Colts Owner Robert Irsay, who has owned the team since
1972, died yesterday at the age of 73. Many in the media
reflected on the Irsay's life and the legacy he leaves:
INDY: Under the header, "A Man Not Afraid Of
Controversy: Irsay Always Believed In Doing Things His Way,
No Matter How Big Of A Stir It Caused," Tom Rietmann of the
INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS writes: "Pick a word: irascible,
combative, cantankerous, outspoken or contentious. They all
seemed to fit the controversial Irsay, who reveled in his
hard-nosed and battling image" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS,
1/15). STAR-NEWS Columnist John O'Neill writes that
although there were "no shortage of former players and
coaches -- even relatives -- willing to speak ill" of Irsay
when he left Baltimore, when he moved to Indianapolis
"something ... seemed to change. Irsay said he wanted to
get involved in the community, and he did" (INDIANAPOLIS
STAR-NEWS, 1/15). The STAR-NEWS' Robin Miller: "[T]he
sobering truth about Robert Irsay's 13 years in our city is
that he brought us a[n NFL] franchise, created many
charitable contributions, helped build a dynamic Downtown
and was a good citizen" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR/NEWS, 1/15).
BALTIMORE: Former MD Governor and Baltimore Mayor when
Irsay relocated the team to Indianapolis, William Donald
Schaefer: "Now that he's dead, I don't want to say bad
things about the man. It's over" (Dave Sell, WASHINGTON
POST, 1/15). In Baltimore, Jon Morgan: "In Baltimore, he
quickly developed a reputation as a meddlesome, impetuous
team owner given to drunken fits of rage. But his image
softened in Indianapolis as he grew more comfortable in the
public role of a team owner" (Baltimore SUN, 1/15). The
SUN's John Steadman: "Taking the Colts to Indianapolis in
1984 was a low blow ... [But] his ignorance of football and
Baltimore tradition doesn't need to be held against him as
any kind of memorial to personal incompetence -- even though
he reduced an entire city to mourning over its once glorious
past" (Baltimore SUN, 1/15). The SUN's Ken Rosenthal: "If
nothing else, Irsay's death brings closure. It's over.
Enough anger. Enough venom" (Baltimore SUN, 1/15).
REAX AROUND THE LEAGUE: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
said Irsay "was a strong leader during his 24 years as Colts
Owner." Giants GM George Young: "I am aware of his public
image, but there was a great deal of goodness in him that
people didn't recognize" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 1/15).
COLTS' NEXT MOVE? The STAR/NEWS' Bill Koenig notes that
the short-term answer to what happens next to the Colts is
"not much," but the Irsay's death "starts the clock running"
on inheritance taxes and other issues. Colts Exec VP & CFO
Michael Chernoff said Irsay had done estate planning and
"was very specific in his wishes." Chernoff added that the
transition of ownership to Irsay's son, Jim, "would
seamlessly flow." Koenig notes the Colts have been
estimated to be worth as much as $145M, and the estate taxes
could be more than $70M (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 1/15).
