Latest News from Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis Star
37 minutes ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
1-on-1 talks, quizzes, headsets: How Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Kalen Jackson have prepared to run Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are grieving right now. Adjusting to a reality without Jim Irsay, although his presence can still be felt throughout the team facility and the practice fields at the West 56th Street facility. There is a sense of loss, of reflection, of gratitude after the death of the team's owner last week. But there is no air of uncertainty about the future. The Colts already know and trust the hands that now hold the reins. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, Irsay's three daughters, take over their father's role now, assuming full control of departments they've already been leading for years. Irsay-Gordon, the oldest of the three, has spent years preparing to take over the football side. Jackson has been leading the organization's philanthropic efforts and community outreach for years. Foyt does not spend as much time as the other two in the facility, but she has experience in special events. The Colts can see their father's influence in his daughters. 'Carlie, Kalen, especially those two, they're in here daily, they're talking to players, having one-on-one conversations, asking us what we think we need,' wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. 'That's something you don't really see. You don't really see owners asking players directly, 'How can I help you?' I feel like that's what makes them different.' Irsay-Gordon has spent years preparing for this role. When DeForest Buckner was first traded to the Colts in 2020, he was initially surprised to see Irsay-Gordon sitting in a defensive line meeting. Ownership in San Francisco hadn't taken the same approach. Buckner, like the rest of the Colts, quickly got used to Irsay-Gordon's presence. Irsay-Gordon, 44, observes almost every practice from the field, and on game days she roams the sideline, wearing a headset to soak up information from the coaching staff's conversations. Far from an intruder, Irsay-Gordon is part of the fabric of the sidelines. 'If I owned a football team, I would definitely want to know what's going on on those sidelines,' Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said. Irsay-Gordon approaches her role with the team as a student. A scholar searching for the next lesson. 'She's always in meetings, whether it's team meetings, d-unit meetings, in the d-line room, on the field almost every day at practice and obviously on the sidelines,' Buckner said. 'She's always got her big notebook, always taking notes, always asking questions about the game. … And obviously, now it's her time to step up and take the lead, and we all have great confidence in her.' A lot of NFL owners have little formal training for the job. Buying an organization thrusts an owner into the role immediately. First-time NFL owners often take some time to learn that the same approach that serves them well in the business arena or another sport does not apply to the world of football. Irsay-Gordon, on the other hand, has years of formal training, enough that she can test a player or coach's retention. 'She'll even come and give you a pop quiz sometimes, so you've got to make sure you're not asleep in those meetings,' receiver coach Reggie Wayne said. 'She's been a student of the game for many years.' An owner in a headset is a rarity, prompting questions from opponents about what Irsay-Gordon is doing on the sidelines. Every once in a while, somebody wonders if ownership has input on the play-calling, something Irsay-Gordon has never done, although a few Colts know her well enough that they think she might be able to handle the job. 'I mean, honestly, she's out there so much, she's probably getting to the point where she might start calling a couple (plays),' Pittman said. The Colts coaching staff appreciates Irsay-Gordon's commitment to the football side of the game. A lot of NFL owners try to stay away from the football side as much as possible, but the reality is that approach can leave an owner unprepared when big football decisions must be made. ESPN reported in January that NFL owners who stay away from football entirely often have little idea what they want in a coach or general manager when a hire has to be made. 'When you talk football with her, she gets it,' Steichen said. 'She understands it. She goes over the defensive stuff, the offensive stuff. She's been involved since I've been here from Day 1, very hands on and she's been tremendous. I think she's going to do a phenomenal job.' Irsay-Gordon's presence on the sideline has drawn the most attention from fans over the past couple of years. But both Irsay-Gordon and Jackson have adopted their father's philosophy of building relationships with the players, relationships that have prompted a deluge of stories about Irsay's compassion and generosity towards players in the wake of his death. Veteran defensive end Tyquan Lewis says his relationship with Irsay-Gordon has grown over the years because of her involvement with the team. 'Kalen's also amazing, with everything in the community,' Buckner said. 'The most recent (community event) I was at, it was a couple months ago, in the hospital in the NICU department, and we were handing out swaddles and things for the parents. I think this organization is in good hands.'
