Readers’ debate continues over Ryan Day’s salary for Buckeyes
Editor’s note: Unfortunately, we don’t have room in the print edition for all of the great reader feedback we’re getting. For more of the letters, go to Dispatch.com. Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com.
On Ryan Day’s salary
Dear Brian: Michael Oser questions Ohio State paying Ryan Day $9 million, saying, “Why should a publicly supported academic institution pay that much money when students struggle to pay tuition and living expenses?”
I think it's important to note that coach Day's salary is paid through the athletic department budget, which receives no federal or state taxes, nor does it use tuition. Ohio State's athletic department is fully funded through revenue, one of only a handful in college football that can make that claim. The university may be publicly supported, but the athletic department is not.
Pamela Mason, Princeton, N.J.
To the editor: If Ohio State doesn't pay (Day), another college will. Don't lose the best college football coach in the nation because of pay. Stop posting about the differences in pay. We're not in 1980 anymore.
David Cummings
To the editor: Yeah, perception, as you indicated in your reply, cited that “equitable societal principles call for paying their coach as much or more than anyone else in the country.” What a contradiction in “principles” when that announcement occurred in the same time frame as Ohio State raising tuition rates for students. And Ohio State remains the training camp for the NFL. Grrr.
Kathleen Roberts
To the editor: It is amusing so many people are distressed about Ryan Day's annual income but seem totally oblivious to the staggering wealth of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates. Their wealth dwarfs Ryan Day's. And, you can easily avoid paying Ryan Day by ignoring OSU football. But let's see you buy a computer, or Microsoft Office software without contributing to Bill Gates.
D Gleason
On hockey fights
To Brian: I was surprised that you printed the factually incorrect letter whining about hockey and, further, at your failure to correct its error. There are not fights “at the drop of a hat” in hockey. Fighting is at an all-time low with only about .2 fights per game on average. Fighting is consensual and there is a code. Learn it and you might appreciate the beauty and speed of the game.
Instead of running letters by people who complain about sports they admittedly have no interest in, and a corresponding lack of knowledge, how about giving space to fans who understand and appreciate the game?
Brent D. Rosenthal, Westerville
To Brent: We do not discriminate here, unless the letters are unfair, vulgar or both. We welcome correspondence from of all levels of expertise.
On baseball celebrations
To Brian: I was recently at a baseball championship game, and upon the final out being made, players immediately began piling on each other to celebrate their victory. I am always concerned that someday somebody is going to be trapped at the bottom of one of those piles with a tragic ending. I sure wish people could celebrate without giving an accident a chance to happen. Dennis Singleton, Dayton
To Dennis: True story: My son was in one of those dogpiles after winning a big high school baseball game. My worry as the celebration went on: the safety of the expensive sports sunglasses he wore in the games. I was relieved after the game, and saw it later on video, that he had casually tossed the glasses to the side of first base before heading to the pile. A proud parenting moment there, realizing I had taught him to value things that cost too much.