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Doyel: Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby is eligible, and everyone is melting down.

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby gambled on Indiana football when he played for Indiana football, and it’s a shame that the ugliest, dumbest, most disgusting NCAA story of the year has anything to do with IU football, given how good – 16-0 perfect, you might even say – that program has become.

But the biggest oaf here isn’t Brendan Sorsby, who has an addiction and is worthy of empathy (if not eligibility). It’s not Texas judge Ken Curry, though he's somewhere on that podium.

Those are easy targets, but for me, this story centers on the NCAA’s complete lack of authority over NCAA sports – power it sacrificed on the altar of greed and indifference, after decades of “let them eat cake” rulings where the empty suits there on the White River cared very little for student-athletes, and very much for the highest bidders among schools, conferences and TV networks.

It’s all coming home to roost now.

And readers are as emotionally exhausted by all of this as I am.

Doyel’s latest: Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby injunction should be last nail in NCAA coffin

Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, eligible??

From: Chris C.

A judge ruled an injunction. The NCAA was opposed. Don’t knock a local institution.

Did you just read the text – or the tweet, like so many know-it-all types do on Twitter – or did you read the attached 1,000-word column explaining why I wrote what I wrote?

As for your final sentence:

My job is to have opinions, and I'll be DANGED if I refuse to share a criticism of a local institution simply because it's a local institution. Aaron Judge’s job is to be Mr. Homer, but not mine.

From: Brad O.

I'm trying to decide if 'anger' is the emotion that I'm processing.

Anger, disgust, shock, resignation ... there's a lot here.

From: Bryan D.

I'm sure you've already seen, but apparently several schools and/or conferences are prohibiting their schools from playing Texas Tech – and some are going so far as to cancel those games that have already been scheduled.

Yup, and I love it, though I do feel bad for Brendan Sorsby. I hope his friends and family are taking care of him. Thanks to the NCAA, thanks to the judge, thanks to our gambling culture, he’s about to bring down an entire football program.

This story hasn’t even begun to get ugly.

Doyel in 2022: Sports gambling is next Indiana, US crisis, but live it up until then

Doyel in 2024: Notre Dame swimming drowns in gambling culture starring ESPN, Barstool

From: Mike T.

It's gross, Gregg, it's all so gross. Sports gambling has permeated beyond smoky back rooms and into every nook of our collective culture. It's not surprising that some of these athletes fall into it, but there have to be clear boundaries and clear repercussions. I love sports, so I try to not focus on all the references to sports gambling, but it is legitimately ruining sports as we know (and love) them.

Anything that comes with a warning printed on every pack, bottle or online advertisement – cigarettes, alcohol, gambling – has no place being promoted by the “leaders” among us.

But the leaders among us, including every ESPN and every NBA, NFL and MLB franchise – and even famous former local athletes like Peyton Manning and Pat McAfee – are more interested in their bottom line than this bottom line:

Gambling is addictive and destructive.

MVP for Purdue-bound Mr. Basketball Luke Ertel

Moving on, let’s cleanse our palate with something happier. Hey, I know. How about the effectiveness of my text group with IndyStar readers? A finely tuned machine, this thing. Join us on the link below this free online column. Make it into the Mailbagg™!

Here’s a recent example of how the text group looks. I don’t send many texts – maybe 3-5 a week – and members get only what I send.

Now then, I get EVERY text – which can be mentally draining – but I’m a machine. I don’t make mistakes.

From: Me to the group

Good morning. Got my first look at Purdue-bound Luke Ertel of Mt. Vernon last night in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Well, it was my first look at his game.

We actually met two years ago, a chance encounter that showed me his character. Last night, I told Luke's parents about that first meeting. They answered with stories that showed me even more about Luke's character.

By the way: He was MVP of the game last night.

Here’s the link to the article...

Doyel: Purdue basketball recruit Luke Ertel ends Mt. Vernon career as All-Star MVP

From: Stephen B.

That link does not take me to an article.

Really? Probably a user error, Stephen. Try again.

From: Kirk K.

The link is wrong (I think).

Uh-oh. I’m starting to hear Jimmy Buffet:

Some people claim

There's a reader to blame

But now I think: Hell, it could be my fault

From: Nate M.

You've probably heard this, but the link isn't working for me.

You don’t say.

From: Me to the group

Guys I'm so sorry. Apparently the link I sent earlier about Purdue signee Luke Ertel didn't work. Either all 3,000 of you did something wrong – or I did. My money’s on all 3,000 of you being wrong, but just to be safe, let’s try that link again…

Doyel: Purdue basketball recruit Luke Ertel ends Mt. Vernon career as All-Star MVP

From: Max H.

We just went out and read on the IndyStar app.

~~Muah-hahaha! All part of the plan!~~

From: Julie W.

Here's my Luke Ertel story. I work at Mt. Vernon Middle School. Luke has been working at our building in the afternoons this year. The day after he was named Mr. Basketball, Luke was doing his shift in the seventh-grade lunchroom, pushing trash cans and reminding kids to clean their tables.

As I wrote: Special player. Special young man. Special family.

IndyStar on your phone: Get a personalized reading experience in the Indianapolis Star app

Before Fever star Caitlin Clark's buzzer-beater...

Before the Fever beat the Mystics on Caitlin Clark’s game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds Tuesday night, the team – and Clark – had endured a miserable week of losses and outside noise and just … nonsense. It came to a head as the internet was melting down last week over an interaction on the bench between Clark and Fever coach Stephanie White, so I went to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to write about the whole thing.

The Fever won that night, by the way.

Headline: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever cap week from (heck) with win against Dream

From: Dennis M.

I think you used the word ‘tooth extraction’ in your article to describe the Fever. I paused and said to myself, ‘Yes!’ I love my teeth and want to keep all of them. I love the Fever. It just seems like they’re more worried about social media and the state of officiating in the WNBA than what it takes to be a championship WNBA team.

From: Leigh H.

I know you have to deal with where the attention of the masses lies regarding the Fever. Relegating Kelsey Mitchell's comments to the last word was good in that she had the best thing to say, but I do hate that she is secondary in attention when she is the true core of our team in consistency, scoring, maturity. I hope you can continue to use your platform to elevate her.

Amen, Leigh. Kelsey Mitchell, as I read recently in another column from a writer at that game, is “the adult in the room.”

Colts TE Tyler Warren: Face of the franchise?

Does any team in the NFL have a tight end as the face of its franchise?

How long before Tyler Warren becomes that here, for the Indianapolis Colts?

Doyel: Colts tight end Tyler Warren is entering "face of franchise" territory

From: Chris B.

I will be looking at Tyler Warren from different perspectives after reading your article. Nicely done.

Thanks, Chris. Fascinating young man, Tyler Warren.

From: Sid B.

I appreciate everything impressive and slightly unusual that you revealed about Tyler Warren. He's a true renaissance man. Not many of those around, especially at 6-6 and 256 pounds.

Thanks, Sid. Fascinating young man, Tyler Warren.

From: Jama J.

Tyler Warren is impressive, but my vote is for Blue's face on the outside of the stadium!

I’d love to see it. Blue is a goodwill-sparking force of nature.

Doyel in 2024: Wildly popular Colts mascot has fur of Blue, and heart of gold