Exhibit 5.1

            [BUCHANAN INGERSOLL PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]

                                October 21, 2002

Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.
200 Industry Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), in connection with the proposed issuance by the
Corporation of up to 5,221,307 shares (the "Shares") of the Corporation's common
stock (the "Common Stock"), pursuant to the terms of the Corporation's 1992
Stock Option Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plans").

         In connection with such proposed issuance, we have examined such
documents, records, certificates of public officials, statutes and decisions as
we consider necessary to express the opinions contained herein. In the
examination of such documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures
and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the
conformity to those original documents of all documents submitted to us as
certified or photostatic copies.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when the Shares have
been issued and sold and the consideration is received therefore by the
Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Plans, the Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. We express no opinion as to the applicability or
compliance with, of the effect of, Federal law or the law of any jurisdiction
other than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the corporate laws of the State
of Delaware. It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection
with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in
effect.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         BUCHANAN INGERSOLL
                                         PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

                                         By: /s/ Lewis U. Davis, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                  Lewis U. Davis, Jr.