Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is ‘being treated for a severe respiratory illness’, the team announced on Tuesday morning.

The 64-year-old, whose fortune comes from his family’s heating and cooling (HVAC) empire, is ‘receiving excellent care’, the team said.

Irsay, who has discussed his struggles with drugs and alcohol in the past, and his band were due to play the latest leg of their world tour in Los Angeles on Thursday night but he won’t be taking part. 

A statement from the Colts read: ‘Jim Irsay is currently being treated for a severe respiratory illness. 

‘While this unfortunately means he won’t be able to perform with his band this week in Los Angeles, he is receiving excellent care and looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible. 

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is 'being treated for a severe respiratory illness', team say

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is ‘being treated for a severe respiratory illness’, team say

The 64-year-old and his band were due to play the latest leg of their world tour in LA this week

The 64-year-old and his band were due to play the latest leg of their world tour in LA this week

‘We’ll have no additional information at this time and we ask that you respect the privacy of Jim and his family as he recovers.’ 

Irsay – who has not been seen publicly in weeks, according to ESPN’s Colts reporter Stephen Holder – recently revealed in an interview with Andrea Kremer that he’s been to rehab 15 times and nearly died of an overdose at one point.

He said: ‘One time, I was trying to detox myself, and I mixed multiple drugs that I didn’t know anything about. 

‘So all of a sudden, I start slurring my words. And then code blue, I stop breathing. 

‘And they revive me and the doctor goes, “Jim, you’re one lucky man because I had virtually signed the death certificate”.’

The Colts have been in the Irsay family ever since 1972 when his late father, Robert, bought them in Baltimore in 1972 before famously moving the franchise to Indianapolis nine years later. 

Irsay started working at the Colts in 1984 during his father’s ownership before taking over as the majority owner in 1997 at the age of 37 after his father’s death.

In 2014 he was arrested for driving under the influence and four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. 

Police said he was in possession of bottles of prescription drugs and over $29,000 in cash when they pulled him over for erratic driving in Carmel, Indiana.

Prosecutors eventually dropped the felony charges and Irsay pled guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated. However, he did check into a rehab center.

Irsay recently alleged police pulled him over in 2014 because he's a 'rich, white billionaire'

Irsay recently alleged police pulled him over in 2014 because he’s a ‘rich, white billionaire’

Irsay drew criticism just months ago when he alleged police only pulled him over on that occasion because he’s a ‘rich, white billionaire’.

During an interview with Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, the 64-year-old Irsay told Kremer that he was discriminated against when he was pulled over in 2014.

‘I am prejudiced against because I’m a rich, white billionaire,’ Irsay said. ‘If I’m just the average guy down the block, they’re not pulling me in, of course not.’

Given a chance to rephrase his statement, Irsay instead doubled down on his belief that he was the victim of prejudice.

‘I don’t care what it sounds like,’ he said. ‘It’s the truth.’

Irsay has since acknowledged he had prescription painkillers and a sedative in his system at the time of his arrest following hip surgery.

But he claimed he only failed the field sobriety test because he’d recently undergone that hip procedure.

‘The arrest was wrong,’ he said. ‘I had just had hip surgery, and had been in the car for 45 minutes. 

‘And what – they asked me to walk the line? Are you kidding me? I can barely walk at all.’ 

[ad_2]
Post source: Daily mail

You May Also Like

Nottingham Forest Gets Four Points Deducted for Profitability Breach

Nottingham Forest’s recent four-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and…

Fans Demand Nike Recall of England’s Euro 2024 Kit for St George’s Cross Color Change

The controversy surrounding England’s Euro 2024 kit, designed by Nike, has sparked…

Man United 4-3 Liverpool: Diallo’s 121st-minute winner ends Klopp’s Quadruple hopes

The FA Cup quarter-final match between Manchester United and Liverpool ended in…

Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga’s injury not serious; staff expects quick recovery for Athletic match this weekend

Eduardo Camavinga, a key midfielder for Real Madrid, recently faced an injury…