When SportsLine columnist Gregg Doyel gets hate mail, he gets Googling. In a childish, creepy prank called out by Deadspin, Doyel responded to angry letters last month with digs at his readers, based on info he gathered about them online. Gelf contacted a couple of his targets, who were unimpressed.

In response to a complimentary note from Wayne Caparas, Doyel replied, "Thanks, filmmaker. When you tackle my life story, may I suggest Leo DiCaprio for the lead role?"

When alerted to the column by Gelf, Caparas, of production and PR company Caparas Media, wrote:

I must admit, while I like Doyel's writing, I think his googling of his writers is a sadly juvenile tactic. I may not mind it as a protagonist, but if he always responds to his critics with personal attacks, that's an attack on his own journalistic and personal integrity. I may applaud his boldness and insights into the sports world, but the way he responds to his critics, though unashamedly humorous to me as a reader, is clearly unethical and a bit cowardly. I'd venture to say that he wouldn't say these things to his critics' faces, and that's the ultimate litmus test for integrity in the spoken and written word. I'll probably continue enjoying his cutting insights into the sports world, but his hate mail column is a bit too juvenile for me.

Also damning was the reaction of Eastern Kentucky student Kevin Quatman, who elicited this comment from Doyel: "Anyway, congrats on your college internship at Congress, especially considering your Congressman wasn't Mark Foley. If he tries to e-mail you…don't write back. Big Brother is watching." Quatman tells Gelf he didn't even write the note. He is, however, forgiving:

In regards to the Doyel blog, I find it quite humorous. I never had even heard of him, but he is receiving criticism from readers and they can only expect retaliation in return. Doyel appears to be unforgiving in his articles, but I am sure you understand as a writer yourself that journalists are passionate about their work. Doyel is doing a good job, whether he is loved or hated he has a very strong following.

As for Doyel, he didn't respond to Gelf's email to a SportsLine rep. Should Doyel like to respond in his hate-mail column, here's a shortcut to the relevant Google search.