Save the Last Dance for Me

Wimbledon isn’t the only institution that has changed tradition this week. At the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., an 80-year tradition also ended as the university’s mascot, Chief Illiniwek, made his final dance in front of a packed emotionally-charged home crowd Wednesday night. Since 1969, critics have argued that the Chief was “hostile and abusive” to Native Americans, and should be banned.

Most mascots in professional and collegiate sports are representations of animals, birds or foul. They are symbols whose characteristics best represented the characteristics of the team. The qualities that Chief Illini exhibited – courage, strength and determination -- were qualities that the Fighting Illini also presented. The Chief, however, had a human face. I think many found it difficult to see past the face to the symbolic meaning attached to it.

So what’s next? Will animal rights groups begin to protest the use of certain other mascots because they are “hostile and abusive” to animals?

Got Something to Crow About?

Fans attending the South Carolina Gamecocks’ football games are going to hear fewer rooster crows from their mascot during the rest of this season. The SEC is cracking down on the number of times the rooster can crow during SC’s home games. While it will still be permissible during timeouts, halftime and before or after the game, the rooster will have to shut its beak before third-down plays and other critical moments during the game.