Colts GM Jim Irsay and his mother, Harriet Irsay, who
is divorced from Colts Owner Robert Irsay, were interviewed
separately last week by Kathleen Johnston of the
INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS amid speculation that the Colts may
move from Indianapolis. They both said the team is not
eyeing a move to Cleveland or any other NFL-hungry city; the
reported $70M in inheritance taxes payable upon Robert
Irsay's death "will not force the family to sell the team"
and Harriet Irsay says she has an insurance policy that
"will help defray the tax"; the team will not be sold; and
the team has not given city officials an ultimatum in its
attempt to renegotiate its lease at the RCA Dome. Jim Irsay
says he has submitted a list of items the team needs from
the city, "all of which he describes as negotiable." But
Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith says he has seen no
such list. Regardless of whether the Colts stay, Jim Irsay
will eventually assume full ownership of the team, the
result of the divorce decree that his parents agreed to.
Harriet Irsay: "He (Robert Irsay) agreed to it willingly.
Bob always wanted him to have the team" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-
NEWS, 12/14). Robert Irsay was released from the hospital
after being treated for a heart problem stemming from a
stroke last year. He was being treated for a heart rhythm
disorder (AP/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 12/13).
