Dear UConn:

On behalf of all us cattle here in eastern/southeastern Connecticut, I submit the following question:

Was it something we said?

Did Walt from Waterford pop a few wheelies on the lawn of Rentschler Field?

Marge from Montville duck out of the overpriced parking garage near Gampel without paying?

Hmmm.

Because it sure looks like our flagship state university believes we don't count. Hard to draw any other conclusion, after seeing how this inaugural, four-city UConn Huskies Coaches Road Show ignores us.

The four cities: Glastonbury, Branford, Stamford and New York.

Per UConn's website: "The Road Show will provide the opportunity for coaches and administrators to spend time connecting and interacting with fans, alumni, donors and UConn supporters throughout the region."

Not this region.

Not even close, really.

Shall we discuss?

I mean, our corner of the world even has a UConn branch: Avery Point. We have a population that doubles in size during the summer, two rather large casinos (perhaps you've heard of them), cool downtowns like Mystic and Niantic and have provided State U with a notable number of good athletes and coaches over the years.

Roger Bidwell has sent a battalion of baseball players from Avery Point to Storrs. We've provided, in no particular order, Dennis Long, Mark Winters, Howie Dickenman, Walt Dropo, Art Quimby, George Greer, Heather Buck, Reggie Eccleston, Lou Allen, Bill Cholewa, Jemal Davis, John Shea, Zach Hurd, Billy Crocker and Chris Podeszwa, among others.

And did you know that Geno Auriemma, men's soccer coach Ray Reid, former athletic director Paul Pendergast and Dickenman even live here (or have lived here) either full or part time?

The Road Show couldn't have come to the Saybrook Point Marina? Black Hall? Great Neck Country Club? Branford House? The Mystic Marriott? Mohegan Sun? What, there's nobody there with money or some juice that would come?

What, I can't ask?

Then there's this: UConn always draws well playing women's basketball at Mohegan Sun, whether during the regular season or conference tournament. They're not all commuting here from Glastonbury, Branford, Stamford and New York to fill the seats.

It's an eastern Connecticut audience that shows enough interest in your product.

And for some reason, a marketing school flunky just decided our interested audience just isn't important enough to meet Geno, Danny and Randy, among others.

Now I realize that, yes, there are more urbane parts of the universe than our corner of the world. The four choices made sense. Glastonbury is a sacrifice fly away from Hartford. Stamford attracts Fairfield County money. New York City goes without explanation. I guess maybe Branford, too.

But they honestly couldn't have come to us, too?

Really?

Here's a confession: Sometimes, we Lords Of The Laptop write things more for effect than anything else. Instigate. Stir 'em up. This is not the case here, however.

I'm tired of the dismissive attitude the rest of the state affords us. They're unaware, apparently, that we're fortunate to live where we do. Shoreline, beaches, casinos, great places to eat, outstanding public school systems and several invested sports towns who care about their kids and the games they play.

And yes: There's some money down here, too. We all know that's what this Road Show is about. Shake hands, kiss babies, glad-hand, generate more interest and — good Lord willin' — watch the checks start flowing.

As Neil Kane of Waterford wrote in a recent letter to The Day on this issue: "I guess as long as we send our state all the casino money we might be lucky enough to stay in Connecticut. Would have been nice to be included, but, oh well."

State U has spoken loud and clear to all of us. Comparatively speaking, we don't compare. We don't count. At least not as much.

Brilliant marketing strategy there.

Guess I'm not so surprised anymore at all the empty seats at UConn games.

Or maybe that's our fault, too.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro