the present contract.’This is a vital yr for us round viewership, round attendance, round all of the qualitative and quantitative components that go into the valuation of media rights,’ commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated Monday.’The one factor I find out about sports activities, you want family names, rivalries and video games of consequence,’ she continued, referencing the ladies’s NCAA match. ‘These are the three issues we have had over the previous couple weeks.’
Read more on dailymail
New creepy video emerges of ‘sexist pervert’ Gregg Doyel calling Caitlin Clark ‘this’ and ‘it’ in weird query to Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides – after Dave Portnoy slammed reporter’s ‘nauseating’ remarks to WNBA star
