Mailbox readers put off by fake crowd noise
Editor: My wife and I being avid OSU football fans, we watched and tried to listen to the Penn State game (last) Saturday night. We were so frustrated we were saying dirty words.
With no fans in the stadium, someone decided to make a recording of fan noise for effects. Their logic, however, was missing. The fake cheering/roaring was so continuous and loud, including background music, that we couldn’t understand nearly anything the announcers said. It was frustrating to say the least.
Whoever is in charge should put themselves in the position of fans at home to understand their impact on our enjoyment.
John A. Backus, Pickerington
John: Having watched every minute of it, myself, I feel your pain; the fake crowd noise was jarring. However, it being an ABC telecast, rest assured you missed nothing of interest or importance from blabbering announcers Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit.
Editor: In over 50 years as a sports official, I was always taught not to let the home crowd affect your focus. Given that, what is the Big Ten’s excuse for the crew that worked the last OSU game?
Not starting the clock on time, and thus giving the home team a scoring opportunity, is inexcusable. And even Tom Brady doesn’t get a roughing-the-passer call like the one against Barrett Browning.
Jerry Bower, Columbus
Jerry: I never had considered Big Ten officiating as poor as some other conferences – the SEC, for instance – but these first two games have me rethinking that position. It has been a shaky start for the zebras.
Editor: The Ohio State Buckeyes did not beat Penn State on the football field on Halloween by citing or concocting a story about past accomplishments. They put in the work and followed the game plan devised by experts.
America can only beat the coronavirus in the same way.
Gary Wesley, via email
Gary: Pregame pep talk from Coach Anthony Fauci?
Editor: Just wondering who made the call to Ryan Day to get his mask in place in the second half against Penn State. With Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel on a nonstop PSA on the very subject, Day’s first half flaunting of the guideline was disturbing.
Richard Beatty, Dublin
Richard: Indeed, give that man or woman a raise.
Editor: (Last) Sunday’s column “Do Orr, Nicklaus have same Trump writer?” by Michael Arace did a great disservice to your newspaper. Most readers don’t want to read about Arace’s political views in the Sports section of their paper.
A few prominent sports figures make a presidential endorsement in an election year – big deal. It happens all the time on both sides of the aisle. Why does Arace feel the need to slam each one individually?
His column was a great example of how the media can divide this country. John Tholen, Hilliard
John: I respectfully disagree with the “stay in your lane” edict for columnists, just as I believe it’s wrong to tell athletes to “shut up and dribble.” Were there calls for the president to “stick to politics” when he criticized NFL and NBA players, among others, for protesting against racial injustice?
rstein@dispatch.com