Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said his 2014 arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated was a result of police prejudice against him for being "a rich, white billionaire."
Irsay discussed the circumstances of his arrest as part of a wide-ranging interview with HBO Sports. The longtime Colts owner pleaded guilty in September 2014 to one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
When asked why he pleaded guilty, Irsay responded: "Just to get it over with."
"I am prejudiced against because I'm a rich, white billionaire," Irsay said during the interview, which aired Tuesday night. "If I'm just the average guy down the block, they're not pulling me in, of course not."
Irsay was asked how he thought his assertion would be received.
"I don't care what it sounds like," Irsay said. "It's the truth. ... I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or sounds like. The truth is the truth, and I know the truth."
First off, someone of Irsay's stature doesn't drive themselves around, instead opting for private chauffeur service. So the idea that uber rich white guys are profiled in such a manner would seem to lack any evidence simply because they're rarely in such a situation. But when Irsay was pulled over for driving erratically, it was discovered that there were pills in the vehicle which didn't match the accompanying prescription bottles. Also, Irsay failed multiple field sobriety tests. So if indeed Irsay had not been taken in as he asserts he wouldn't have were he an "average guy down the block," many would naturally ascertain it would've been due to his status as a "rich, white billionaire."
While it is far more socially acceptable these days to be openly critical of a wealthy white guy as opposed to, say, a high profile minority or well-known female, I don't believe any of that is relevant here. Sadly, this smacks of Irsay attempting to downplay his well-documented addiction issues.
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