Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas said what she said about the Indiana Fever fan base, and what she said during the WNBA postseason was brave but imperfect. So who better to weigh in on this important topic than the sports columnist in Indianapolis? Me, I’m saying. Me.
Focus!
To recap: After the Sun eliminated the Fever from the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, Thomas threw the entire Fever fanbase under the bus. Thomas was courageous, drawing attention to the racism coming from cretins who only recently realized women play professional basketball. For Thomas, as I wrote in the column, it was like grabbing a lightning rod and walking onto the roof in the rain.
“In my 11-year career,” Thomas said, “I never experienced the racial comments like from the Indiana Fever fan base.”
Thomas is 100% correct about the rise in racism directed at WNBA players, and the need for everyone – you, me, the WNBA, the Fever, everyone – to speak out against it. But those racists aren’t members of “the Indiana Fever fan base.”
It's losers who discovered the WNBA because they are fascinated by one player in particular. Those aren’t Fever fans. Those are ghouls.
Thomas said what she said, I wrote what I wrote, and readers reacted. Let’s get to this week’s edition of the Mailbagg™.
Doyel on racism in WNBA: They've co-opted the Indiana Fever like a blue checkmark. No, it's not good
From: Rob F.
Just read your (Fever) article. It is so sad and ridiculous that we are still seeing this in 2024. I hope these people read it and are embarrassed and change their ways. Unfortunately that most likely won't be the case.
Oh, I don’t know. I think everybody who reads this will take a good, hard look at themselv—
Sorry, Rob. My text is buzzing. Let’s see who it is.
From: Dale W.
“The collectivism and moral posturing of the woke agenda have collided with reality and no longer have credible solutions to offer to the actual problems of the world" – Javier Milei, Sept. 24 at United Nations
Why no evidence presented among your 20-plus paragraphs of moral posturing in that WNBA story?
Serious question, Dale: Does your Google not work? If you’ve embedded yourself in such a cocoon of misinformation that you don’t know what’s happening, well, it’s like I wrote in my 20-plus paragraphs of moral posturing: That’s a you thing.
And how interesting that you’d quote Javier Milei. He’s the first-year authoritarian, borderline strongman president of Argentina, just a hateful man whose “leadership” has Argentina’s poverty rate above 50%. This whole thing is instructive, Dale: Who likes us, who doesn’t like us? That says a lot about who we are.
So does who we choose to quote to “win” an argument.
From: Mike C.
Sun forward Alyssa Thomas basically called the Indiana Fever fan base RACIST. I take that personally. I maybe a born and bred Hoosier but I am not a racist. Social media makes me sick, and to be lumped into it because I like the Fever.... Track these a-holes down and prosecute for slander or something.
Agree, Mike. Everything about this story is sickening.
Onto more important matters: Sudoku!
From: Keith W.
Yesterday's Sudoku had multiple 5's in places they can't be. In today's paper they published the "solution", which has two 5’s in every box of nine and no 4’s. Think anybody noticed? Including the people who actually create and curate this?
Listen, Keith, if you’ve embedded yourself in such a cocoon of misinformation that you make THIS mistake, well … OK, hang on. Let me look.
Oh.
Thing is, and no way am I putting THIS into the Mailbagg™ : I didn’t notice, because I don’t play Sudoku in the paper. Too easy. Sorry! I used to buy the hardest Sudoku books possible, just hoping one puzzle in there could stymie me. Nope.
Who brags about that? Probably the same person who’d brag about being all-state in high school. In two sports. Whoever that person is. The sports would be baseball and soccer, if you’re wondering.
Bosses, don’t print this.
From: Matt B.
Another reason to love you, Gregg: Who else does a Mailbagg™ Q&A with 26 questions ?!? Most mailbag columns just take three or four.
Now you’ve done it, Matt: Given me a new number to hit every week. I HATE numbers, because I obsess on them. Two examples:
∎ I ran the same 3-mile loop for about 10 years, gradually getting faster and faster – “faster” is relative, people – until I hit my limit. Once I realized I could get no faster, that my personal torture would never again result in the payoff of a new personal best, I quit running. Started boxing, actually. Two broken noses, one broken rib, a torn biceps tendon and perhaps a few concussions later, I made the right choice!
∎ Newspapers track a story’s analytics: Clicks, average time spent in the story, subscriptions purchased by readers wanting THAT story. I told my bosses long ago: Don’t tell me my numbers. Just, don’t. The numbers will never be good enough for me, and when they’re bad – and some stories just don’t do well – it would crush me. So don’t tell me. My ignorance is bliss.
Which leads me to your “nice” note, Matt. Thanks so much. Apparently 26 you’ve given me 26 a new number to obsess ab26t.
