Wampum

The central point of this op-ed by Nick Coleman is that it's time for North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" to follow in the footsteps of U of I's offensive mascot. However, I liked his lead in so much, I thought I'd put it up:

Nick Coleman: Illinois shows North Dakota what is the truly honorable thing
Goodbye, Chief Illiniwek, and good riddance. Next up, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux.
By Nick Coleman, Star Tribune

Chief Illiniwek gets the ax tonight. The Fighting Sioux nickname should be next.

Sometimes, despite everything, there is progress.

For 80 years, "Chief Illiniwek" has been what fans of the University of Illinois have called the barefoot white boys who have sported buckskin and feathers and aped American Indian dances during football and basketball games. The Chief is a throwback to the days when a conquering culture thought it could spoof racial stereotypes and "honor" people by making them into tumblers and clowns.

But after tonight, the Chief will be history.

In retiring him, Illinois will have succumbed to rulings from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

More importantly, Illinois will have bowed to common decency: You can't "honor" people by offending them.

Chief Illiniwek makes his last dance when the Illinois men's basketball team hosts Michigan. The end of the road for this symbol of -- what, exactly? White boy nimbleness? -- has not brought out the best in the students and alumni of Illinois. But it has proved that the NCAA is on the right track.

"If They Get Rid of the Chief I'm Becoming a Racist" was the name of an online site joined by more than 100 students, whose vile posts about Indians showed they didn't need to worry about becoming racists.

They are well on the way.