(670 The Score) By his own admission, Colts owner Jim Irsay would love to own an NFL team in his hometown of Chicago. He was born in Lincolnwood, was in attendance when Bears legend Gale Sayers scored six touchdowns in a single game at Wrigley Field and attended Loyola Academy in high school, and the city still holds a special place in Irsay's heart.
On the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Wednesday afternoon, Irsay went so far as to mention the Colts briefly flirted with the idea of moving to Chicago when they left Baltimore for Indianapolis in 1984, when his father, Robert, was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the franchise.
“I think we entertained a second team in Chicago when we were moving and we were looking at Indy and Arizona out of Baltimore,” Irsay said. “But it just wouldn’t have been permitted, unfortunately. Obviously, there’s the Sox and Cubs and you know how big the city and how much they love football. You know two teams would roll there. But I just have so much respect knowing Mr. Halas originally. It of course would be a dreamscape for me.”
When asked if he would be interested in buying the Bears if the McCaskey family put them up for sale, the 63-year-old Irsay didn’t sound all that inclined, explaining what the Colts mean to him and citing the McCaskey family that owns the Chicago franchise.
“I’m like the steward of the Colts, and this is my 51st season,” Irsay said. “I really created what we are now. Like I was able to come to Indianapolis and really create greatness. I mean, how many times do you have your quarterback, your head coach and your general manager all go in the Hall of Fame? We won 115 games between 2000 and 2009. No one has ever done that. And we had seven consecutive seasons where we won 12 or more games, which is just incredible. And so you know, it was my chance, the Colts are just imprinted (in me). There’s horseshoes in my veins – like in the circus, they say there’s sawdust in your veins. I have turned blue inside. But I’m always black and blue and white for Chicago. The Monsters, I always root for you guys.
“Virginia (McCaskey) is incredible. She’s a remarkable woman. You know, the McCaskeys and the Halas family, of course, I can’t say enough about George McCaskey. You’ve got a really good man there.”
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