{
  "id": 13075521,
  "title": "Why Carlie Irsay-Gordon taking notes on Colts' sideline became a controversy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/why-carlie-irsay-gordon-taking-notes-on-colts-sideline-became-a",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T09:07:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-carlie-irsay-gordon-taking-090710337.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sam Kass, a professor at Indiana University, was giving a lecture in her Gender and Sports class when students began discussing Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and her presence on the sidelines during games. The image of Irsay-Gordon, dressed in feminine attire with lipstick, scribbling down notes and asking questions of coaches, has sparked a social media controversy. Sports personality Bill Simmons called her actions \"f---ing nuts,\" while others defended her presence and questioned her football IQ. The controversy has led to broader questions about gender and power in sports.\n\nKass, coming from a gender studies perspective, wonders if the backlash would be less harsh if Irsay-Gordon were a man. She acknowledges that her sideline presence is different from that of other owners, as she attends every game and has been doing so for a decade. Kass points out that the language and tone of the critique are different when applied to a woman compared to a man in a similar position.\n\nSports personality Bill Simmons' comments on The Bill Simmons Podcast also highlight the double standard. While his co-host may have had a crush on Irsay-Gordon, Simmons expressed his disbelief and criticism, suggesting that she was being \"f---ing nuts.\" Kass argues that this binary response is problematic, as she is both an NFL owner and a woman, and cannot be criticized for both aspects simultaneously.\n\nWhile some find Irsay-Gordon's sideline presence performative, Kass argues that sports is inherently about performance. She questions the assumption that her note-taking is merely for show and believes that her actions are a valid part of her leadership role. Kass also notes that Irsay-Gordon's fashion choices contribute to her high visibility and may be a factor in the public's attention. However, she maintains that her appearance does not negate her ownership status or her ability to lead the team.",
  "summary": "Gender studies experts weighed in on the question for IndyStar.",
  "key_points": [
    "Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Indianapolis Colts owner, taking notes during games sparks controversy",
    "Professor Sam Kass questions gender backlash, argues it's different when applied to women",
    "Bill Simmons calls her actions \"f---ing nuts,\" highlighting double standard in criticism"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}