John Altavilla was reincarnated as UConn women’s basketball beat writer by The Courant before the 2007-08 season. He originally spent three seasons on the beat in the late 1990s, presiding over nothing more consequential than one trip to the Elite Elite and season-ending injuries to Nykesha Sales, Shea Ralph and Sue Bird.
Altavilla came to The Courant in August 1996 after 16 years at the New Haven Register. During his time in Hartford, he has written about many subjects, including nine Super Bowls during his decade as the New York Giants beat writer.
Altavilla is a lifelong state resident, a graduate of Trumbull High and the University of Bridgeport, where he majored in broadcast journalism under the mistaken impression he’d spend his life doing play-by-play of New York Mets baseball. He and his wife, Marilyn, have two children, a college-aged daughter and a son who is in fifth grade.
His hobbies include ingesting useless calories and convincing his friends that Ray Barone of “Everybody Loves Raymond” fame is the only sports writer in America who does not work nights.
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Which of the women basketball players didn’t graduate ??
John, I believe you were a student of mine at Trumbull High School way back in the 60′s. Am I correct?
I have followed the UCONN women since the early 1990′s. Living in Florida I enjoy reading your articles via the internet. The article in today’s Sun Sentinel “Where does Baylor rank among best?” was very interesting. The 2002 UCONN team basically had 5 All-Americans if you include Taurasi who was a freshman. I liked the comment by Steve Gorten of the Sun Sentinel, “take away one of the Uconn stars in 2001-02 and they still win the title-take away Grinner and the Bears don’t make the Final Four.”
Looking forward to next season and reading your great articles.
John, I thought it was odd that Britney Griner withdrew as a potential Olympic team member. Is there anything else about the story that might come out late on! Bob
I was curious as to why coverage of the UCONN-Baylor game did not include the fact that Britney Griner was called for an intentional foul and got away with — according to veteran commentator Doris Burke — a second flagrant foul that, had it been called by the myopic officials — would have led to Ms. Griner being ejected from the game. Rather, also of note and not reported, the committing of the second flagrant foul ignited Griner’s game, almost as though it were a necessary act for her second half performance. Perhaps cynical, and knowing that Geno has no Jim Luscutoff on his bench, it would seem an easy gambit to guard Griner closely (which apparently annoys her easily) and causes her to act-out which could, and should, lead to her being thrown out of games. She got away with the same patented bad behaviour that earlier in her career led her to throw a punch at another player in the paint. It should be reported and officials made to call it.
I love your articles on the Uconn womens teamI have been a fan since Kerry Bascom went there. here is an article on Mays:
aya Moore re-signs with Shanxi Xing Rui – Feb 28, 2013
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Maya Moore
Moore Maya (183-SG-89, college: Connecticut) has agreed on terms of contract with Shanxi Xing Rui. The WCBA MVP will stay with the Chinese team for three more seasons. The shooting guard had an amazing season with Shanxi. She led the league in scoring averaging 38.6 points per game. The guard also tallied 12.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in WCBA. Moore Maya led the team to the title. She was named All-Chinese WCBA Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year. Last summer Moore Maya played for the Minnesota Lynx. She averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game in WNBA. Moore made it to the WNBA Finals with the Lynx. Previously the guard played for Ros Casares in Spain. Moore Maya was named Rookie of the Year in WNBA back in 2011.