Mailbox: Was Ohio State right to skip the men's basketball postseason?

Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.

On Ohio State basketball

To Brian: Some might say that Ohio State basketball just quit. Losing isn’t good, but not wanting to even compete is worse. Wishing they could play in the NCAA or NIT but are too banged up to play in the Crown, which starts more than a week later, sounds like logic all too often used in politics. The coach is angry that they did not make the NCAA Tournament, but maybe he should be more concerned with losing 15 games and how many players will it be to the portal? These postseason tournaments have become like many bowl games in December that are meaningless, but there are teams who stumbled worse and are still willing to step into the arena. Trying and failing is not failure. Failing to try is.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

To Dennis: To all who are trying to decide if it is a good idea to pass on postseason games, I recommend you watch Tom Crean’s spicy rant on ESPN about coaches who choose to turn down the games: “If a guy doesn’t want to play, go sit down. If a coach doesn’t want to coach, go recruit. But there’s got to be enough people to put five, six, seven people on the floor and go play. It makes absolutely zero sense to me.”

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jake Diebler watches during the first half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Value City Arena in Columbus on March 4, 2025. — Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jake Diebler watches during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Value City Arena in Columbus on March 4, 2025.

On politics in sports letters to the editor

To Brian: For the last two Sundays, your sports column has unfortunately turned into a political one. Many of us come here for sports, but when people jump on here to rant, these rants must be answered, not always from neutral editors but at times from readers. Last week, in discussing an article about the religious statements of our football Buckeyes, statements disrespected by few if anyone, of any faith or no faith, but words and beliefs which apparently brought the team together, Jim Parent implied that the opposite of a “pro-Christian” comment is one from the “left wing,” obviously based on actions of “religious” politicians, far from true. This week, Bob Jacobs wrote that he was undecided about whether or not Pete Rose should be in the baseball Hall Of Fame until he saw a column from highly regarded multiple award-winning sports columnist Nancy Armour supporting his exclusion. Jacobs then decided that Rose belongs in the Hall, not based on any opinion whether Rose was either a proven and admitted rule breaker or a liar, or both, but based solely on the “fact” that Ms. Armour is a “leftist.” (Armour is a strong advocate for women and minorities in sports, and thus apparently a “leftist.”)

Perhaps Mr. Parent and Mr. Jacobs should worry less about “liberals and leftists” in sports and more about what many “leaders” and members of (presumably) their own faith and the “leaders” and almost all members of (presumably) their own political wing are doing to damage everyday Americans of all faiths and of all political wings outside of the realm of Sports – in “real life”- from veterans to TSA workers, from doctors to patients, from teachers to park rangers, from the poor to holders of stocks. We are in this together, and truth has no religion and no political viewpoint, and usually has nothing to do specific to sports.

Greg Ward, Dublin

To Greg: Agreed, and thanks. All sports discussions are best without any political accusations, leaning or segmentation. In my daily life, when it goes there is when I leave the discussion.

Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win

Oct 12, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day talks to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly prior to the NCAA football game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium

On Ohio State football

To Brian: Buckeye Nation is in a stir over the sudden bailout of Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles. What seemed to be a friend-in-need partnership for coach Day, Kelly now joins Knowles and oft-criticized Justin Frye – his persistence rewarded – in their respective career moves. But none enjoyed a victory over Michigan. Isn’t that why they were hired? Yet, regardless of football’s current state of volatility (e.g. the portal, expansion), they can’t be faulted for pursuing offers. Pity Day. Back through the wringer. But, as witnessed, problems led to greater goals for him. No shortage of personnel choices or athletes.

It’s not the same game in college-town America. Transferring schools at a page-turning frequency is almost trendy. Disloyal? Like it or not, get used to it.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

To the editor: The OSU football powers should be ashamed for not paying a football living wage to their student (should be employee) athletes. Each week the football players risk life, limb and permanent pain and suffering on the gridiron and OSU is awash in money. The OSU football program was a cash cow in fiscal year 2024, according to the report filed by OSU. The report stated football ticket sales were over 47 million dollars and media revenue for football over 39 million dollars.

It is only fair and just that OSU distribute at least 25% of its gross football revenues on a per capita basis to each football player who sustains the aches and pains of big time football. This is over and above the NIL money that individual athletes earn. Without the elite football players, OSU is just an Otterbein with a big stadium, and this fan would like to see each individual football player get a piece of the golden pie that they generate.

Michael Oser, Columbus