Justin Breen
Times Sports Editor
Years from now, a dusty videotape of the University of Illinois' Chief Illiniwek will surface, someone will pop it in an outdated VCR, watch it and probably utter: "What were they thinking?"
Illiniwek provided his final halftime performance at Wednesday's Illinois-Michigan men's basketball game. After two decades of complaints, protests and voting, the chief said so long.
It's about time.
The chief, an offensive portrayal of Native Americans, should have been dismissed years ago. Instead, for more than 80 years, a dancing, painted-and-feathered student provided entertainment for fans -- and a nice cash flow for the university -- at the expense of real honor.
I don't remember much from my college days down in Champaign-Urbana, but one distinct recollection was watching the documentary "In Whose Honor?" during a sociology class. The film showed how Spokane Indian and Illinois graduate Charlene Teters and her two children were offended by the chief, and how it mocked Native Americans.
And she was absolutely right.
Teters responded by crusading against Illiniwek, trying to get rid of him once and for all. And now, finally, she and others in a vast minority can have some peace.
For the most part, the decision to remove Illiniwek is an unpopular one.
All I say is this: Imagine if your religion -- your highest beliefs -- were mocked right in front of your face, while others cheered and celebrated. You'd be pretty ticked, too. And, hopefully, you'd want something done about it.
One day, hopefully, all offensive mascots and these ridiculous traditions will be removed.
And the only memories of them will be on tapes collecting dust on an antique shelf.
Dog of the Week
Tiger and Coco (pictured) are 2-year-old boxer/rottweiler mixes at the Humane Society Calumet Area in Munster. They have been together their whole lives and are gentle giants. They must go home together.
For more information on Tiger and Coco and the other dogs at the HSCA, visit www.hscalumet.org or e-mail info@hscalumet.org. You also can call (219) 922-3811.
The shelter is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
For more animals in need, look for Pets of the Week in Your Saturday.
On Thursdays, Justin Breen appears on "The Dawn Patrol" on 105.5 FM at 8 a.m. and the "Morning Mix" on 107.1 FM at 8:25 a.m.
This column solely represents the writer's opinion. Reach him at jbreen@nwitimes.com.
