To the editor:

David Jaynes, former All-American, thinks the only real supporters of Kansas University athletics are the people who give big money. Wonder if he would have been All-American had he played on losing teams with near-empty stands?

Remember those losing basketball seasons, like 1971 through 1973 (19-33), when Allen Fieldhouse was half full? How many big donors departed because the excitement was gone while loyal fans continued to support KU athletics by renewing their season tickets and attending games in Lawrence rather than watching on television in Los Angeles?

When you return for more accolades, David, perhaps we should limit those honoring you to big donors. Oh, that might be disrespectful, but you wouldn’t want to sully the ambiance with people who merely bought season tickets for 35, 30, 50 years but couldn’t make multithousand-dollar contributions.

David, it takes both big donors and loyal fans. Sometimes those are one and the same. There are, however, many who can’t afford big bucks but have supported KU athletics by loyally renewing their season tickets, as the department pleaded with us to do in down years.

At least you said, “give to KU.” Should we count amounts contributed to Friends of the Lied, KANU, Audio-Reader, KU theater, etc. as well as athletics? And in down athletic years, we could set pots of money in the stands and install a PA system for fan enthusiasm.

Or, David, is what you are really saying: “Let them eat cake?”

Harold Riehm,

Lawrence