Mailbox: Ear-splitting noise levels taking the joy out of attending sporting events

Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com.

May 13, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Nordecke fans celebrate after Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) scores during the first half of the MLS soccer game between Columbus Crew and Orlando City at Lower.com Field.

On noise at sporting events

To the editor: I wanted to provide you with objective evidence of the volume level at Crew games and the health hazard everyone should be aware of. It is very similar at Blue Jackets games, as well. As a physician with hearing loss, I have become acutely and personally aware of prolonged high decibel sound exposure. The awesome environment would be just as much fun if the volume was turned down to a safe level. Here is a pic from my watch at a recent game.

Tom Bullock, MD

To the editor: I saw the letter from Mark Damico re: decibel levels from the sound system at the Crew stadium. My husband and I noticed the same at indoor sporting venues at Ohio State and shared our concerns, but they fell on deaf ears.

Lynn Giljahn

Jul 4, 2023; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (9) scores a goal with a header during the second half against the Columbus Crew SC at DRV PNK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

On the Columbus Crew

Dear Editor: I am a devoted Crew fan and love our team. However, after watching many games where the Crew allow very late game goals that either bring about a tie or a loss, the frustration is growing. At best, it’s difficult to watch the all-too-often end-of-game defensive collapse. Maybe the Crew should be reminded of the old saying often attributed to Vince Lombardi and others that, “Offense sells tickets, but defense wins the game.” Advice it seems the Crew could put to good use.Chet Ridenour Sr., Worthington

To Chet: It's still a problem, but at least this year the late-game meltdowns have resulted mostly in ties, not losses.

Apply in July for Ohio’s controlled hunting opportunities that begin in the fall.

On outdoors

To the editors: RE: The column "Sordid tales form wrong side of the wildlife law" by Dave Golowenski. Please convey to Dave that whatever he does from henceforth on, please do not stop writing very entertaining columns such as this! He is a tool - the exact tool that local media need to survive against the large stifling news media organizations that are swallowing up our world. More, please!Bob Collard, Mansfield

To Bob: We have told our tool Dave of your admiration, and we promise more from him every week. Thanks for reading.

Dispatch Sports Editor Ray Stein greets scholar athletes, their families and guests during the Scholar Athlete Awards presented by The Columbus Dispatch and Motorists Insurance Group on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. [Joshua A. Bickel/Dispatch]

On Ray Stein

To the editor: I sure miss Ray Stein. He could find humor in letters. Plus he loved teasing the Pickerington readers about our love for the Steelers.

Roger Butler

To Roger: We, too, miss Ray dearly. The place hasn't been the same since he left. Legend.

On Cleveland baseball

Dear Brian: I read the story in Sunday's Dispatch about the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 World Series, and the story did not include the nickname of the team at that time, Indians. To omit the Indians nickname in stories about past Cleveland baseball teams is sacrilegious to the game of baseball and offensive to many baseball fans, no matter what team they root for. You cannot erase the memory and the names of great Cleveland players such as Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby and all the other Cleveland players who wore the Indians uniform with the word Indians printed or written on it. The Indians are part of Cleveland baseball history. Your revisionist history of any sport or team to please the Woke crowd is not welcome here.

James Matuszak, Reynoldsburg

To James: The article was written by a fellow Gannett newspaper, The Repository in Canton, and the editors there followed a corporate guideline handed down in March 2021 to no longer use the previous nicknames of the baseball team in Cleveland or the NFL team in Washington, D.C. That includes any teams, including high schools or colleges, that currently uses those nicknames. As a writer who covered plenty of games involving those teams, I can tell you that makes the writing and flow of stories more difficult, but that's the company's guideline.

West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins, right, and Director of Basketball Operations Josh Eilert, center left, watch from the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma, March 1, 2022, in Norman, Okla.

On Bob Huggins

Dear Mr. White: In May, I commented on Bob Huggins’ unfortunate Xavier-bashing interview on Cincinnati radio, and didn’t the old ball coach show me by keeping his nose clean for almost six weeks. Then came the infamous .21 DUI arrest in Pittsburgh − a location he incorrectly identified as “Columbus” − details of which most sports fan know by now. In the aftermath of this resignation-prompting kerfuffle, Huggins’ daughter opined that the reason Huggins had a garage bag full of empty beer cans in his car is because he’s passionate about re-cycling. In the wake of this howler, I have it on good authority that both political parties are actively recruiting Ms. Huggins to join their communications-messaging-spin teams. Explaining her father’s behavior over the last 40 years makes her uniquely qualified.

Jon Armstrong, Columbus

On Ohio State athletics

Dear Mr. White: According to the website, Ohio State fields teams in 36 NCAA sports. During his lengthy, two-part conversation with The Dispatch, OSU AD Gene Smith spoke about a grand total of one of those teams − or 2.8% of the OSU athletic arsenal. (OK, there was a tangential reference to hockey during a comment about facilities planning.) Takeaways include: Mr. Smith is extremely unhappy about the two-game losing streak to Michigan; his involvement with this particular OSU squad includes Friday sit-downs with the coach to eyeball the game plan and my eyes got blurry calculating the costs of NIL, winterizing the stadium, replacing the Woody Hayes Center, etc. Clearly, cash flow as much as college football and Mr. Smith’s off-hand reminder that there are 30,000 area businesses (aka “donors,” perhaps?) was not lost on the readers. While Mr. Smith focuses on the daunting fiscal tasks ahead, I’m guessing there is a gaggle of associate ADs available to look after the other 35 sports?

Jon Armstrong, Columbus

To Jon: Yes, Smith has a large staff to take care of all of his sports. While I do think the money-maker that is football is most important to him, he does pay attention to the rest of the large department as an administrator.

To the editor: With few exceptions, Ryan Day has fostered a healthy and positive culture and attitude at Ohio State. You can gauge that by the recruits he has landed and the coaching staff he has maintained. The betting troubles of ex-Buckeyes Rashod Berry and Nicholas Petit-Frere would have put them so far into Day’s doghouse that even Snoopy couldn’t find them. You can bet on that.

Michael Oser, Columbus

On the Cincinnati Reds

To Brian: I was hopeful that the Reds could bring in some pitching help and make a run at a championship until I read Bob Nightengale's headline that reported Pete Rose was betting on the Reds. Given his track record on gambling, I now realize my hopes will be dashed.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

To Dennis: Rose said he bet on the Reds to win the World Series, but he didn't say that's the only team he placed the bet on. Perhaps he has cursed several teams.