DaytonDailyNews.com

Never thought I'd see the day when I'd consider a million bucks a year a chinsy offering for anyone in the top dog sports world.

But that's exactly the feeling from here on the new contract that'll keep Ohio State's Jim Tressel around as the head man on the football front for that approximate amount. The base salary is a mere $450,000.

Actually, Tressel will earn $1.8 million this year. And that's not even the top coaching income in the Big Ten.

Tressel (I knew his father, Lee, when he was coaching track at Mentor High School way back when) has to be considered one of the greatest all-time grid chiefs in OSU annals — right up there with Woody Hayes.

He may not be at legendary status yet, but he's closing in fast.

Buckeye basketball coach Thad Matta — a remarkable recruiter who had a great career at Xavier and is well on the way to getting the Buck hoops program to the top of the Big Ten and probably the nation — is earning less than Tressel. His base is $245,000.

Compare that with a few Reds players who can't hit their own weight and a pitcher (Eric Milton) who has been a major bust making millions a year.

Being a proud and prudent member of the we-love-our-job sportswriting fraternity, I can recall covering my first prep football game at age 13 or 14 and an editor handing me three bucks the next day.

I remember celebrating by drinking doubles (cherry Cokes) at the soda fountain.

And now I can brag about making as much as Jim Tressel. The only catch is it took me 55 years to accumulate said amount.