Good Luck to John Altavilla who is leaving UConn WBB beat

[bschwartz]

LINK
We close with an announcement from Courant sports editor Jeff Otterbein, who writes: "As the manager of the sports team, I am fortunate to have MVP-type writers who can play multiple positions. So you'll see some new bylines on some of what we cover, but you'll recognize their style. Each of these writers has done many things well for us over the years and now they get new challenges: Paul Doyle will cover the UConn women's basketball team, Desmond Conner the state college scene, Mike Anthony UConn football, and John Altavilla adds minor league baseball and hockey to the Connecticut Sun. These guys can hit it out of the park."

Want to say Thanks to JA. Not often that a Horde member leaves the pack regardless of reason. He is a really good writer though I think a better columnist when he lets go. His schtick a few years ago with the whole constituents bit was really fantastic, in my opinion. There isn't anything remotely like that today.

Interesting that John is leaving now. More evidence that a new era coming. Should be fun. Next year will be very interesting.

 

[msf22b]

Looks like John got seriously demoted
I thought he had a good couple of years after a few so-so ones for which I was on his case.

 

[UcMiami]

Bon Voyage, John!
It has been a really good run with a lot of good information provided in well written pieces. Have enjoyed having him in the horde.

 

[bschwartz]

I think it was just his time to do something different...that isn't necessarily a negative. Sometimes, people need a change to recharge the batteries. An he still has the Sun.

 

[ChicagoGG]

Glad he is still writing about the Sun. I always like his prose style. He has a nice turn of phrase.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Doyle had the by line on a number of articles in the last month or so. Best of luck on the new beat John; I'll keep reading you following the Sun.

 

[Kibitzer]

In today's Courant, I was mildly surprised to see Paul Doyle's byline attached to the lengthy page one introduction of AD Dave Benedict, then three separate articles in the special section commemorating UConn's 11th WCBB NC. I can understand Doyle (or anyone) getting the AD assignment but, given JA's long and close relationship with the Huskies, I believe that would have been an appropriate Farewell to WCBB column.

 

[FairView]

Thank you for some really good work, John.
I enjoyed reading your pieces.

 

[CoachBill]

John is a quality guy !
when covering UConn wbb for majority of year 2 years ago. I thought he stood out in person among beat writers with his representation, in person professionalism.
He was / has been very welcoming & supportive. ( didnt have to be ) .

which I certainly cannot say for a couple others.

 

[triaddukefan]

I found something i wrote a few years back

I dunno if the guy (john a) reads this forum or not, but I am thankful for one of his blogs he posted on his trip to Durham last january. This place opened up a second location here in my city... minutes away from my residence. Havent tried it out yet..... but my taste buds and tummy thank you in advance for making me aware of chicken and waffles
Page not found | Hartford Courant Blogs

Well since I posted this... I have tried out the restaurant.... and it was fantastic. I still dunno if he reads the boneyard... but if he does.... thanks again.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

So not only has Hearst eliminated their UConn women's writer, whose stories were carried by all of the dailies in Fairfield County, but now Courant has eliminated their UConn writer. His stories had been published in the Hearst dailies since Hearst canned their reporter.

So as UConn women's basketball gets better and better, coverage is being eliminated.

See a problem here? Perhaps the reason newspapers are read less and less is that there is less and less to read in newspapers.

 

[Gus Mahler]

First Rosemary, now this. The times they are a changin'.

 

[hardcorehusky]

So not only has Hearst eliminated their UConn women's writer, whose stories were carried by all of the dailies in Fairfield County, but now Courant has eliminated their UConn writer. His stories had been published in the Hearst dailies since Hearst canned their reporter.

So as UConn women's basketball gets better and better, coverage is being eliminated.

See a problem here? Perhaps the reason newspapers are read less and less is that there is less and less to read in newspapers.

It looks more like a rotation of the same players to different beats.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Perhaps the reason newspapers are read less and less is that there is less and less to read in newspapers.

Nope. The reason newspapers are disappearing is that they were underwritten by advertising + subscriptions. When "free" online news showed up, folks decided they didn't want to pay for papers which, in turn, meant advertisers didn't see the worth of advertising. The loss of revenue meant cuts - no copy writers, fewer editors, fewer writers... and suddenly the public was bemoaning the lack of coverage and typos.

