Officials at the University of Colorado have apologized for the racially insensitive actions of their mascot, which freelanced at a Denver Nuggets game without alerting the school that it would be dressed up as a racist caricature of a gangster.

The incident happened when Chip, CU's costumed buffalo mascot, showed up Friday at the Pepsi Center in Denver for a "kid's night" Nuggets basketball game dressed in "gangster-themed" attire. The fuzzy, cartoon-like buffalo replaced his trademark CU clothing with a white T-shirt and baggy pants, a do-rag and fake gold teeth. The costume also had a graphic of a teardrop tattoo below one eye…

"It was, basically, every stereotypical thing you could think of," CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said.

Oh no.  That's not even close to every stereotypical thing I can think of.  It's not like Chip was selling drugs or waving a piece of fried chicken around or making my parents lock the car doors at a stoplight.

Still, you'd think that bison, given their history of persecution and near-genocide, would be a little more sensitive to this sort of thing.  I expect this sort of thing from Chief Illiniwek, but not Chip.  Not Chip.  [/breaks down sobbing]

(thanks to Agent Steinz for the tip) 

#3 Oklahoma was upset by the Colorado Buffaloes today 27-24 on a last second field goal:

After [Colorado kicker Kevin] Eberhart's kick cleared the crossbar, the fans stormed the field as the dejected Sooners, who had blown a 24-7 second-half lead, walked off, their hopes of a national championship having taken a major hit.  The Sooners (4-1, 0-1) came in averaging a whopping 61.5 points to lead the nation. But behind a tough defense, the Buffs (3-2, 1-0) earned their biggest win under Dan Hawkins, who went 2-10 in his inaugural season last year.

To which I say, wasn't Oklahoma a 23-point favorite?  Hmm, interesting.  If you see smoke emanating from chimney, don't worry - it's just me burning all my personal papers, Social Security card and birth certificate.  Say hello to your new assistant editor, Miguel Sanchez.  

In other Top 10-ranked Big 12 team news, #7 Texas is losing to Kansas State 34-21 with 13 minutes left to play.  Memo to the gridiron squads in Norman and Austin:  You play in the BIG 12 not the BIG TEN, which means you can't just lose to any team you want. -KD