Colts owner Jim Irsay shows nobody is insulated from opioid crisis…
Colts owner Jim Irsay’s recent health scare, marked by an incident where he was found unconscious and unresponsive at his home, has thrust him into a situation shared by many Americans amid an ongoing opioid crisis. Discovered on December 8 in Carmel, Indiana, Irsay’s condition prompted responding police to administer Narcan, a drug used for opioid overdose cases. The subsequent announcement on January 9 by the Colts indicated that the 64-year-old was still recovering from a “respiratory illness,” urging respect for his privacy.
While acknowledging the importance of privacy, the article contends that the serious health problems of an NFL owner hold significance for fans of the multibillion-dollar league. Noting the league’s regular disclosure of players’ health and injury reports, the article argues that transparency becomes even more critical when dealing with an owner as hands-on with his club as Irsay is with the Colts. The possibility of an opioid overdose aligns Irsay with the broader opioid crisis in the United States, which reached staggering proportions in 2021, claiming over 106,000 lives, including a record 2,000 opioid-related deaths in 2022 in Cook County alone.
Referring to a 2014 incident where he was pulled over by Indiana police, revealing the presence of painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone in his system. It explores Irsay’s earlier struggles, shaped by a traumatic childhood marked by losses and an authoritarian father who infamously relocated the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. The article highlights Irsay’s coping mechanisms, including his transformation into a heavyweight powerlifter in his youth and his current pursuits in music, playing the guitar, and collecting rare artifacts like Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” scroll.
Despite his outward success, the article suggests that Irsay has battled inner demons, leading him to rehab 15 times and surviving a near-fatal overdose. The piece quotes Irsay, who describes addiction and alcoholism as fatal diseases, and criticizes law enforcement for targeting him due to his wealth. Reflecting on his father’s alcohol-fueled actions, Irsay observes, “It’s hard to stop a man from self-destruction.”
Concluding with an uncertain outlook on Irsay’s current state, the article expresses hope for his recovery. It leaves readers with a quote from Irsay’s hero, Bob Dylan, urging a contemplation of life: “A man not busy being born is busy dying.”
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