Sports in brief
Illinois retires mascot after 81 years
The University of Illinois will retire its 81-year-old American Indian mascot, Chief Illiniwek, following the last men’s home basketball game of the season Wednesday.
The NCAA in 2005 deemed the buckskin-clad Illiniwek an offensive use of American Indian imagery and barred the university from hosting postseason events.
American Indian groups and others complained for years that the mascot, used since 1926, is demeaning. Supporters of the mascot say it honors the contributions of American Indians to Illinois.
Illinois still will use the name Illini because it’s short for Illinois and the school can use the term Fighting Illini, because it’s considered a reference to the team’s competitive spirit, school officials said. It is unclear if the school will get a new mascot.
On Friday, a Champaign County Circuit Court judge rejected two students’ request for a court order banning the university from “capitulating to the NCAA by announcing the retirement of Chief Illiniwek.”
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“Illinois men’s basketball player Jamar Smith will miss the rest of the season after being injured in a traffic accident in Champaign, Ill.
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Defensive coordinator Greg Lupfer was named interim coach of the Division I-AA Vikings, and will be considered as a candidate for the job.
Football
Seahawks fill front-office need
The Seattle Seahawks moved quickly to fill a hole in their front office, hiring John Idzik as their vice president of football administration, after Mike Reinfeldt left for Tennessee. Idzik worked the last three years for Arizona.
“The son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, 23-year-old Garrett Reid, has entered a drug-treatment program amid charges he injured a woman in a traffic accident while under the influence of heroin.
“Ron Rivera, Chicago’s third-year defensive coordinator, interviewed for the job vacated by Marty Schottenheimer’s sudden firing by the San Diego Chargers.
Miscellany
Kildow injures knee
American skier Lindsey Kildow injured her right knee in training and will miss the final two events of the world championships at Are, Sweden.
Sarka Zahrobska won the women’s slalom to give the Czech Republic its first world championships gold medal.
“Spanish star Marta Fernandez has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.
“Sports announcer Jim Lampley was charged with violating a temporary restraining order filed by a former beauty queen in San Diego. He faces up to a year in jail if convicted.