Jim Irsay arrested, charged with DUI & drug possession

He's a better person than the old man, but still a drunk like the old man, it seems. Least surprising owner crime ever.

http://indy.st/PI3ab3

 

He already copped to having a pill addiction, though he claimed he was clean, going so far to tweet he hadn't had a drink in 15 years.

However, something was up when his wife of 33 years left him in November.

 

Could have gone either way.

A divorce, or death of someone close, is very tough on an addict.

 

I'm not going to kick somebody in the nuts when he's down, but the behavior has been very erratic- consistent with a heavy user- for several years.

 

Four felony counts of possession of schedule IV prescription drugs, per Indy Star cops reporter:

https://twitter.com/kristine_guerra/status/445567363917049856

https://twitter.com/kristine_guerra/status/445568296147234817

Also this from Indy Star columnist Bob Kravitz:

https://twitter.com/bkravitz/status/445568343114649602

 

Every rich guy with an opiate addiction tells the same story:

"After several years of orthopedic operations and procedures, accompanied by long bouts of chronic pain, I became dependent on prescription pain medications," Irsay said in a 2002 statement.

If there's a case for legalizing drugs, it's this. We have a two tiered system where the rich can legally take heroin and speed substitutes, while others would do time for the same actions. And, drug dealers with an MD are esteemed members of the community.

Just once I'd like someone to say they tried prescription painkillers for fun because they heard they were awesome.

 

I guess I'll open this door -- one of the arguments for medical marijuana is that it can provide pain relief in such a way as to reduce the dosage or need for opiates. Marijuana has zero overdose risk and less of an addiction risk than pain pills.

http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/12/could-medical-marijuana-reduce-patients-need-for-opioid-painkillers/

Part of the reason heroin use is way up is because with authorities cracking down on prescription opiate distribution, heroin has become a cheaper and more available substitute.

 

It is interesting how an attention whore now seeks his privacy.
Isn't that the way this thing usually works.

 

I thought the exact same thing.

 

The older I get, the more sympathy I have for addictions like this.

When I was younger and was barely making any money, I couldn't get addicted to much of anything. I can only imagine how an alcoholic with a net worth of an NFL owner can keep himself from dying in a Vegas suite. Whatever demon stirs inside Irsay, he can afford to make it a reality. Hope he gets clean.

 

I wonder what the NFL policy is - will Irsay have random drug checks now? Seems like an owner with an addiction could cause far greater harm to the league than one player.

 

This is a social and behavioral problem, not a football one.
Aside from the ridiculous notion Goodell would punish one of his 32 bosses, what can he really do?
And does anyone believe higher-ups around the league didn't have knowledge this was going on?
You don't have to be a substance abuse counselor to see that Twitter account was a shit show endemic of some sort of malfunction.
I hope he finds the solutions he needs.