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