There is a wonderful article on Jim Irsay, owner of the Colts, in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated. The article was written by L. Jon Wertheim.
You should all read it. He is a great owner. He is a cool guy, a great dad and really connects with people.
His team is ultra successful and he has a great life and great taste. He made Indy love football maybe more than basketball! I feel and hope we are kindred-like spirits.
We are tangentially connected in an odd offbeat way. My family has a connection with the writer Jack Kerouac. His manuscript of the On The Road scroll went to auction back in 2001. I decided to bid on it and buy it. It meant a lot to me and people close to me. On the Road is one of my favorite books. Jack Kerouac also happens to be buried near my mom and dad in a cemetery in Lowell, Mass. I would have kept it for awhile in my home and then donated it to Georgetown University. That was the plan.
I had never done anything like this before so I called the auction house and they had to pre-approve me to bid. I asked how much was the highest price ever paid for a manuscript and was told $600k. I asked what should I get pre-approved for and they said “$2 million.” Thus, once approved, I was ready to go.
Two folks who work for my family went to NYC to bid while I was on the phone. The bidding opened at $100k and went up to $1 million in about three minutes and I had yet to bid.
When it hit $1 .1 million, the auctioneer said, “Fair warning.” There was one person left standing. I spoke into the phone to my associates, “Go for it now - $1.2 million.”
It then went to $1.3. I bid $1.4. He bid $1.5. I went $1.6. He said $1.7. I went $1.8. He said $1.9. I said $ 2.0 million. He said $2.1 million. I couldn’t bid anymore. I heard “fair warning – fair warning – fair warning! Sold!” And then there were cheers.
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