"Southside Irish," 9/19/2005

(Chief opinion: VeryFor)

No one laughs at the Chief. He is not a joke. He is pride. He makes us remember the Native Americans. After everything they have been through, he gives them something to cheer for. The Chief can be a visible icon for good Illini teams seen nationwide on TV. I am not offended by the cartoon Fighting Irish leprecaun of Norte Dame. It gives me another team to cheer for. It makes us Irish unique to have a mascot. If anything, he is more direpectful and stereotpyical than the Chief. No one is calling for the Irish's head. Let's focus on bigger prolems than mascots.

"Southside Irish," via the web.