Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, was the focus of a recent HBO Real Sports segment with Bryant Gumbel. In the interview, Irsay talked with correspondent Andrea Kremer about his battles with alcoholism and addiction, his early life struggles, which included his sister’s death in a car accident, and his notorious arrest in 2014 on suspicion of operating a vehicle while inebriated.
The statement Irsay gave on this final issue garnered the greatest attention from the media on Wednesday. He attributed part of his arrest to the fact that he was “prejudiced against” due to his status as a “rich, white billionaire.”
Irsay’s remark gained attention in the sports community, and as a result, it was the subject of a First Take episode on ESPN, during which Molly Qerim, Kimberley A. Martin, and Stephen A. Smith delivered scathing critiques of the Colts owner.
Martin stated, “His comments perfectly capture the perception that NFL owners are aloof.” Simply put, they are completely unaware of their privilege. and the contradictory way in which they talk about their privilege.