Current:Home > ContactColts owner Jim Irsay needs to check his privilege and remember a name: George Floyd -FundWay
Colts owner Jim Irsay needs to check his privilege and remember a name: George Floyd
View
Date:2025-04-17 06:35:06
Do you want to see what privilege looks like? In all of its arrogance and ignorance. In all of its lack of historical knowledge. In its lack of understanding of how race and power in America works. Do you want to see? Look no further than Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, in a staggering television interview dripping with almost unfathomable ignorance and memory holes.
Irsay spoke to journalist Andrea Kremer from “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” on a segment scheduled to air on Nov. 21, and as she has done for decades, as well as anyone in sports journalism ever, she got an interview subject to open up. To reveal their inner selves. And that’s what Irsay did and what we saw inside was something remarkably problematic.
Irsay spoke about a number of topics, including his battle with addiction. But one of the most interesting parts of the interview is when Irsay talks about his arrest in Indiana in 2014 for driving under the influence. According to records obtained at the time by the Indianapolis Star, officers "recovered numerous prescription medication bottles containing pills.” They also discovered approximately $29,000 in cash.
Irsay pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He also admitted to having a number of drugs in his system including hydrocodone, oxycodone and Xanax.
Irsay tells Kremer that “the arrest was wrong” and he only pled guilty because he wanted the entire ordeal to end. This is where the interview gets troublesome.
Read more NFL coverage:NFL power rankings Week 12: Eagles, Chiefs affirm their place at top
"I am prejudiced against because I'm a rich, white billionaire," Irsay told Kremer. "If I'm just the average guy down the block, they're not pulling me in, of course not."
Kremer then asked: "Do you know what it's going to sound like if people hear you say they're prejudiced against a rich, white guy?"
"I don't care what it sounds like. It's the truth," he said. "You know, Andrea, I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or sounds like. The truth is the truth and I know the truth."
Let’s all pause for a moment and give our prayers to the rich, white billionaires. They need our support. It’s a rough life for them. The tax breaks. The private jets. The mansions. Please be considerate in their time of need.
It would be easy to dig into the data about the advantages rich, white men have in this country. Or, white men, period. Or how Black Americans are killed at a higher rate by police than any other group.
But I truly want to focus on one person, someone Irsay apparently needs to be reminded of: his name is George Floyd.
You see, privilege is when you, who has more money than many Americans combined, with a straight face say you are the victim, apparently forgetting what a true victim looks like. Floyd, and many people of color, are actually targeted by police. Floyd was brutally murdered by multiple officers.
Irsay doesn't seem to understand the multiple Americas that exist when it comes to law enforcement and encounters with police. Or he just doesn't care. Many times, encounters with police for people of color are exasperating or life altering. Or life ending.
Even the smallest encounters can be chilling. Several weeks ago, I was jogging around 4:30 in the morning. I was running on the left side of the street and at one point a police cruiser drove by on the right side. It stayed on that side of the street, pulled about 15 feet in front of me, and slowed to my pace and drove like that for a good three minutes. Then, wondering if I was imagining things, I stopped running and stood there. The car stopped. Keeping that distance. I started running again, the car started moving again, keeping the same distance. This part of the encounter lasted about another two minutes.
I was jogging. I didn't have 29K on me in cash like Irsay (unfortunately). The only drug in my system was the caffeine from a drink of Diet Pepsi that I had before leaving. There was no communication from the officer or officers in the vehicle. It just followed me. It was menacing behavior and there was no reason for it. Did the officer think I was going to rob a house while wearing all my night gear where I'm lit up like a Christmas tree?
The police car only stopped following me when something rare happened at that time of the morning: another car came along on the same side of the street as the police car and pulled behind it because the cruiser was moving so slowly. The cruiser was essentially blocking the road. The police car then sped up and drove off.
I apparently drew attention from the police just jogging. I'm unaware of any laws that I could have possibly broken unless there's one for jogging too slow.
This is the world Irsay apparently doesn't see or understand.
Irsay's comments are damaging on a number of fronts but more than anything they demonstrate such glaring privilege. I can't imagine Black Colts players seeing his words and not rolling their eyes.
So, again, do you want to see what privilege looks like? In all of its arrogance and ignorance. In all of its lack of historical knowledge.
Just listen to Irsay.
veryGood! (98)
Related
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- 'Dancing With the Stars' Anna Delvey elimination episode received historic fan votes
- Dream Builder Wealth Society: A Blueprint for Future Wealth
- How much income does it take to crack the top 1%? A lot depends on where you live.
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Courts could see a wave of election lawsuits, but experts say the bar to change the outcome is high
- Dream Builder Wealth Society: Conveying the Power of Dreams through Action
- NCAA cracking down on weapon gestures toward opponents in college football
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Angel Dreamer Wealth Society: Empowering the Future, Together with Angel Dreamer
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Law letting Tennessee attorney general argue certain capital cases is constitutional, court rules
- Courts could see a wave of election lawsuits, but experts say the bar to change the outcome is high
- Researchers say poverty and unemployment are up in Lahaina after last year’s wildfires
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- 'Heartbreaking situation': Baby and 13-year-old injured in dog attack, babysitter arrested
- Flags fly at half-staff for Voyageurs National Park ranger who died in water rescue
- MLB will air local games for Guardians, Brewers and Twins beginning next season
Recommendation
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
Yes, Glitter Freckles Are a Thing: Here's Where to Get 'Em for Football or Halloween
The hunt for gasoline is adding to Floridians’ anxiety as Milton nears
Love Is Blind's Leo and Brittany Reveal Reason They Called Off Engagement
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
'Dancing With the Stars' Anna Delvey elimination episode received historic fan votes
Voting systems have been under attack since 2020, but are tested regularly for accuracy and security
Florida has nearly all ballots counted on Election Day, while California can take weeks. This is why