In all the years I spent growing up in South Bend, Ind., where “Irish” is the second-most claimed ancestry, I never once met a person of Irish heritage who claimed the local university’s mascot, a squat, square-jawed leprechaun, was in some way racially insensitive or insulting.
On the contrary, in South Bend, the University of Notre Dame’s mascot is well-loved, adorning everything from cars to windbreakers to grocery bags. It’s hard to go anywhere without seeing the sign of the “Fighting Irish,” usually by people who are proud of their Irish heritage. And let’s not forget the reported origins of the “Fighting Irish” title. In 1924, Notre Dame students battled anti-Catholic Ku Klux Klan members, chasing them from the city and curbing the group’s power and influence in the state. It’s from this little-known event that the school adopted the title “Fighting Irish,” and there’s nothing but pride in that.
Perhaps this is why I’ve yet to encounter a single self-identified Irish-American in South Bend or anywhere else who believes Notre Dame’s mascot is hurtful.
ESPN’s Max Kellerman knows differently, apparently. He is here to tell us that, actually, the Notre Dame fighting Irishman is hurtful and that “many” Irish-Americans are offended by it.
The “First Take” host’s remarks came Tuesday as he addressed the Cleveland Indians’ decision to retire Chief Wahoo as their mascot in 2019.
“When I go to Native-American reservations around the country to call fights, I am approached — I’ve received feathers in honor and letters saying, ‘Thank you for your stance,'” he said.
He continued, adding that all sports mascots should be retired permanently if someone claims it’s offensive. This is where Notre Dame comes into the picture.
“How hard is it for you, or anyone, to empathize, simply empathize, with a group who is offended — even if it is a minority of the group that is offended,” he added. “Many Irish-Americans are not offended [by the university’s mascot], but many are. And should that also change? The answer is yes, unequivocally yes. Pernicious, negative stereotypes of marginalized people that offend even some among them should be changed. It’s not that hard.”
I understand that my experiences growing up in South Bend are anecdotal, and that I don’t speak for all Irish-Americans. However, speaking as a person who was born and raised there, and as an Irish-American who is familiar with the community, I would be fascinated to know more about the supposedly “many” people who say they’re offended by the Notre Dame leprechaun.
I’ve yet to meet even one, let alone the “many” Kellerman referenced Tuesday.