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Kalen Irsay Jackson and Casey Foyt, daughters of Colts' Jim Irsay
Robert Scheer, Robert Scheer-USA TODAY Sports Casey Foyt, the daughter of late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, waves the green flag Sunday, May 25, 2025, during the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Michael Johnson/For IndyStar Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt, daughters of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, lock arms with Colts players during the national anthem before the Seattle Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. Matt Kryger/IndyStar For Casey Irsay Foyt (left) and Kalen Irsay, Indianapolis Colts vice chair/owner, football is a family affair. Here, they show off Colts henleys on the team's Pinterest page. Photo Provided By The NFL Casey Coyle Irsay, 25, goofs off with her father, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, for a picture at the Colts Complex on W. 56th Street on Thursday, September 25, 2008. She is a vice president with the Colts and is being groomed by her father for a bigger role with the organization. (Charlie Nye / The Star). Charlie Nye Indianapolis Star Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Indianapolis Colts vice chair/owner, appears on behalf of the Colts during a ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis on Thursday, March 13, 2014. Gov. Mike Pence thanked the Colts for their part in a handout in 2013 of Colts game tickets to military families by Meijer, the Michigan-based grocery chain. Irsay-Gordon, the oldest daughter of owner Jim Irsay, is running the team in his absence while he undergoes inpatient treatment following his arrest Sunday night, March 16 by Carmel Police on preliminary charges of driving while intoxicated and four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. Charlie Nye/The Star Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, Luck's wife Nicole Pechanec, Kalen Irsay Jackson and head coach Frank Reich listen and watch as Andrew Luck announces his retirement following their preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Aug 24, 2019. Luck Retires Matt Kryger/IndyStar, Matt Kryger/IndyStar Via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Thrifting is the ultimate inflation killer. It's also the best way to shop.
There is something cathartic about securing an interesting and cheap find while shopping. It's thrilling to find the perfect trinket, or shirt or pair of shoes after spending hours looking through racks and racks of clothing. You might not have experienced that thrill before, but you might soon have reason to give it a try. Tariffs, or taxes on imports, remain at the highest levels in living memory. Americans could soon face higher prices and even a shortage of goods. While the economy could suffer, you've got options. There are no tariffs on secondhand goods. Thrifting is affordable – and exciting. My thrifting origin story is fairly recent. I was searching for a way to relieve anxiety and stress that was taking over my life, even if that relief was only for an hour or two. There is a large community of secondhand shoppers who document their thrifting experiences and hauls online, and I had always enjoyed that type of content. I decided to start thrifting about a year ago and immediately fell in love. While spending most of my waking hours studying for a graduate school entrance exam, I needed to unwind. Going on long walks was great, but I needed something more engaging and involved – and something that had the potential of a material reward. I began frequenting thrift stores after study sessions. Thrifting felt like a wiser financial decision than just shopping regularly, and I liked how it was a slightly more sustainable and environmentally friendly practice. After hours of studying, I would walk into a thrift store – headphones on and music turned up, because thrift stores are more overstimulating than you would think – with the goal of finding a few high-quality items. The crux of my thrifting desires was rooted in the idea of being able to find clothing from higher quality brands at a fraction of the price. I was in search of brands, and a level of quality, that I would otherwise find difficult to pay full price for. I found the motions of thrifting cleansing. I enjoyed the process just as much as I enjoyed leaving with my new purchases. There are no curated displays or mannequins modeling clothes in thrift stores. I loved the challenge of looking through hundreds of shirts with unnecessary slogans, and pants with unflattering seams, to find the few items worthy of purchase. A best practice is to look at tags and labels to see what items are made of. Thrifting forced me to consider what types of fabric compositions I was interested in. Synthetic fibers, like polyester and acrylic, are everywhere in our clothing. Synthetic fibers, while being environmentally harmful, are also a lot weaker than natural fibers. My goal was to find items made with higher quality materials and fibers that would last longer. I shop at regular stores far less than I used to. I enjoy the challenge of finding higher quality clothing than typical fast-fashion clothing stores sell – and I buy clothes at a fraction of the price. It helps me think about clothing in a more intentional way. I am forced to consider whether, and how, I am going to use or wear my potential purchase. I could spend a few hours a week in a thrift store and leave with maybe one sweater and one shirt. There are times when I leave with nothing. I don't mind. Opinion: Why Muslim-owned coffee shops are Indy's best late-night hangouts Cultivating thrifty habits starts with how you think. Instead of immediately turning to the website or app for your favorite retailer, think about a secondhand source you can use – whether that is a physical thrift store, a garage or estate sale or an online marketplace. Garage and estate sales are especially great for finding home decor, clothing and other random trinkets. Facebook Marketplace listings are another source, especially if you care about making your purchases locally. There are even online ways to shop secondhand through platforms including Depop, ThredUp and eBay. These sites let you search for exactly what you want. If we experience another bout of inflation, secondhand shopping could be a solution. Even if we don't, though, I suggest giving it a try. Thrifting will always be one of my absolute favorite ways to shop. The thrill of finding something vintage or unique after an hour of scavenging through random clothes came to me when I was stressed and anxious. I was looking for an outlet. I found it thrifting.
