Column: Jim Irsay needs to be punished

Colts fans must think owner Jim Irsay poses a moral enigma.

After his March 16 arrest for driving under the influence and four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, he was ultimately charged with two misdemeanors and still faces some sort of punishment from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Tuesday he spoke about his struggle with alcoholism and substance abuse, and he talked about the nature of addiction and its public perception.

“These diseases, both alcoholism and addiction, much like bipolar or depression and different illnesses, are still not seen as real diseases,” he told the Indianapolis Star. “People shy away from seeking help because it’s viewed as being somewhat morally off the path, that they’ve lost their way.”

On one hand, it’s easy to sympathize with the embattled Colts owner.

Many of us have dealt with a family member, a friend, an acquaintance or otherwise who’s been forced to deal with some sort of addiction.

It comes in many forms, and only those who have actually been through that pain can know what it’s like to try to live with it on a day-to-day basis, let alone try to fight it off and live without it.

Irsay clearly had some pretty serious problems with addiction. The morning he was arrested, police found what they described as numerous bottles of different prescription drugs along with more than $29,000 in cash stashed away in a black duffle bag.

Now, I’m no Columbo, but nothing about having 30 grand and enough narcotics to kill an elephant in the back of your Highlander screams well-balanced individual.

But somehow it’s hard not to root for him.

He’s been such an active member of the local community not only in the scope of the NFL, but with the development of the city as a whole. He helped bring the Super Bowl to Indianapolis in 2012, which was widely regarded as a huge success, even on a national scale.

And despite being a billionaire, he’s never given off that air in the public eye.

If you had been following him on Twitter before this ordeal, chances are you’ve had your day brightened by many a drunk selfie and many a Bruce Springsteen lyric on your timeline, courtesy of Mr. Irsay.

On the other hand, it’s just as hard not to hold contempt for the man.

After finding out he dodged the four felony possession counts, his legal team made it a special point to thank the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office for its professionalism in dealing with the case.

Not to be cynical, but if you’re a regular non-billionaire, you don’t just duck four felony counts with a veritable slap on the wrist.

Chances are you end up in prison.

You definitely aren’t thanking the prosecutor’s office after you get arraigned. The fact they did is a metaphorical slap to the common man’s face.

In many ways Irsay represents the worst parts of our judicial system.

He represents the fact that, if you have enough money and enough influence within the community, you live by a separate set of rules than the general population.

That said, Roger Goodell has the perfect opportunity to make a statement.

If he comes down hard on Irsay, he’ll send a message to the rest of the NFL that personal conduct is crucial to the league.

And even superstar status won’t help you in the long run.

Goodell can make right what the Hamilton County prosecutor wouldn’t, in a time where discipline is a huge issue for the NFL.

To keep players’ and owners’ respect, he has no other choice.

aknorth@indiana.edu