This one hurts. I knew Jim fairly well, had lots of interesting conversations with him, talked about the Beat Generaton and rock 'n roll and football. I'll miss him desperately.
He was weird but he was ours. And one of the last owners who became a billionaire because he owned a team, not already had billions and thought it would be fun to have a team. RIP. They don’t make them like him on purpose. But the beauty is in the difference.
Beautiful and poignant piece. I didn't know about Jim's or your Chicago roots (I grew up in Lake Forest and attended many Bears' practices in the 1970s). I really had only known about his arrests and iconic collections, not his big heart. What memories he had growing up with the Colts. RIP.
I still can’t believe it. I’m 3 yrs older and sadly losing legends is accelerating. I loved how he would do whatever it takes to keep the fans engaged. I’m the proud winner of one of his early Twitter contests and managed to win another guessing who was going to win a golf tournament of all things.
Hope his passing was painless and I know he pulled up in a Harley and told Saint Peter - Have I got a story for you!
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I’ve been in Cincy for 15 years and there is a stark difference in ownership between Jim Irsay and Mike Brown. Both guys were born into it, had what seems to be good families who are next up, but that’s all they had in common.
One guy was generous and took care of his people, the other guy was a tight ass and skimped on the stupidest things like training food.
One guy knew he was not a good GM and hired a hall of famer. The other guy has no GM the smallest budget for scouts in the league.
One guy built a palace that can be used by the community year round. The other guy negotiated a bad lease for the city on a facility that is only used 20 times a year max.
One guy invested in his team, and won big time over two decades. The other guy looked at the franchise as a revenue producing asset and only cared about the bottom line.
One guy was an addict, the other guy was a straight arrow.
Thank you, Bob, for this remembrance of a complicated yet generous man. I felt he seemed to always be striving to outrun the heartache of his early life. I personally believe he did that in ways most of us don’t even know about. Physical and emotional pain can cause even the strongest to crumble under the crushing weight.
His daughters are strong, capable business women and I have no doubt he prepared them for the coming challenges.
I appreciate your kind words, memories, inside stories and the humanity it embraces. Some others could use a lesson in compassion.
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
He was the most human of beings. Yep, including quirky, impulsive, and maybe a bit too hands-on at times. But we were VERY lucky to have him as our owner. I’ve lived in NC for the last 25 years and witnessed George Shinn get involved a messy sex scandal and then pack the Hornets up and leave when he lost the public’s trust and couldn’t get a new arena. I watched Jerry Richardson’s ownership of the Panthers go sideways in controversial fashion, only to see him replaced with the current train wreck that is the David Tepper regime. Irsay may have had his demons, but Indy was lucky to have him. He cared deeply about the team and city, and always prioritized putting a winning product on the field for the fans to enjoy, even if he wasn’t always successful. RIP Jim Irsay, you will be missed.
I hope his girls see this piece, Bob. A beautiful tribute to a man who loved his team and our city fiercely. I hope we get to hear more poignant stories about him.
The city was LUCKY to have him…..he will be missed
He was weird but he was ours. And one of the last owners who became a billionaire because he owned a team, not already had billions and thought it would be fun to have a team. RIP. They don’t make them like him on purpose. But the beauty is in the difference.
Beautiful and poignant piece. I didn't know about Jim's or your Chicago roots (I grew up in Lake Forest and attended many Bears' practices in the 1970s). I really had only known about his arrests and iconic collections, not his big heart. What memories he had growing up with the Colts. RIP.
Thank you, David.
I still can’t believe it. I’m 3 yrs older and sadly losing legends is accelerating. I loved how he would do whatever it takes to keep the fans engaged. I’m the proud winner of one of his early Twitter contests and managed to win another guessing who was going to win a golf tournament of all things.
Hope his passing was painless and I know he pulled up in a Harley and told Saint Peter - Have I got a story for you!
I grew up in Baltimore before the Colts moved here. Jim seemed so different to what was written about his father.
I think he knew he couldn't take it with him.. loved his heart.
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I’ve been in Cincy for 15 years and there is a stark difference in ownership between Jim Irsay and Mike Brown. Both guys were born into it, had what seems to be good families who are next up, but that’s all they had in common.
One guy was generous and took care of his people, the other guy was a tight ass and skimped on the stupidest things like training food.
One guy knew he was not a good GM and hired a hall of famer. The other guy has no GM the smallest budget for scouts in the league.
One guy built a palace that can be used by the community year round. The other guy negotiated a bad lease for the city on a facility that is only used 20 times a year max.
One guy invested in his team, and won big time over two decades. The other guy looked at the franchise as a revenue producing asset and only cared about the bottom line.
One guy was an addict, the other guy was a straight arrow.
Who would you pick?
Thank you, Bob, for this remembrance of a complicated yet generous man. I felt he seemed to always be striving to outrun the heartache of his early life. I personally believe he did that in ways most of us don’t even know about. Physical and emotional pain can cause even the strongest to crumble under the crushing weight.
His daughters are strong, capable business women and I have no doubt he prepared them for the coming challenges.
I appreciate your kind words, memories, inside stories and the humanity it embraces. Some others could use a lesson in compassion.
❤️
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
I've always enjoyed reading your pieces regarding the Colts, whether I agreed with them or not. Thank you for this piece, Bob. Our owner was one of a kind. He loved the Colts so so much, as well as Indy and the whole state of Indiana. His generosity is second to none. I will miss him dearly. He left the team in good hands when he left it to his girls. They know football, and love the Colts just as much. Thank you again, Bob
He was the most human of beings. Yep, including quirky, impulsive, and maybe a bit too hands-on at times. But we were VERY lucky to have him as our owner. I’ve lived in NC for the last 25 years and witnessed George Shinn get involved a messy sex scandal and then pack the Hornets up and leave when he lost the public’s trust and couldn’t get a new arena. I watched Jerry Richardson’s ownership of the Panthers go sideways in controversial fashion, only to see him replaced with the current train wreck that is the David Tepper regime. Irsay may have had his demons, but Indy was lucky to have him. He cared deeply about the team and city, and always prioritized putting a winning product on the field for the fans to enjoy, even if he wasn’t always successful. RIP Jim Irsay, you will be missed.
I hope his girls see this piece, Bob. A beautiful tribute to a man who loved his team and our city fiercely. I hope we get to hear more poignant stories about him.
Nice work, Bob. And I am sorry for your loss.