Latest news with #Doyel
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pacers' Pascal Siakam fires back at reporter after Game 5 loss
The post Pacers' Pascal Siakam fires back at reporter after Game 5 loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers were already reeling from a 121-91 loss in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the tension continued postgame thanks to an awkward moment involving forward Pascal Siakam and a reporter. Advertisement Following the blowout defeat at Madison Square Garden, Siakam was asked by longtime columnist Gregg Doyel to clarify a comment he had made about the Pacers' lack of fight. The exchange, captured in a video posted by Bleacher Report on X (formerly Twitter), quickly became a trending topic. The clip showed Siakam trying to stay composed, but his frustration was apparent. The tone in the room shifted quickly, and what started as a routine postgame interview turned into an uncomfortable exchange that reflected the emotional weight of a high-stakes playoff loss. The reporter began by questioning whether Siakam could 'make sense' of how Indiana failed to match the Knicks' intensity. When Doyel pressed again, Siakam appeared visibly annoyed. Advertisement The veteran forward, who scored 15 points in the loss, had previously acknowledged the Knicks' superior energy postgame. But Doyel's attempt to double down on that quote clearly rubbed Siakam the wrong way. 'What do you mean?' Siakam replied. Doyel repeated the line of questioning, prompting Siakam to defend his team's effort. The moment escalated when the Pacers forward turned the focus onto Doyel directly. 'Well, what about you? Tell me. So go ahead. Who's this guy? What's your name, bro? Oh. You good?' The back-and-forth quickly made its way around the internet, with fans divided on whether Siakam was unfairly baited or simply frustrated after the Pacers lost Game 5. Doyel has also drawn recent criticism for a prior incident involving WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Advertisement Despite the drama, Indiana still holds a 3-2 lead in the NBA Playoffs series. Game 6 returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers will have a chance to close out the series and advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. On the court or at the podium, playoff pressure finds its way into every moment.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Pacers' Pascal Siakam gets in heated exchange with controversial Indy Star columnist
Star Pacers forward Pascal Siakam and Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel got into a heated back-and-forth exchange during a press conference following Indiana's Game 5 loss to the Knicks on Thursday. Doyel pressed Siakam repeatedly on why he thought the Knicks outplayed the Pacers — and why Indiana allowed that to happen — in their 111-94 loss at the Garden. 'What're you talking about?' Siakam asked at the start of the awkward exchange. 'They played harder than us. It's OK. We played hard, but they played harder. What's your point? I don't get it.' Siakam then proceeded to say 'that happens in a game, though,' and later asked Doyel, 'You good, bro?' He then proceeded to ask someone off-camera what the journalist's name was, and a voice responded that it was Doyel from the Indy Star. 3 Pascal Siakam reacts during a press conference following the Pacers' Game 5 loss to the Knicks on May 29, 2025. Screengrab via X/@sny_knicks This isn't Doyel's first time involved in a controversial press conference exchange, as he was suspended for two weeks by his outlet — and banned from Fever games in 2024 — last year following a creepy comment directed toward then-Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. He made a heart gesture with his hands — something Clark used to recognize her family during college basketball games at Iowa — and later said, 'Start doing it to me and we'll get along just fine.' 3 Gregg Doyel was involved in an exchange with Pascal Siakam during a Game 5 press conference. Screengrab via Instagram Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. Doyel, in a follow-up column, apologized to Clark and admitted that he crossed the line. '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 at the time. 'Caitlin Clark, I'm so sorry.' Siakam, who has torched the Knicks at times this series, collected 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting, six rebounds and five assists Thursday. 3 Pascal Siakam attempts a shot during the Pacers' Game 5 loss May 29. Charles Wenzelberg He poured in 39 points during Indiana's Game 2 win, and then he followed that up with another 30 in their Game 4 victory. The Pacers will have another chance to close out the Eastern Conference finals and advance to the NBA Finals on Saturday in Indiana, where they split a pair of games with the Knicks earlier in the series.
