USA Today skimped at bit on their bonus NCAA Tournament section

[yc_ballcat]

Omitted the listing of starters / key reserves with statistical averages for every team profile; as a result, each region takes up less real estate so we get 2 regions on 1 page instead 1 region per page. All other data is included in the team capsules but I always enjoyed having that listing of starters and key reserves. A few years back they stopped giving an "Outlook" or prediction of each team's potential success.

Someone mentioned buying one USA Today per year yesterday but I can't find the thread. The 1-per year folks might need to increase their purchasing frequency (I usually buy 1 per-month) if USA Today keeps cutting back.

My once per year is listening to Mike and Mike on the Monday after the Selection Sunday, mostly for Dickie V, but I missed it, although I did get to hear Dickie V last evening.

This post was edited on 3/16 3:34 PM by yc_ballcat

 

[Chairman Moe]

what do you expect anymore from USA Today? I was shocked a year or so ago when I saw they are selling their rag for $2 a copy, and then both downsized the issue (making the puzzle page harder to do) and have less substance. Doesn't surprise me that it's skimpy in its NCAA edition. Used to be an entire section dedicated. USA Today is good for hotels at breakfast and that's about all

 

[California Panther]

Originally posted by Chairman Moe:
what do you expect anymore from USA Today? I was shocked a year or so ago when I saw they are selling their rag for $2 a copy, and then both downsized the issue (making the puzzle page harder to do) and have less substance. Doesn't surprise me that it's skimpy in its NCAA edition. Used to be an entire section dedicated. USA Today is good for hotels at breakfast and that's about all

The full color weather page used to be the entire back page of the first section, now it is a dull 1/2 page further inside that section. You're right, they'd probably cease to exist if it wasn't for people buying in airports or hotels giving them out. They are a shell of what they used to be. But always remember that was Ironhead's home town paper though.

 

[yc_ballcat]

Some USA Today cover stories are still very good and rival what you see in the major papers. For instance, a December 2014 feature about extradition. There is decent to good content elsewhere. But I get what you're saying. I read much less often now but the USA Today sports section certainly helped inform my perspective and knowledge over the years, particularly in the 90s.

You could argue USA Today helped pave the way for the national coverage, particularly of HS sports, that ESPN and Rivals.com and others do now. I don't even pay attention to their Top 25 lists anymore but that was always a draw. The Monday after Selection Sunday edition used to be a bargain at $1.00. I always enjoyed reading the Sports on TV critic (Michael somebody) who would analyze CBS tournament coverage and other TV-related issues. Not sure if they do it anymore but they used to list every football commit from every D1 program the day after signing day. Fridays in the mid-90s they would run the ABC regional-coverage maps for the Saturday afternoon games. No one really needs that now but back then it was essential.

The NCAA bonus is still an entire section, just trimmed down. The college football coaching salaries and NBA playoffs preview are other features that have gotten trimmed in recent years, too. I agree about being taken by the $2.00 price but maybe it's not too surprising given the overall newspaper climate.

This post was edited on 3/16 6:09 PM by yc_ballcat