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Zionsville pitcher Davis Moore throws one-hit shutout for sectional win over Noblesville
CARMEL --- Zionsville sophomore pitcher Davis Moore needed 90 pitches to get through six innings in Wednesday's sectional opener against Noblesville and pitch 96 yielded a leadoff triple to IU commit Aiden Reynolds. The young left-hander was staring down his 120-pitch limit, more than he'd ever thrown in a varsity game. With the tying run 90 feet from home plate, Moore was determined to stay on the mound and finish what he started. "I'm finishing (the game)," Moore said to his father, Zionsville coach Jered Moore, during a mound visit after the triple. The hit was Noblesville's first of the game. Moore made sure it was the last. With the infield drawn in, Moore forced a groundball for the first out of the inning. Out No. 2 was a shallow fly ball to right field, preventing Reynolds from tagging up and coming home. With two outs, the infield moved back to normal depth and Moore finished the game with his 10th strikeout, sending Zionsville to a 1-0 victory over the Millers. Zionsville (19-8) advances to face Fishers (24-5) in the sectional semifinals. "As long as we kept the runner on third, he was going to finish the game," the elder Moore said. "He's a bulldog out there. I've had the luxury of seeing him quite a few times. I think he prefers those situations -- I don't -- but he does. I had faith in him and he went out and battled. I was proud of him." Moore had full command of his arsenal against the Millers (16-11). After a first-inning walk, the lefty retired the next 16 batters in a row. Moore struck out the side in the second and fifth innings, using his slider to keep the opposition off balance. "After my bullpen, I knew I was going to go out here and do what I can do," Moore said. "I've been working my tail off ever since I was a little kid. (Working) with my team and my parents, I believe in myself all day." Moore generated numerous swings and misses, and when Noblesville made contact, the Eagles' defense was there to pick him up. Left fielder Liam Salapka made a leaping catch, preventing extra bases in the third. Center fielder Riley Agbonhese showed his range, tracking down a ball in the gap to end the fourth. Right fielder Jackson Gilley ended the fifth inning with a sliding catch.
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Mayo Fernandez lifts Fishers baseball to sectional victory over HSE
CARMEL --- Fishers senior second baseman Mayo Fernandez didn't let a slight miscue stop him from achieving his ultimate goal. With runners on the corners in the sixth inning, Fernandez tried to drop a bunt to score the runner from third base. With one strike, his bunt attempt went foul, forcing the senior to abandon his plan and swing away. Needing to put the ball in play, Fernandez drove the pitch from Hamilton Southeastern pitcher Michael Hoog back up the middle, scoring what proved to be the winning run, lifting Fishers to a 3-2 victory over rival HSE in the first round of Wednesday's sectional tournament. Fishers advances to face Zionsville in the semifinals Friday. "I'm just trying to do my job," Fernandez said. "We spent the whole year working to put bat on ball. Trusting my skill, trusting my ability and trusting the Lord. "With two strikes, I'm just looking to put the ball in play. ... All you can do is put the ball in play and then you've done your job." Fernandez went 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs. The senior has battled injuries throughout the season, forcing him to miss games and come in and out of the lineup. Despite the missed playing time, coach Matthew Cherry and Fishers staff trust Fernandez to come through when they need him the most. "He's done that all year and it's usually with two strikes and two outs," Cherry said. "We tried to do something fancy; it didn't work and then he proves me wrong when we let him swing away. He's been awesome all year long. All year long he just finds barrels." Hoog put HSE ahead with an RBI-single in the first inning. Fernandez tied the game with an RBI-single in the second. Chase Bradle's sacrifice fly put the Royals back on top in the top of the fourth. A Luke Cherry single and a well-time hit-and-run put runners on the corners for Carter Strole in the bottom half of the inning. Strole's ground out tied the game at 2-2, setting up Fernandez for his go-ahead hit.