Indianapolis Star
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
'Not happy to bump Jacob out': Rinus Veekay gets Indy 500's final spot after risky decision
INDIANAPOLIS -- When asked about her son's decision to pull his original time with eight minutes remaining in last-chance qualifying Sunday, Rinus Veekay's mother kept her answer simple. 'He's a character,' said Evelien van Kalmthout while standing on pit lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after VeeKay secured the 33rd and final spot in the Indianapolis 500 next Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A risky move paid off as the Dutchman's average speed of 226.913 mph was enough to bump Dayle Coyne racing teammate Jacob Abel. 'I feel relief but not real happiness. Not happy to bump Jacob out,' Veekay said. 'We were just very slow, both Jacob and I, and unfortunately, it was one of the two that was going to go out.' Veekay's second four-lap effort was slower than his first, in which he produced a 227.740 mph average speed. Veekay decided to pull his time because conditions were improving. After qualifying, Veekay said the risk wasn't worth it due to his time not improving and acknowledged that he was 'lucky' that Abel's time also decreased. 'I did not want to leave anything up to chance,' Veekay said. 'We did not maximize the hybrid usage on the first run, so I thought we could've done better. The car gets slower every time we go out, so it's really strange.' Veekay said the car's handling worked well, but he was unsure of what was dragging it. The team made changes to Veekay's car on Saturday in preparation for Sunday, but Veekay said none worked. The 24-year-old admitted that his team must 'check our fundamentals' to improve for the Indy 500. 'The only positive thing is that I'm in the race,' Veekay said. 'We're not quick enough and need to work on speed. We are past wing angles making us faster, I think it's something deep inside the car. I did feel better in race trim than qualifying trim, so if we can get that feel back that we had in final traffic runs, we can do well.' More: Doyel: IndyCar rookie Robert Shwartzman wins Indy 500 pole, Team Penske gets busted again Veekay had never started worse than seventh in his previous five Indy 500s. He's aware of the battle that stands before him. 'I've always had to pass all the cars at the speedway,' Veekay said. 'Right now, my only way is forward and past 32 cars if possible.'
Indianapolis Star
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Doyel: Without rules, there is chaos. Speaking of which, how about Pacers vs Cavs, Game 2?
We have rules around here, because without rules there is chaos. Speaking of that. DID YOU SEE GAME 2? Pacers at Cleveland, I'm saying. The Aaron Nesmith Dunk Game. The Pacers' 20-Point Comeback and Haliburton Game-Winner Game, 2.0. Chaos. Here's what I sent my IndyStar text group after the game, when my story posted that night at about 11 p.m.: (Nothing.) (I didn't text the group until the next morning.) See, we have rules around here – without rules there is chaos, etc. – and here's one: I don't text the group before 9 a.m., or after 9 p.m. Nope, not even for that game. No such rules for members of the group, who were texting me all night! Not complaining. Let's Mailbagg™. Doyel on Game 2: Nesmith dunk, Haliburton shot, 20-point comeback enter Pacers playoff lore From: Michael G. C'mon, Double-g, break your late night text rule. Everyone is still too hyped to go to bed. Without rules there is chaos. I'm a peacemaker at heart, see. From: Lisa R. Well, I hope your column tomorrow will start out with, "The most overrated player in the NBA" .... and then lay it on THICK! Nah, I was much more measured. All I did was compare this game to '8 points in 9 seconds.' Well, I did. Did you know Game 2 happened one day short of the 30th anniversary of Pacers legend Reggie Miller's signature moment – he scored those 8 points in those nine seconds – at Madison Square Garden in 1995? Yeah, I went there, and then hoped I wasn't the only one making the comparison. Kind of a fragile feeling, really. I'm an emotional writer – you know this. Did I get too caught up in the moment? Did I really compare Game 2 to '8 points in 9 seconds'? 