The hypocrisy of many "Fighting Irish" fans

My parents constantly took me to Irish events as a kid. Music festivals, stores with Irish merchandise, bars* with Irish regalia on the walls. So I regularly heard about the persecution of the Irish by the British, the wealthy, the British, the media and the British. I remember hearing a man at an Irish Cultural Society gathering railing against Harrison Ford - my favorite movie star - because he had the gall to be in a movie that depicted the Irish as drunk war-mongers. This was when "Patriot Games" came out, so I was probably about 10-years-old. I still hear relatives complain about being persecuted today, as if the Irish of today have the same problems as the clans in Killarney during the 1700s and 1800s. Ewan McGregor's character in "Angels & Demons" was changed from Italian to Irish and that was cited for Hollywood's hatred of the Irish. Of course, Hollywood loves the Irish**, but that's beside the point. The point is that many of my relatives, and other proudly Irish people, see the world mocking them at nearly every turn. Except, of course, the one that's most obvious. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame University. Let's start by stating the obvious: If you love Notre Dame because it's a very good school, because its football team has a wondrous history, because you root for some of the kids on the team or, simply because you like the colors Blue and Gold, that makes perfect sense. You're 100 percent within you're rights there. But if you love Notre Dame because they have an "Irish" football team, you are being, quite simply, moronic. Especially if you're quick to point out the rampant persecution of the Irish. Let's look at the facts. Notre Dame was founded, not by Irish, but French Catholic priests. Well, at least it wasn't founded by the British. The athletic teams weren't known as the Fighting Irish until decades after they took up football. It's still unclear as to where the name first came from. Some claim in was because of an alumnus with a sports column in New York. Other claim it was because either Michigan or Northwestern fans were mocking the squad by chanting "Kill the Irish." Either way you look at it, they were called the Fighting Irish because of their tenacity and grit. That's something for the Irish to be proud of. If fact, people should have been proud of the Irish connection up until 1965. That's when that hideous leprechaun officially became the mascot. Prior to that it was some Irish terriers. Now, however, with their pugnacious mascot ready to get into fisticuffs at the drop of a bowler, it's insane that anyone who complains about portrayal of the Irish in the media would ever think that mascot is OK. Think about it. He's the same stereotype that angers many proud Irish. So if you like Notre Dame for a rational reason - the history, the scholarship, the campus, the colors - then, by all means, keep on rooting. If you love them because they're "Irish," an don't mind the pugnacious Mick brandishing his fists, then keep on rooting. But if you think they're "Irish," and are easily offended by other portrayals of the Irish, you're nothing more than a hypocrite. * Sure, you could make the joke that my being brought to bars as a child is a sign of being brought up Irish Catholic. I'd say my love of family, willingness to lend a hand to those in need and determination are signs of being brought up Irish Catholic. Being at the bar was just a sign my parents made bad decisions. ** Ahem, John Ford. Ahem, Edward Burns. More evidence: An Irishman has played James Bond and, now, Abraham Lincoln. Two of the greatest heroes in British fiction and American history.