An Indiana newspaper columnist has apologized to Caitlin Clark for what he called a "clumsy and awkward" interaction during her introductory news conference with the Indiana Fever.The Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel was among the first called upon to ask Clark a question Wednesday. Instead, Doyel said, "Real quick, let me do this," and made a heart with his hands toward the former Iowa star and top draft pick of Monday's WNBA draft. “You like that?” Clark asked.Doyel: "I like that you're here. I like that you're here."Clark: “I do that at my family after every game, so."Doyel: “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine."Doyel then asked his question, and the news conference continued.Watch the awkward moment in the video player above.In the ensuing hours, the interaction went viral across social media, with many calling Doyel unprofessional, creepy and sexist. Former ESPN host Sage Steele posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Doyel "not only does he get away with (that behavior), he gets rewarded." Doyel apologized Wednesday evening with a post on X."Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature (heart hands emoji). My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better."He then shared a link to a column, with a post on X saying, "Caitlin Clark, I'm so sorry. Today I was part of the problem."In the column, Doyel called himself "another insensitive man," an idiot, and apologized to Clark and her family. He wrote: "In my haste to be clever, to be familiar and welcoming (or so I thought), I offended Caitlin and her family. "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. "Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry."2 minutes with Caitlin Clark: KCCI's exclusive interview with new Indiana Fever guardMore Caitlin Clark coverage
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana newspaper columnist has apologized to Caitlin Clark for what he called a "clumsy and awkward" interaction during her introductory news conference with the Indiana Fever.
The Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel was among the first called upon to ask Clark a question Wednesday. Instead, Doyel said, "Real quick, let me do this," and made a heart with his hands toward the former Iowa star and top draft pick of Monday's WNBA draft.
“You like that?” Clark asked.
Doyel: "I like that you're here. I like that you're here."
Clark: “I do that at my family after every game, so."
Doyel: “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine."
Doyel then asked his question, and the news conference continued.
Watch the awkward moment in the video player above.
David K Purdy
Caitlin Clark makes a heart gesture with her hands after Iowa beat Iowa State on Dec. 6, 2023. Clark says she does that toward her family after games.
In the ensuing hours, the interaction went viral across social media, with many calling Doyel unprofessional, creepy and sexist. Former ESPN host Sage Steele posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Doyel "not only does he get away with (that behavior), he gets rewarded."
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Doyel apologized Wednesday evening with a post on X.
"Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature (heart hands emoji). My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better."
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
He then shared a link to a column, with a post on X saying, "Caitlin Clark, I'm so sorry. Today I was part of the problem."
In the column, Doyel called himself "another insensitive man," an idiot, and apologized to Clark and her family.
He wrote:
"In my haste to be clever, to be familiar and welcoming (or so I thought), I offended Caitlin and her family.
"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.
"Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry."
2 minutes with Caitlin Clark: KCCI's exclusive interview with new Indiana Fever guard
More Caitlin Clark coverage