8 points, 9 seconds: Inside Madison Square Garden when Reggie Miller's 8 points in 8.9 seconds echoed round the world From: Matt D. That whole sequence looked like vintage Reggie. Wow. Insane Love this group so much. From: John B. Tyrese Haliburton is the most underrated player in the NBA! As Haliburton said afterward, words so good I gave them the place of honor in my story: 'Overrate THAT.' From: Zach M. My friend and I were screaming so loud his cat ran away! The cat will forgive you and Tyrese and Nesmith. The Cavs may not. Doyel: Wild Pacers comeback one day off 30th anniversary of "8 points in 9 seconds" A reader in the group wrote a song for me. No, that's not quite right. He wrote a song ABOUT me! Yes he did. From: Daniel L. I really enjoy your reporting and columns. To celebrate and thank you I crafted this song! Heart of Our Town (The Ballad of Gregg Doyel) In a café on Main Street, where the stories unfold, Sits a wizard named Gregg, with a heart made of gold. He knows every player, every cheer and the tear, From the little league diamonds to the high school frontier. Oh, Gregg Doyel, our hometown star, You're the voice of the people, no matter how far. With a tale that can move us, and a truth that ignites, You're the heartbeat of our town, shining bright in the nights. The song keeps going, but I'll stop there. Thank you Daniel. To say I'm blown away would be perhaps the first understatement of my life. From: Daniel L., Part 2 He paints vivid pictures, with words so sincere, Of triumphs and heartaches, the laughter, the fear. Each story he tells, is a bridge to our souls, Bringing us closer, making the broken feel whole. Get your Kleenex ready, for the sensitive streams, He'll touch on our struggles, and awaken our dreams. With precision and insight, he uncovers the heart, Even the hardest of stories, he knows where to start. We get it, Daniel. Thank you. The text group is fascinating, a real-time conversation with readers. I'd compare it to social media, but the text group is private and kind, which means it's nothing like social media. Readers see only texts from me, maybe 4-5 short notes a week – mainly the first looks at my columns, with an occasional peek behind the curtains. Join us in the link below any of my online columns, and then please send me something like Kelly E. texted before the Fever's preseason opener. From: Kelly E. Hey, Gregg, have you had a chance to interact with Sophie Cunningham yet? I think you'll find she is what every team, WNBA or otherwise, needs. She's upbeat, silly, spiritual, community-focused and a pretty darned good basketball player. She will be the perfect complement to Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Caitlin Clark. Here's what I sent back: 'Not yet, Kelly. But I'll be out and about. Thanks for notice!' And then here's what happened in that first preseason game: With Caitlin Clark on the bench in street clothes, Sophie Cunningham led a fierce comeback Fever win, was targeted twice by members of the Washington Mystics – and was trending nationally on social media. I wrote about it. Kelly read what I wrote from the game, and texted me again. From: Kelly E. Guess I forgot to mention that Sophie is a polarizing figure. I was remembering your first text as I wrote that story. And I did think: Kelly forgot to mention something… Doyel: Fever win, move meter nationally without Caitlin Clark. How? Sophie Cunningham. Game 2 of the Pacers-Cavs series was historic, and yet … not too unusual. It was the Pacers' second 20-point NBA playoffs comeback in seven days, and Tyrese Haliburton's second game-winner in the final seconds. You remember Game 5 against the Bucks. And you remember what happened after the game, with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Haliburton's dad. I had my say in a column that night. Group members had their say in a flurry of text messages. From: Melissa L. Love you Gregg. was a blip of the bigger story, which was the game. The whole incident (between John Haliburton and Antetokounmpo) deserves no more than a paragraph. The man apologized, Ty made his statement, and now that part should not be mentioned anymore. The fans aren't talking about this, just the media and mostly just you. Now, let it go. Thanks Melissa. I won't harp on it anymore, promise. But my job isn't ONLY to address what fans want to talk about. My job is to write about what happens, especially when it echoes around the globe – as that did, that night. From: Steve W. Totally agree with your column. The dad should be banned from future games. Love you Steve W. BUT….don't you think that was a blip of the bigger story, which was the game? Love you too, Melissa L.!!! From: Michael R. Anyone who's been around a bit will recognize