'Woke' Hits Major League Baseball, Cleveland Indians

Following in the footsteps of the Washington Football Team (very generic if you ask me), Cleveland has also opted to change the team name after internal discussions with the organization and talking with local Native American groups.

Fir decades, the team used the Chief Wahoo caricature on jerseys and hats before moving away from it in recent years.  But the organization said there was no timetable for when the name would be changed.

Now, I can definitely see how Indians may not like the Chief Wahoo caricature (especially when compared to the U of I or Chicago Blackhawks logos).  But, I am not sure why there would be dislike for the name Indians.  How is that disrespectful?

And, in all these cases with name and logo changes, how come these people suddenly got "Woke?"  These have been in place for a long time.

What Gives?  --Cooter

'Woke' Hits Sports Teams: University of Illinois

Illinois has taken steps to find a new mascot but has not committed to a name change.  In September 2020, the campus senate endorsed a change to the belted kingfisher, a blue and orange bird native to the state.  (I've never seen one or even heard of one.)  

The university retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007 after the NCAA found the mascot to be "hostile and abusive."  (Really, hostile and abusive?  Come on.)

So, you better go out and buy any U of I mascot-related items.  I know I have a sweatshirt, tee shirt and hat with the likeness.  As well as a couple bumper stickers.

If I were a member of the Illini tribe or an Indian. I don't think I'd find offense with the image.

--CootIllini

Missing the Boat May Have Saved George Halas' Life-- Part 4: From U of I, to Decautur to Da Bears

Why was George Halas late?  One report later speculated that  he had overslept.  Patrick McCaskey, his grandson, said it was because Halas was obsessed with gaining enough weight to play football at Illinois, so his brother took extra time to weigh him that morning.

"My grandfather went back to the University of Illinois with a renewed sense of purpose, " McCaskey said.  "He felt very fortunate from that day forward."

Five years later --  after Halas graduated from Illinois, served in the Navy during World War I and played briefly for the New York Yankees --  he moved to Decatur, Illinois, for a job with the A.E. Staley Comapny, for whom he was a player-coach of the company football team.

In 1921, Halas took control of the team, moved it to Chicago and renamed it the Bears.

"If he had been one of the fatalities,"  McCaskey said, "I don'tnavy know that the National Football League or the Chicago Bears would have been in existence."

That's Why We Call Him "Papa Bear."  --Cooter

Mising the Boat May Have Saved George Halas' Life-- Part 3: He's Alive!!

Three days later, the Chicago Tribune ran a list of Western Electric employees who were still missing and possibly dead.  One of those listed read "Halas, G.S., Sept. 4110."  None other than our eventual "Papa Bear."

"Two of his fraternity brothers from the University of Illinois read the newspaper  with his name on the list, and they came to my grandfather's home to express condolences to my grandfather's mother,"  McCaskey said.  "They were delighted and surprised when my grandfather answered the door."

According to the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, Halas played on Western Electric's sports  teams and was going to play in the picnic baseball game.  His plan was to meet his best friend, Ralph Brizzalara, and Ralph's brother, Charles.  Both boarded the Eastland and both survived.

He's Alive.  --Cooter

University of Illinois' Chief Illinewek in 1967

From the October 26, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago

"Chief Illinewek may just jump a little higher at the University of Illinois football game Saturday.  He's wearing the first new costume he's had in 37 years.

"The Chief is Illinois' traditional gridiron fight symbol."

Well, Not Anymore In These Days of PC.  --Cooter

Chief Illinewek, 1967. 50 Years Ago: Univ. of Illinois in 1967

From the October 25, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."


"Chief Illinewek may just (jump) a little higher at the University of Illinois football game Saturday.

"He's wearing the first new costume he's had in 37 years.  The Chief is Illinois' traditional gridiron fight symbol."

So Sad Seeing What They Are Doing Now.  --DaCoot

"Papa Bear" George Halas Almost on Eastland That Day-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

George Halas was born Feb. 2, 1895 and in 1915 was temporarily working for Western Electric, the company whose employees boarded the SS Eastland that fateful day.  he was running late because of an attempt ro gain weight in order to play Big ten football.  (So, evidently eating.)

he graduated from Chicago's Crane High School and attended the University of Illinois where he played football for Coach Bob Zuppke.  he also played basketball and baseball.

He helped U of I win the 1918 Big Ten Conference football title after serving in the U.S. Navy, during World War II.  he also played for a team at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station so probably saw theSS Eastlant, now the USS Wilmette, while it was there.

Halas was named the MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl.

Da Bears, Da Papa.  --Cooter

That Bennigan's Restaurant Chain

From the July 30, 2008, Chicago Tribune.

I remember going to Bennigan's ion several different locations, especially because a lot of their places had NTN/Buzztime, a game we love to play. Most often, we went to the one in Lake Zurich, Illinois, for NTN, drink specials and those absolutely fantastic Monte Cristo sandwiches. We've never had better ones.

The Bennigan's in Springfield, Illinois, at the Hilton Hotel reopened, so we can still get our M.C.'s. I remember watching a great Illinois-Arizona basketball game resulting in an Illinois victory and a trip to the Final Four at the Bennigan's in Champaign-Urbana (home of the University of Illinois). We sure had a great time that night!!!

Bennigan's was/is a sports and Irish pub and famous for, like I said, its Monte Cristo sandwich. The chain started in 1976, not long after T.G.I. Friday's pioneered the bar-and-grill chain concept. Bennigan's grew along with the casual dining sector.

However, starting in the 1990s, Bennigan's became just another casual dining place as the market was flooded with similar-themed places and the casual dining market steadily diminished.

By 2008, the chain faced problems from food price inflation, increased minimum wage and a drop in consumer demand because of the economy. In 2008 the parent company declared bankruptcy and closed its 150 corporate locations, although some 31 have since reopened in 11 states.

Getting Hungry for a You-Know-What. --DaCoot