12/21/24
February 17, 2007
Chief Illiniwek hits the bench: The University of Illinois will retire its mascot of 81 years, Chief Illiniwek, after Wednesday's final home basketball game of the season despite a lawsuit filed by the two students who portray him.
Why should we have to assume/presume he is gay? Are 10% of mascots gay too, for crying out loud? YAY, yet another great victory for PC. Note: The very disputable 10% figure was borrowed from the Amaechi thread.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:18 AM on February 17, 2007
I'm not logging into the Trib's site for love or moolah so I can't comment.
posted by sickleguy at 03:56 PM on February 17, 2007
I think I read fatty's comment as being written with tongue stuck firmly in cheek. What I think he meant was that there seem to be an awful lot of closets being cleaned lately, so why not throw a little barb here. The dark forces of PC are about to make me gag. I just wait for the counterrevolution. Get the pitchforks and torches ready, boys (and girls). I too did not jump through the Trib's required hoop, so I did not read the article. Are the mascots suing because of a lost scholarship? If so, the university ought to do something to make it up. Otherwise, what's their problem?
posted by Howard_T at 04:21 PM on February 17, 2007
Try this link to the Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette. On the right are a few other links, including the press release from the university.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:08 PM on February 17, 2007
Can't we please get rid of the animal mascots too? It's got to be demeaning for Tigers, Lions, and for God's sake, the Terrapins, to see their images exploited for sports. How about a list of PC mascots to choose from?
posted by whitedog65 at 05:13 PM on February 17, 2007
what next???? soon we'll have to play two hand touch football, because tackle football is too aggressive. What a shame! Can I puke yet?
posted by bavarianmotorworker at 05:41 PM on February 17, 2007
It's too bad the Chief didn't come out of the closet before retiring, just to ensure this thread would be perfect. 12 of 10 Mmmm. Delicious. what next???? soon we'll have to play two hand touch football, because tackle football is too aggressive. What a shame! Can I puke yet? This guy no longer dances at home games and you're going to puke? Well then. By all means.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:33 PM on February 17, 2007
Quit your bitching about "PC" already, bunch of goddamn whiners.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:00 PM on February 17, 2007
It's about time. I have seen the chief dance during TV timeouts and it is degrading. There is no reason to do this other than resist change. If the mascot was a mock suicide bomber dancing around a mock downed Blackhawk helicopter people would understand te word offensive. How about an fighting airline passenger with the logo "Let's Roll"?
posted by Godzilla82 at 07:46 AM on February 18, 2007
Does anybody not think that this "cave-in" will only encourage the next NCAA blackmail?
posted by mikeglit at 07:46 AM on February 18, 2007
If the mascot was a mock suicide bomber dancing around a mock downed Blackhawk helicopter people would understand te word offensive. How about an fighting airline passenger with the logo "Let's Roll"? You're well on your way to a scholarship with the Stanford band.
posted by yerfatma at 09:02 AM on February 18, 2007
Personally, I prefer Mascots that can be hunted down and/or eaten. Banana Slugs? Mmmmmmm, delicious.
posted by bolo165 at 10:38 AM on February 18, 2007
Been to plenty of Illini games, and this PC crap is a joke. The administration collapsed over the Jeffersons, as in making' them, through post season action. Raising tuition doesnt give the Board it's 100% salary bump, so... As for the NCAA, they might as well call them the University of Illinois Smarmy-assed Susies...oops, I can't say that. All the Susans, Susies and Sues will be pissed... Also, the music that the Chief used to dance to (tom toms and that old TV Indian music- see Atlanta Braves) will now be, aw, screw it. NEVER MIND!!!
posted by wolfdad at 10:54 AM on February 18, 2007
So whats left now, clean out the museum's too? Who will care about the Indians after they are forgotten?
posted by volfire at 12:27 PM on February 18, 2007
Quit your bitching about "PC" already, bunch of goddamn whiners. /Finds this irony hilarious.
posted by mjkredliner at 01:03 PM on February 18, 2007
Except it's not ironic. It'd be ironic if we had the stereotypical paragons of political correctness one side always rails against in this argument. But we don't. What we have here is a dead horse and I think lbb's comment is spot on. Who wants to hear about the travails of the white man one more time? Whine on, John Dunne.
posted by yerfatma at 02:28 PM on February 18, 2007
Thanks for the link to the U/C News-Gazette, fraze. The link to the comments about the lawsuit was informative. Much as I hate the robot-like worshiping of PC, I just can't see where the student-plaintiffs have any case. They claim that doing away with a mascot that some find offensive will deprive them of some academic freedom and "valuable career opportunities". Were they planning careers as Native American exotic dancers? I do agree with their lawyer that the NCAA's enforcement of the ban on Native American mascots is arbitrary and capricious. On the face of it, Florida State has more clout than Illinois with the college sports commissars. As far as 'bitching' about PC goes, I just want a world where people make sense. I read today of a 4-year-old who was suspended from his preschool for hugging a teacher and allowing his face to press against her breasts. Ridiculous!!!
posted by Howard_T at 02:49 PM on February 18, 2007
Bob: "Hey, Train 347 is on track A and coming into the station at full speed from the west." Dave: "Really? Train 569 is also on track A and coming into the station at full speed from the east" Bob: "Uh oh."
posted by grum@work at 03:40 PM on February 18, 2007
Man, li'l brown stick gets extremely upset at the smallest things. "pc" or not this is ridiculous!
posted by bavarianmotorworker at 04:00 PM on February 18, 2007
bavarian, I believe the member you are referring to is lil_brown_bat, she certainly doesn't need me to defend her, but you may find treating people with respect garners you more respect. On topic....the use of humans of any race or creed as a mascot I find tremendously offensive. It is degrading and ignorant.
posted by tommybiden at 04:57 PM on February 18, 2007
TT I understand. In an earlier thread, "tiki barber's" her reference to me was the "bavariansausageeater."
posted by bavarianmotorworker at 05:18 PM on February 18, 2007
Which, of course, forces you to respond in kind. After all, you don't want the rest of us thinking you're soft or anything, right?
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:31 PM on February 18, 2007
And, of course, accusing someone of eating Bavarian sausages, or of being a Bavarian who eats sausages, is a terrible insult. I stand accused of whimsy and plead whimsical. BTW, it's little brown bat. No sticks involved. Most people on spofi just abbreviate to lbb. If you've got a preferred abbreviation, bavarianetc., I sure wish you'd trot it out, because your nick is a bit too long to be fun to type.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:29 PM on February 18, 2007
my apologies lbb. if you wish you and for whomever else, you may abbreviate my name to bmw. again my apologies for any slighted feelings from my previous post on your name.
posted by bavarianmotorworker at 07:34 PM on February 18, 2007
"Quit your bitching about "PC" already, bunch of goddamn whiners. posted by lil_brown_bat at 9:00 PM CST on February 17" I like the part about coming with pitchforks and torches on a counter revolution. Will be interesting to see how they stand up to laser scoped 357s.
posted by Cave_Man at 07:56 PM on February 18, 2007
Thousands of people are dying in Darfur, Sudan due to an active genocide. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are sold into slavery each year around the world. Here in America, 1 in 5 women will be a victim of sexual assault during her lifetime. All these are but a mote compared to the horrors that the University of Illinois suffered because they lost their beloved mascot. How will we ever recover?
posted by Bonkers at 09:37 PM on February 18, 2007
Except it's not ironic. It'd be ironic if we had the stereotypical paragons of political correctness one side always rails against in this argument. Big words from little people? Opinions are not limited to the most intelligent. It makes your arguments as pale as whitemen's skin.
posted by Godzilla82 at 07:19 AM on February 19, 2007
Opinions are not limited to the most intelligent. Recent weeks have served as a painful reminder of this trenchant observation.