Last week's Mailbagg™: 26 questions include IU football in the CFP, and so much Anthony Richardson
From: Alex N.
I wonder if Purdue needs a new defensive coordinator. I know it's coach Ryan Walters’ defense. I wonder if it is a coaching issue.
I wonder who wears No. 26 for the Boilermakers . Oh hello, Andrew Sowinski from Bishop Chatard!
Also: It's way too soon – and not fair – to give up on Walters. But I’ll say this: Seems clear he's not going to work out.
From: Steven R.
I’m an alumnus of Purdue and hate me some IU, but it's hard to not be impressed and, ugh, like Cig. Please delete this and never let my friends or fam see this. Go Boilers.
Hahahaha Steven! Let’s make a deal: I’ll delete yours if my bosses delete my ridiculous Sudoku brag.
Doyel: Why is IU off to its best start since 1967 Rose Bowl season? 'Cause Curt Cignetti said so.
From: Mary Beth S.
Hey Mr. Double G, is that a new photo in the print version of IndyStar?
OK, so after hating on anyone who wore a mustache – especially Pacers guard Ben Sheppard , ugh – I recently experimented with one myself in a wimpy way: Keeping my manly beardly stubble, and growing out the ‘stache and soul patch. Just so happens I was experimenting when we shot new mug shots for the staff.
At Pacers Media Day a few days ago, team president Kevin Pritchard noticed my mustache and said: “You look like Ben Sheppard.”
Could’ve slugged him. Instead I gave him a hands-into-a-heart symbol.
What. Say something. Say it.
Teasing, then telling Grant Stuard’s story
Sometimes I send the group a text message to let them know what’s coming. Like, this one:
From: Me.
This Grant Stuard story for tomorrow....
I went to the Colts locker room thinking I'd tee-hee with Stuard about a play he made, a highlight from when he wasn't even in the game, but then we got to talking. And Stuard, a Colts special teams ace, has an amazing story to tell. And an amazing way of telling it.
I'll share here in the morning.
Cue the responses.
From: Joe C.
What are you talking about?
Sigh. It'll be clear in the morning.
From: Sonny G.
You're teasing me ... it better be good!
Promise high, deliver low. That’s my mantra, Sonny.
And for the record: How can the same text confuse the HECK out of one person, and get another fired up to read what’s next?
From: Randall S.
That was a really cool story. I always just thought of him as the special teams guy with all the hair. Never knew his name because his hair covers it up.
Most perfect note about Grant Stuard ever.
Doyel: Mom in the sex industry, dad in prison, Colts special-teams ace Grant Stuard made it out
Van Gogh has entered the chat
When Colts QB Anthony Richardson left last week’s game against Pittsburgh, it marked the fourth game in eight career NFL starts he didn’t finish. I wrote about the dichotomy of Richardson’s (and the Colts’) obvious need to be safer, but Richardson’s (and the Colts’) obvious need to let him be himself – which means using his magical athletic ability in the open field.
I wrote something subtle and philosophical, something charming and intelligent and witty . I created a work of art. And you people missed it.
From: John W.
Come on, tell it like it is. “It's just football,” BS – it’s just stupidity. And give it a rest about Anthony Richardson being a linebacker in quarterback's clothing. Is there a starting linebacker in the league who’s knocked out of 50% of their games?
Here’s the thing with art: Not everyone understands it. Richardson used the phrase “it’s just football,” so I quoted him – and repeated it in my kicker – to illustrate the hopelessness of expecting him to change. It’s just football, it’s not just football, that’s not the point. The point is: I’m using his words to paint a masterpiece, and you’re over there looking for smudges.
From: Marc C
“It's just football”? That's ridiculous.
It’s just art. Van Gogh also has two g’s, you know.
Old nickname: Duckie.
New nickname: Van Gregg.
Doyel on Colts vs. Steelers: Anthony Richardson will play like he plays. He'll survive, or he won't.
From: Steve P.
New nickname for you: El Duckie ( El means "God" in Hebrew.) You can be a quack prophet.
Also, Steve, el means “the” in Spanish. My older son lives in Colombia – the one in South America – teaching English as a Second Language. He’s fluent in Spanish, and now I have two words to tell him: El Duckie !
P.S. Friend of mine from the University of Florida, a Cuban-American from Miami named Carlos, waddled – so everyone called him Pato . More Spanish for me to use! My son and I are going to have a long talk about ducks. Or a three-word discussion. Next week’s brag: I’m bilingual.
Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar .
More: Join the text conversation with sports columnist Gregg Doyel for insights, reader questions and Doyel's peeks behind the curtain.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Racists smearing WNBA Fever fans? Ugly. Mailbagg™ painting a masterpiece with words? Art.
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