Another mascot bites the dust

The Chicago Tribune is reporting on the forced retirement of the University of Illinois's 81-year-old mascot Chief Illiniwek.

Many are upset about the loss:

Steven Raquel of Naperville, who portrayed the chief in 1992 and '93, said Thursday he would be disappointed if the tradition ended with only a few days' notice.

"It is a dishonorable ending to 80 years of an honorable tradition," Raquel said. "The tradition and the origins and the efforts that we have made over the years have only been done in respect of the history of Illinois and the history of the Illinois tribe. To see that linkage and that appreciation go by the wayside … without an opportunity to find common ground is disappointing."

But it's considered a victory by others:

Retiring the chief is a victory for those who have pressured the university for years to dump the mascot, which they say is humiliating and creates a hostile environment on campus.

It also opens the way for the university to host postseason games, currently prohibited by the NCAA because Chief Illiniwek violates the organization's rules, including next month's National Invitation Tournament in basketball.

Traditions sometimes die hard, but it's usually for monetary reasons.