posted by yerfatma at 07:34 AM on February 19, 2007
my apologies lbb. if you wish you and for whomever else, you may abbreviate my name to bmw. again my apologies for any slighted feelings from my previous post on your name. No apology needed, because no offense was taken -- really. Believe it or not, I wasn't thinking of the baseball connection when I chose my nick, but it is (naturally) the first thing nearly everyone thinks of when they see the nick. I'll have to claim hypothermia for not having got the bmw connection -- bmw it shall be, if that's your pleasure.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:37 AM on February 19, 2007
"It's about time. I have seen the chief dance during TV timeouts and it is degrading. There is no reason to do this other than resist change. If the mascot was a mock suicide bomber dancing around a mock downed Blackhawk helicopter people would understand the word offensive. How about an fighting airline passenger with the logo "Let's Roll"?" Now that is offensive! Unfortunatley Godzilla, you're missing the point here. People use political correctness to bully people into thinking like them, which is what this country should not be about! Of course people would be offended by a suicide bomber dancing around a blackhawk, and they should be! If I was a native American I would be more offended by that than a mascot of a dancing chief, because were ALL Americans, 9/11 was an attack on all of us! Plus, why is that offensive anyways, thats what they did, rain dances, etc. Chief Illinwek did a win dance, whats the difference, seeing something like that should remind us of our American history and how we came to be where we are now. We shouldnt sweep it under the rug like it didnt happen! This all comes back to the NCAA and its Nazi tactics. I already left a scathing blog about them already today, so why not another? I'm on fire! The NCAA forces them to do this or the Illini teams cant participate in post season tourneys. Well get this, they are trying to force some schools in the south to take down the Confederate flag at their PUBLIC buildings or they will enforce the same punishment! Can you believe the gall of these people? This is borderline terror tactics! (let it be known I am not from the south) Waych out Clemson if your legislators dont agree with the all knowing, all powerful, always right NCAA you wont be able to go to bowl games or participate in March Madness, etc. I'm sorry, but once again, the Confederate flag is part of our history, like it or not, just like the history of Native Americans is... ...to be honest, even if I'm being a little bit unsensitive to Native Americans, then please explain to me why Florida St is given free reign? Its cuz the Seminoles dont care, and why should they? its free publicity so when we go down their on vacation, we can hit up one of their casinoes, or buy some marijuana from them cuz they can freely grow it w/out being arrested! So, an indian chief mascot is ignorant and degrading, but double standards arent? I'm sorry but that isnt right
posted by dezznutz at 08:12 PM on February 22, 2007
People use political correctness to bully people into thinking like them I used to think it was a means of coercing civility into a society that has a hard time keeping anger out of an acknowledgment of individual differences of any kind. I realize now that I have a tendency to give too much credit to PC, and not enough to people.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 08:23 PM on February 22, 2007
It swells my heart with pride to see somebody who calls himself "deeznutz" following a proud tradition of using the September elventh attacks to bolster a completely unrelated point. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? The terrorists just won a little bit.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:46 AM on February 23, 2007
I don't even know where to begin. I'm not sure if you've ever heard the phrase "if it offends one person that's too many people," of course that's an exaggeration but when you've offended an entire group of people it's time to change. The term "PC" gets kicked around too much these days by people trying to remove the legitimacy from an issue. Somebody complains about something being PC and everybody jumps on board to start complaining about forced thought. The fact of the matter is this is incredibly degrading to a people with a rich cultural heritage and I'm sorry deeznuts but I don't quite see the similarities between the religious rituals the Native Americans participated in and some guy running up and down the court when a basketball team wins a game. Furthermore the point you made about it being part of our American history doesn't seem to be well thought out either, last I checked colleges offer history classes on Native American culture as do many high schools so I don't know where this "sweep it under the rug like it didn't happen" nonsense comes from and there is absolutely no historical relevance in what Chief Illiniwek does. The same result can be gathered by a guy with a big "I" painted on his chest. If you want a history lesson you take a class or read a book you don't go to a basketball game.
posted by dj sko at 02:43 PM on February 25, 2007
It's too bad the Chief didn't come out of the closet before retiring, just to ensure this thread would be perfect. 12 of 10