that Tyrese's sincere, dignified mea culpa on behalf of his Pops – without throwing the ol' fella under a bus. Haliburton, thus, fulfilled any duty he may owe the Pacers, as 'face of the franchise,' while remaining true to the tradition of filial piety. Love this take. Love this group. From: Nick H. Tyrese's father was wrong and I think it needs to be pointed out that Tyrese called him out for it. That's a hard thing to do as a son, and so publicly. A lot of players would not have done what Tyrese did, and so quickly. Ibid. Doyel on Pacers-Bucks Game 5: This night belongs to Tyrese Haliburton, not his dad Doyel on Pacers-Cavs Game 1: Pacers dominate Cavaliers in Cleveland. America noticed. From: Irving P. Can you think of a better second-round NBA draft pick than Andrew Nembhard within the last ten years or so? We have major joy going on right now: Pacers/Fever, just need the Colts to join our party! Not printing this reply, but … can Nembhard play quarterback? From: Jim L. I haven't seen that you've named your followers. Many groups of followers have names: "Trumpers" or "Swifties" etc. How about "Doyelies.' Trump. Taylor. Me. Those are pretty much America's three biggest influencers. Let's see … Mailbaggies? Needs work. Too bad I'm not printing this. Would've liked to crowdsource this, like when you guys named this "Mailbagg". From: Daniel L., Part 3 From the sidelines he watches, with a glimmering eye, Every tackle and touchdown, every tear in the chronicles moments that the world may dismiss,But we know in our hearts, they're impossible to miss. So here's to Gregg Doyel, our sports wizard, our friend,With stories that linger, they'll never quite the heart of our town, you forever will stay,Guiding us through, in your own special Gregg Doyel, the heart of our town,With every word spoken, our love only grows. Sniff. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, or on BlueSky and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at Subscribe to the free weekly Doyel on Demand newsletter.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Furious as Reporter Banned Over Caitlin Clark Incident Returns to Fever Beat
After not covering the Indiana Fever in person for over a year, Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel made his return to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse sidelines on Saturday for the team's preseason matchup against the Washington Mystics. But given Doyel's controversial history with the team's biggest star Caitlin Clark, many fans weren't thrilled to see him back. Advertisement Doyel had a bizarre run-in with Clark during her first press conference after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Fever last season. He introduced himself to Clark by emulating her famous heart-shaped hand gesture, which caught Clark by surprise. The Iowa alum then asked him if he was a fan of the gesture, which she disclosed she does for her family after every game, and he fired back with a cringey response that landed him in hot water. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark (22) smiles during a timeout during a preseason game against the Washington Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Start doing it with me and we'll get along just fine,' Doyel replied. His remarks resulted in a two-week suspension from the Indy Star, and he didn't cover a single Fever game during Clark's rookie season. But now that a new WNBA league year is right around the corner, Doyel's Fever ban is seemingly lifted. Advertisement The longtime journalist announced his return to the Fever beat on Saturday with a since-deleted post on X that drew some heated reactions from the team's fans about him being allowed to be back around the team. Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyle posted and deleted a tweet announcing his return to the Indiana Fever beat after being banned for an inappropriate interaction with Caitlin Clark.X (@greggdoyelstar) 'Should have been a perma ban,' one fan exclaimed. 'Now why tf wasn't this a lifetime ban??' asked another. 'Ugh. I liked it better when he was banned,' a third fan stated. 'Get this guy OUT of there now!' remarked one user. 'Please get away from her (Clark),' another user replied. The social media backlash he was getting likely prompted Doyel to delete his post. He also turned off comments on all of the other posts he published on Saturday. Related: Pregame Interaction Between Caitlin Clark, Ex-Fever Assistant is Turning Heads
