Reader wants appreciation for at least one three-legged dog
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 three-legged dogs
To the editor: Dispatch sports writer Rob Oller has described Rutgers as “the pathetic three-legged dog.” Meet Gus the Goldendoodle, who has received a lot of media coverage in the Twin Cities. Gus lost a leg to cancer, but there’s nothing pathetic about him. Gus became a hero when he swam out into the St. Croix River and rescued a baby otter. The otter wouldn’t have survived on its own that far from shore and is currently in the care of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. As for Gus, well, he has three more chemo sessions to go. Oller needs to do the right thing and write a column celebrating Gus’ heroism.
Jay Hoster, Columbus
To Jay: Clearly, Gus is not pathetic. In fact, he’s a very, very good boy. Rutgers? We’re not so sure.
On college football
To Brian: College football may need to make some changes to survive the future. Two issues have surfaced: College enrollment is declining and overall attendance is down — steadily since 2013. Big Ten attendance in 2021 was actually up slightly; Michigan being the nationwide leader. Some of the reasons for the drop in enrollments may be due to students deciding to work or get their education elsewhere. They want a better return on their
investment. Also, a lower birth rate coupled with boomers dying, will affect our colleges.
Further, fans don’t want the same teams each year in the CFP. Will parity help? Various ideas have been suggested on that: Limiting four- and five-star recruits per school. Limiting coaches’ salaries. And revenue sharing — probably the least desired choice for reducing financial loss at some schools. How about reducing ticket prices on empty game-day seats?
I still want OSU to be dominant in the Big Ten. The right ideas will improve and strengthen the conferences in revenue, recruiting and fans in the stands. Larry Cheek, Dublin
To Larry: Lots of ideas there. The hope of many is that if attendance continues to drop, the market will correct naturally and ticket prices will stop skyrocketing.
On the Reds
To the editor: I have lived in Columbus over 20 years and been a Reds fan
the last 19. Some good years but many not. I have supported the Reds through all the player changes — O’neill, Phillips, Frazier, Bruce and now Winker and Suarez. There are still great players on the team but no bench and no backups who can deliver through injuries. Now Bally Sports Ohio has pre-empted the Reds games. What does everyone think about this?
D Fredrick
On college basketball
To Brian: The excitement of close basketball games always gets so diminished with all the fouls and timeouts at the end of the game. I’d sure like to see a Division III conference experiment with the idea that when there are 4 minutes left, the clock is turned off and the team that scores eight more points than the team in the lead has at that point wins. Advertisers would certainly object to games being played out without so much interruption and revenues would be lost, but I’d sure like it.
Dennis Singleton, Dayton