As I say, you get what you don't pay for.

 

[j66kicker]

Nope. The reason newspapers are disappearing is that they were underwritten by advertising + subscriptions. When "free" online news showed up, folks decided they didn't want to pay for papers which, in turn, meant advertisers didn't see the worth of advertising. The loss of revenue meant cuts - no copy writers, fewer editors, fewer writers... and suddenly the public was bemoaning the lack of coverage and typos.

As I say, you get what you don't pay for.

I don't subscribe to any newspapers, but it isn't because I don't want to pay for them. It's because by the time they print the news on their daily cycle and throw it in my driveway it seems like I already read about it 2 days ago.

 

[RowdyFan]

We still have Mike DeMauro of The Day. Like him or hate him, he can write. I love his Mr. Idle columns...

 

[UcMiami]

Nope. The reason newspapers are disappearing is that they were underwritten by advertising + subscriptions. When "free" online news showed up, folks decided they didn't want to pay for papers which, in turn, meant advertisers didn't see the worth of advertising. The loss of revenue meant cuts - no copy writers, fewer editors, fewer writers... and suddenly the public was bemoaning the lack of coverage and typos.

As I say, you get what you don't pay for.

The rot really set in before that with stock market valuation practices - cash flow was a very important aspect of a companies valuation, and while newspapers have seldom been great investments, they have always had very nice cash flow numbers - for companies in industries that were being valued by crazy multiples of yearly cash flow and did not have great cash flow it became a 'hot; idea to buy up newspaper companies to get a quick bump in their own valuation and they drove up the prices of all the newspaper companies beyond their real value - didn't matter that they knew nothing about the industry. When the market crashed and the bean counters within these companies started looking around for ways to quickly slash expenses the newspapers were clear targets - degrading the quality with no concern for the long term soundness of the business. And a lot of the newspapers were saddled with so much leverage debt from their overvaluation that they couldn't survive nor plan for the new on-line competition.

 

[Woof 101]

In today's Courant, I was mildly surprised to see Paul Doyle's byline attached to the lengthy page one introduction of AD Dave Benedict, then three separate articles in the special section commemorating UConn's 11th WCBB NC. I can understand Doyle (or anyone) getting the AD assignment but, given JA's long and close relationship with the Huskies, I believe that would have been an appropriate Farewell to WCBB column.

John is a quality guy !
when covering UConn wbb for majority of year 2 years ago. I thought he stood out in person among beat writers with his representation, in person professionalism.
He was / has been very welcoming & supportive. ( didnt have to be ) .
which I certainly cannot say for a couple others.

John wrote his own sentence, pun intended. Lucky to still have a job.
Hartford Courant reviewing unseemly tweets from UConn women's basketball beat writer
Paul will be a great new print face of UConn women. Good luck to John with the minor league baseball, hockey, and Sun assignment. I will definitely follow the sun. This while listening to old Beatles tunes.

 

[Kibitzer]

John wrote his own sentence, pun intended. Lucky to still have a job.
Hartford Courant reviewing unseemly tweets from UConn women's basketball beat writer
Paul will be a great new print face of UConn women. Good luck to John with the minor league baseball, hockey, and Sun assignment. I will definitely follow the sun. This while listening to old Beatles tunes.

Well, this explains why Altavilla was bumped from the Courant's special about UConn Basketball and banished to the minor leagues. No cheerleaders for him to ogle as he does penance in hockey rinks or baseball fields.

 

[OldAlum]

I wonder if John A actually wanted the change. Probably a good thing to get fresh perspectives. While I am a sports fan, I am not much of a sportswriter or commentator fan. Love good coverage of games and appreciate some of the character pieces. Try to avoid opinion pieces. Too many writers are too self-important and I really don't care about their opinions. But that is just me...

 

[HGN]

Thanks John A. for everything. I wish you the Best of Luck in the future.

 

[CL82]

I'm sorry to see him go. I thought he did a great job.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[EricLA]

Good bye and best of luck to John. Add my name to the folks who enjoyed his writing and reporting on the team.

 

[Zorro]

Ode to John A., as he sails away.

We all like the scribe John A

Like what he has to say

Always a positive guy, never a schmuck.

Now he got to go

We wish it weren't so

But all on the Boneyard, we wish him good luck.

pl