News item: Of the 46 reader comments attached to Jeff Jacobs' column in last week's Hartford Courant, the majority cited "the economy" as the primary reason for the ghastly number of empty seats at UConn basketball games this season. Most notably: women's basketball games.Reaction to the news item: Isn't it about time The Public At Large stopped using the economy as a cosmic crutch? It's becoming The Great American Cop Out, the answer to every question.

Reaction to the news item: Isn't it about time The Public At Large stopped using the economy as a cosmic crutch? It's becoming The Great American Cop Out, the answer to every question.Why is attendance down? The economy.

Why is attendance down? The economy.Why do the Giants have no defense? The economy.

Why do the Giants have no defense? The economy.Why did Frank Burns want Margaret Houlihan? The economy.

Why did Frank Burns want Margaret Houlihan? The economy.Who is buried in Grant's tomb? The economy.

Who is buried in Grant's tomb? The economy."The economy" has become what we desire most in the good ol' U.S. of A: A quick, convenient answer that sounds good and means nothing. I believe most people have money to spend, except that "the economy" is a charade in its own three-piece suit, a get-out-of-jail-free card that provides an unconditional excuse not to have to spend it.

"The economy" has become what we desire most in the good ol' U.S. of A: A quick, convenient answer that sounds good and means nothing. I believe most people have money to spend, except that "the economy" is a charade in its own three-piece suit, a get-out-of-jail-free card that provides an unconditional excuse not to have to spend it.Such is the case in Connecticut, where the UConn fandom has lost its passion for the women of Storrs, but would rather cite "the economy."

Such is the case in Connecticut, where the UConn fandom has lost its passion for the women of Storrs, but would rather cite "the economy."UConn, hardly innocent, gouged its fan base plenty in past years. It got very expensive to donate, donate, donate just for the privilege of buying seats that got worse every year. And so in the spirit of "as ye sow so shall ye reap," perhaps some of the empty seats are justice for institutional greed.

UConn, hardly innocent, gouged its fan base plenty in past years. It got very expensive to donate, donate, donate just for the privilege of buying seats that got worse every year. And so in the spirit of "as ye sow so shall ye reap," perhaps some of the empty seats are justice for institutional greed.But I'm not about to let "the economy" explain why the women haven't filled the XL Center since Jan. 6, 2007, the last time the Huskies played a regular season game against Tennessee.

But I'm not about to let "the economy" explain why the women haven't filled the XL Center since Jan. 6, 2007, the last time the Huskies played a regular season game against Tennessee.I'm not about to allow "the economy" to explain why Maya Moore, one of the most elegant young women Geno Auriemma has ever brought here, has played to exactly two sellout crowds in her home career: Jan. 21, 2008 vs. North Carolina; and Feb. 23, 2008 vs. St. John's (Senior Day). Maya Moore, for the record, has played 37 home games, not counting the Big East Tournament.

I'm not about to allow "the economy" to explain why Maya Moore, one of the most elegant young women Geno Auriemma has ever brought here, has played to exactly two sellout crowds in her home career: Jan. 21, 2008 vs. North Carolina; and Feb. 23, 2008 vs. St. John's (Senior Day). Maya Moore, for the record, has played 37 home games, not counting the Big East Tournament. Just so we're clear on this: Maya Moore and the Huskies did not play to a home sellout last season during an undefeated, national championship season.

Just so we're clear on this: Maya Moore and the Huskies did not play to a home sellout last season during an undefeated, national championship season.It's the economy? Really?

It's the economy? Really? Because if you look across sports, you might see declining attendances in college and pro outposts where the product is subpar. But it sure feels like people are finding the money to watch the Yankees, Red Sox, Celtics, Cavaliers, Giants, Patriots, Kentucky basketball, Florida football, Texas football, Kansas basketball and on and on and on.

Because if you look across sports, you might see declining attendances in college and pro outposts where the product is subpar. But it sure feels like people are finding the money to watch the Yankees, Red Sox, Celtics, Cavaliers, Giants, Patriots, Kentucky basketball, Florida football, Texas football, Kansas basketball and on and on and on.And there is no higher, better product in women's basketball than in Storrs, where they used to show up en masse.

And there is no higher, better product in women's basketball than in Storrs, where they used to show up en masse.It's the economy? Really?

It's the economy? Really?It's that they just don't care as much anymore.

It's that they just don't care as much anymore.Period.

Period.Somehow, we in the newspaper business mistake a few fans on message boards and chat rooms as a representation of the entire fan base. They're not. They're the diehards. It's great, actually, to see people with so much passion for their team.

Somehow, we in the newspaper business mistake a few fans on message boards and chat rooms as a representation of the entire fan base. They're not. They're the diehards. It's great, actually, to see people with so much passion for their team. But that statewide passion that we saw during the days of Jen, Rebecca, Sue and Diana just took the last train to Clarksville.

But that statewide passion that we saw during the days of Jen, Rebecca, Sue and Diana just took the last train to Clarksville.I'm going to get in trouble for this. But then, no more trouble than a few years ago when I wrote it the first time. The single biggest reason this state has lost its passion for the UConn women is because the team isn't as white as it used to be. UConn fans, who are generally whiter than most country club members, preferred the days when Sue, Shea, Svet, Jen, Rebecca, Diana and Kara were vanquishing the heathens.

I'm going to get in trouble for this. But then, no more trouble than a few years ago when I wrote it the first time. The single biggest reason this state has lost its passion for the UConn women is because the team isn't as white as it used to be. UConn fans, who are generally whiter than most country club members, preferred the days when Sue, Shea, Svet, Jen, Rebecca, Diana and Kara were vanquishing the heathens. This doesn't say they didn't love Asjha, Nykesha and Renee.

This doesn't say they didn't love Asjha, Nykesha and Renee. Just not as much.

Just not as much.I get to know many of the UConn players much better after they graduate because of covering the WNBA. Some of you might be shocked to hear what the players really think about how UConn fans react to black players vs. white players.

I get to know many of the UConn players much better after they graduate because of covering the WNBA. Some of you might be shocked to hear what the players really think about how UConn fans react to black players vs. white players.Think what you want. Free country. Just understand that I might know a little more about this than you do.

Think what you want. Free country. Just understand that I might know a little more about this than you do.And so no more Sue and Diana, years of gouging and a conga line of noncompetitive games has forced UConn into a "holiday ticket promotion," essentially giving fans free tickets to upcoming games, including the women's game against No. 2 Stanford.

And so no more Sue and Diana, years of gouging and a conga line of noncompetitive games has forced UConn into a "holiday ticket promotion," essentially giving fans free tickets to upcoming games, including the women's game against No. 2 Stanford.That's pathetic.

That's pathetic.But at least they're free, right?

But at least they're free, right?Can't blame "the economy" this time.

Can't blame "the economy" this time.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.