Chief Zee
Encyclopedia
Chief Zee, real name Zema Williams, is a well-known fan
and unofficial mascot of the Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
. Dressed in a faux American Indian
headdress, rimmed glasses, and a red jacket, Chief Zee has been attending Redskins games since 1978
. He, and other local sports personalities, are featured in a number of television commercials for Eastern Motors, a Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area car dealership.
, Chief Zee attended a game against the Eagles
at Veterans Stadium
. While at the game, he was attacked by Eagles fans angry at their team's 10-point loss to the Redskins - the fans broke his leg, tore off his original costume, and left him hospitalized. This outraged Washington fans and created a bitter hatred that persists to this day.
On August 9, 2008, the Chief set down his signature prop, a toy tomahawk, while he was signing autographs at the Redskins' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. When he turned to retrieve it, it was gone. The 12-inch tomahawk has a slender wooden handle with a rubber blade, and appears in many photos of Williams since he started attending Redskins games over 30 years ago.
As of August 28, 2008, Chief Zee's tomahawk has been returned to him with the help of Redskins tight end
Chris Cooley who got a call from someone that said they had it. He swapped a signed jersey for the tomahawk.
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
and unofficial mascot of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Dressed in a faux American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
headdress, rimmed glasses, and a red jacket, Chief Zee has been attending Redskins games since 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
. He, and other local sports personalities, are featured in a number of television commercials for Eastern Motors, a Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area car dealership.
History
Chief Zee first showed up in costume on September 5, 1978. In 19831983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
, Chief Zee attended a game against the Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
. While at the game, he was attacked by Eagles fans angry at their team's 10-point loss to the Redskins - the fans broke his leg, tore off his original costume, and left him hospitalized. This outraged Washington fans and created a bitter hatred that persists to this day.
On August 9, 2008, the Chief set down his signature prop, a toy tomahawk, while he was signing autographs at the Redskins' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. When he turned to retrieve it, it was gone. The 12-inch tomahawk has a slender wooden handle with a rubber blade, and appears in many photos of Williams since he started attending Redskins games over 30 years ago.
As of August 28, 2008, Chief Zee's tomahawk has been returned to him with the help of Redskins tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Chris Cooley who got a call from someone that said they had it. He swapped a signed jersey for the tomahawk.
Honors
- November 7, 1985 was declared "Chief Zee Day" in Washington, DC.
- In 2000, Visa and the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
selected the biggest fan of each of the then-31 teams and placed them in an exhibit in CantonCanton, OhioCanton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He was the fan chosen for the Washington Redskins.
See also
- Batty Bob
- Crazy RayCrazy RayCrazy Ray was the unofficial mascot of the Dallas Cowboys. By some accounts, he was also the team's original mascot, who attended almost every home game since the team's inception.-History:...
- Fireman EdFireman EdEdwin M. Anzalone , better known as Fireman Ed, is an enthusiastic fan of the New York Jets since 1986, although he was a fan of the Miami Dolphins until the age of 10. One of the most well known National Football League fans, he rose to prominence by appearing on the Boomer and Craig Carton radio...
- The Barrel Man
- HogettesHogettesThe Hogettes are a group of twelve male Washington Redskins fans who wear women's dresses, garden party hats, and pig snouts for two purposes: to cheer on their favorite NFL team and to raise money for charity. The group was founded in 1983 by Michael Torbert and has become a regular fixture at...