RIP Chief Illiniwek last appearance tomorrow

[ChicosBailBonds]

The Univ. of Illinois announced that tomorrow's men's basketball game against Michigan "will be the last performance" for its Chief Illiniwek mascot, according to Jodi Cohen of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. A Champaign County (IL) judge "refused Friday morning to issue a temporary restraining order that would have blocked the move." The NCAA in '05 ruled the mascot's image was "hostile and abusive" to Native Americans and banned the school from hosting postseason competitions, but informed it that the sanctions "will be lifted after Wednesday's game." Students "lined up 15 deep" at campus bookstores Friday "snapping up every Chief Illiniwek T-shirt, magnet and fleece blanket they could." In the first three hours of business, one campus store sold 1,400 "chief-related items" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/17). As the clock counted down at the end of the Northwestern-Illinois men's basketball game on Sunday, fans chanted, "Save the chief! Save the chief!" Students are also circulating e-mails and messages with "plans for, among other things, a vigil this week outside" the home of President Joseph White (USA TODAY, 2/19). The nicknames "Fighting Illini" and "Illini" will remain (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/17).

[Avenue Commons]

Marquette will be the Warriors again before we ever see Chief Illiniwek at a U of I game again. I'm surprised in the modern political climate that Chief Illiniwek lasted as long as he did.

[ChicosBailBonds]

[ONeills Barstool]

The nicknames “Fighting Illini” and “Illini” will remain (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/17).

Gee....What a novel idea. 

[NYWarrior]

oh the irony of this decision........that we are discussing it with the charicature of an impatient, angry Irishman depicted in the header.

Fightin' Illini v Fightin Irish

what exactly is the difference?  (note:  ND was founded by French priests)

[AlumKCof93]

Good riddance.  I'm glad a decision was finally made as the topic has been around for years and no mascot deserves that much attention. 

[lab_warrior]

Terrific.  I was looking for a good reason to care EVEN LESS about Illinois basketball.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Death of the Chief

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/02/death_of_the_chief.html

[Mayor McCheese]

they were talking on sportscenter what the difference is between the Florida St. Seminoles fighting war chants and throwing the spear at midfiel (not a NA tradition), compared to what the Illini do, which is very traditional, paying their respects, I think our politically correct country is missing and not seeing the difference between distasteful and paying respects..... and then we have a pro football team named the Redskins, huh?