Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon knew fans were "pissed." Then she brought back GM Chris Ballard for a 10th year. Now the fury rains down on all of us.
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon didn’t fire GM Chris Ballard, and people are angry. They’re angry at Ballard for zero AFC South titles in nine years. They’re angry at Irsay-Gordon for bringing him back for a 10th year. And they’re angry at me for agreeing with the Indianapolis Colts.
Not just angry, but to use Irsay-Gordon’s carefully chosen word from her news conference Monday, they’re “pissed.”
Even people on my free IndyStar message text group are pissed – and those folks are more inclined to like me than to, um, tinkle on me.
What. I can’t say that?
Anyway.
I wrote what I wrote about the logic of keeping Ballard – wrote it twice, after the Colts’ loss Sunday to the Houston Texans, and again Monday after Irsay-Gordon defended her decision – which gave folks two chances to get pissed. Ever experienced a double-barrel tinkle?
Things can get weird on the Mailbagg™. Especially when someone drags Notre Dame into the toilet.
Doyel on Sunday’s game:Colts are right to run it back – Ballard, Steichen, Jones, Leonard
Doyel from news conference:You can tell Irsay-Gordon what to do. But she just might ignore you.
Colts retain GM Chris Ballard
From: Walter S.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon's wild (and puzzling) decision sent this franchise further into the bottoms while angering even the most loyal Colts' fan. Great story, not unexpected, but to reward mediocrity is at best strange. Thanks for your update.
Nicest way ever to tinkle on a column.
From: Gary C.
In reading your two columns, I do have a question. Are you auditioning for a job on the Colts PR staff in case this columnist gig doesn't pan out?
There are nicer ways, Gary.
From: Alex N.
I'm not disagreeing with your Ballard column. The one I absolutely disagreed with was your column on Notre Dame vs. the ACC. Notre Dame is the bully, not the ACC. Just watch Notre Dame basketball coach Micah Strewsberry’s behavior after losing to California.
You can't cherry-pick something that happened this week, in a different SPORT, to say my opinion on Notre Dame footballlast month was wrong. Flushing your text, Alex.
From: Doug W.
Falcons fire coach with a 16-18 record, but Colts keep mediocrity (or worse) for NINE years. A historic collapse. Only in Indianapolis would this be defended. I love you Gregg, but you gotta be kidding me.
Love this text group. People are so nice, so willing to stick with me, even when they disagree.
From: Matthew S.
I’m officially out on the Colts. That press conference was the last nail in the coffin. I've been a fan since '84 and have been out on Ballard for four years. I'm not wasting anymore time because ownership obviously only cares about money: No Sunday Ticket next year, no attendance at games, no apparel, no nothing. I'm officially out on this franchise. Tired of it.
I hear you Matthew, but at least you’re still here on this text group. Thanks for not using my dissenting opinion as a reason to tune me out. Love this group!
From: Matthew S.
Unsubscribe me.
Oh.
Proud Papa watches IU football win Rose Bowl
Indiana smacked Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, one of the more eye-opening – and validating – results in recent college football history, and I was there, and it was a blast. Who doesn’t like to write happy stories? Plus I’m auditioning for a job on the #iufb PR staff in case this columnist gig doesn't pan out.
Doyel at Rose Bowl:IU crushes Alabama, continues most unlikely worst-to-first story ever
From: Bruce L.
Great story from the Rose Bowl. You captured the live game experience so good that I’m sharing with friends who weren't there.
Thanks Bruce. When I’m not ripping the Colts, I’m pretty good at this PR thing!
(Boss: Make sure this one goes under the “Not printing these” subhed. And then don’t print it!)
From: Brad O.
My wife and I brought 12 family members to the Rose Bowl: five IU grads, five kids 11 or under, and two guys who cheer like IU fans. Our daughter, Katie Osborne, was the Jumbotron sideline reporter.
That was your daughter on the Jumbotron all game? Wow! Got to be a proud papa.
From: Brad O.
Thank you. Our son, Rob Osborne, created this image with AI help.
Good heavens is he talented, you proud papa.
From: Brad O.
Thank you very much, Gregg. In fact, the family calls me "Papa Bus." (I used to drive a school bus for Carmel Clay. Now I just drive my grandkids on fun adventures.)
I want a cool nickname like Papa Bus. Let’s see: PR Gregg? Maybe not.
Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul: Terrible idea
You want me to expand on that subhed?
Doyel expounds on subhed:Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua is so awful, Paul's the only hero!
From: Tim Z.
Why even cover this garbage?
Only to write about it before the fight, how the only defensible person involved is the friggin’ YouTube influencer – and to say he was going to get hurt badly.
From: Alan B.
I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I just can't watch this crap.
You won’t miss much.
From: Matthew S., after the fight (but before he unsubscribed)
Broken jaw for Jake Paul. Could've been a lot worse.
I thought he’d be carried out on a stretcher.
From: Mark E.
I guess a broken jaw constitutes "hurt." You called it.
Could've been a lot worse.
On Indiana Wish, Pacers holiday party
In addition to covering that garbage above, I chose to write about two beautiful topics: One, my annual Indiana Wish column was on a kid who requested (and received) the most unique wish in the organization’s 41-year history. Then I attended a holiday party the Indiana Pacers threw for an IPS school on the near eastside.
Check the reaction to the Indiana Wish story. We’re all in this together, you know?
Doyel on Indiana Wish:'They’re life-savers at Indiana Wish.' And so is Koda, the dog.
Doyel on Pacers party at IPS 54:'Without this, we’d have no presents'
From: Constance C.
Love this story on Indiana Wish. German Shepherds are amazing.
First, I've had Type 1 diabetes for 50 years. In 2004 we rescued a 15-month-old German Australian Shepherd mix with no service-dog training. I laid down for a nap once when she was around 5. No one else was home. At some point she began trying to wake me up. I remember telling her to leave me alone, I just wanted to sleep. She was not having it. She persisted until I finally awoke enough to realize I needed to test my blood. In my case my blood sugar was way too high.
High blood sugar leads to ketoacidosis and can lead to a coma. I was extremely lucky that her instincts knew I was in trouble. Kenzie was a wonderful pet who has a special place in my heart.
Thanks for sharing this story! I'm grateful for Koda.
Amazing, Constance. Dogs are the best. Big-hearted readers are a close second.
From: Dave C.
Just finished your wonderful story about Kendal and Koda. My wife and I both have Type 2 diabetes. We have luckily not been as ill with it as Kendal, but twice my wife’s blood sugar dropped until she passed out. Scary, scary stuff. I roused her once, but the other time had to call 911. They saved her.
My best wishes to Kendal: You are a brave, wonderful young woman with a bright future – and a best friend for life in Koda.
Hugs for you and your wife, Dave.
From: Jim M.
Your Indiana Wish story touched me on several levels. I’m a diabetes physician specialist who has spent 40 years treating and researching diabetes. And my first dog was a Shepherd named Trooper. Loved that dog. I couldn't donate to Indiana Wish fast enough! Thank you!
And THAT is why I write about Indiana Wish every year. To encourage people to support a wonderful outfit. Thank you, Jim.
From: Keith C.
God bless everyone (at the Pacers holiday party) for helping those in need. The kids and families will never forget the kindness and compassion.
One woman told me her kids wouldn’t have presents for Christmas without those IPS events. Heartbreaking, but also hopeful.
From: Jama J.
The magic of Christmas.
It was, Jama. Also, my bosses got your email. Thank you, sweet woman.
Not printing these…
From: Bob W.
Holy crap, I just looked at some of the comments on "X" below your Irsay-Gordon/Ballard column– talk about hate! I thought sports was supposed to be an escape from everyday serious problems, not add to them.
Twitter was once a neat idea. Still has its moments, of course, but overall the world would be better, happier (and more productive) without it.
From: Roger S.
While you undoubtedly see more than most, you don't need to tell us about the chatter on social media. True, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but much of social media is just a cesspool of nonsense or outrage for outrage sake. Social media about the Colts is no exception.
Problems created by weak, mean people won’t go away unless the stronger, nicer folks out here – and me! – point it out.
From: Bill S.
Don't know Carlie Irsay-Gordon, never met her, just watched a tape of her press conference. She seems highly PR-trained. Stays on point as well as anyone I’ve ever seen – not a negative, just an observation. However, I think that makes your job very challenging if she won’t ever go off-script.
I left that news conference, sat in my car and immediately tweeted this, because I believe in saying nice things:
I believe in Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. You know how some people just seem to … get it? She gets it.
You should see the reaction to that tweet. Ugh.
Love this text group though. It’s like a refreshing rain shower on a warm day.
What. I can’t say that?
Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, or on BlueSky and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar. Subscribe to the free weekly Doyel on Demand newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carlie Irsay-Gordon doesn't fire GM Chris Ballard, making fans furious
Category: General Sports
