Indianapolis Colts fans did not show their classy side when news spread on Saturday that Andrew Luck has decided to retire, and one of the best players to ever play for the franchise was not the least bit surprised by the reaction.
Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, who played for the Colts from 1987-1991, said on the “Lunchtime with Roggin and Rodney” show Monday that he heard much worse from fans in Indy than the boos that rained down on Luck. Some of the taunts were incredibly racist, he says.
“I’ll never forget in that stadium when I just went over 10,000 yards, they booed. They booed me,” Dickerson said. “But the thing that really sticks out the most to me, I will never forget this — they took a black baby sitting in the Indian style position with chicken on one side, a stack of money on one side, watermelons on another, and me holding fried chicken in my hands with big red lips.”
Dickerson said that is the reason he doesn’t care if he ever goes back to Indianapolis or not, even though he was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2013.
“When they put my name in that (Ring of Honor) I told them to put somebody else up there,” he added. “I know I played for that football team, but I really have some really ill feelings about that. There’s certain things you cannot forget.”
Dickerson was placed on the inactive list for six games at the start of the 1990 season during a contract dispute with the Colts, so that is likely when he encountered the racist taunts. He also won a rushing title in Indy and was with the Colts when he became the fastest player to eclipse 10,000 yards rushing for his career, but that apparently was not enough to endear him to fans.
Luck certainly seemed bothered by Colts fans booing him, and you can’t blame him for that. Some of the game’s biggest stars have spoken out against the way he was treated over the retirement decision, but Dickerson could have seen it coming.
