Woj Bomb (Courtesy of Schefter)

[motorsportwriter]

Woj speaks the truth. You aren't truly a sports journalist (in my eyes, anyway...) until you've hacked out 15 inches in 15 minutes - with FULL stats at the end - soaked to the bone and then trying to get the 7-11's pay phone to connect properly to your Trash-80. Having performed that minor miracle hundreds of times, it is indeed WAY WAY WAY harder than any other facet of journalism I've experienced.

rb

Trash-80's, now that brings back memories ... and nightmares. I still have 2-3 somewhere in the house. I wonder if they still power up. Anyone else still have their Trash-80 or its cousins, Trash-100 and 200?

 

[playthrough]

There's a healthy eBay market for Trash-80s and accessories. Buyers who must not have PTSD that old journos do.

 

[SixToe]

#EOM##

 

[Rockbottom]

Trash-80's, now that brings back memories ... and nightmares. I still have 2-3 somewhere in the house. I wonder if they still power up. Anyone else still have their Trash-80 or its cousins, Trash-100 and 200?

I almost threw mine Frisbee-style out of the Florida Field press box one night in a particular fit of pique, and then sold it to a future AP journo for a large pepperoni pizza, IIRC...

rb

 

[WriteThinking]

Trash-80's, now that brings back memories ... and nightmares. I still have 2-3 somewhere in the house. I wonder if they still power up. Anyone else still have their Trash-80 or its cousins, Trash-100 and 200?

I still have my TRS-100, in the box (which I purposely kept), with the couplers, carrying case and all the connections. I also still have one of those traditional old-style desk phones, with the wall plug, that were the best bet of getting through and that I always brought to events. I think I still remember how to send, too (F4, then F3?). I should try it.

Probably wouldn't go through on the other (office) end anymore, though.

 

[wicked]

Never had my own Trash-80, but occasionally borrowed one from the office. This was back before we had e-mail (but lots of other places already did).

 

[TigerVols]

I still have my TR-100, in the box (which I purposely kept), with the couplers, carrying case and all the connections. I also still have one of those traditional old-style desk phones, with the wall plug, that were the best bet of getting through and that I always brought to events. I think I still remember how to send, too (F4, then F3?). I should try it.

Probably wouldn't go through on the other (office) end anymore, though.

Doomsday prepper?

 

[motorsportwriter]

Doomsday prepper?

Doomsday Prepper?

Well, when AI destroys all forms of communication in the near future, yes, we will have our Trash-80s to fall back on as we begin the whole rebuilding process. Keep those couplers handy -- although I can't see how they would work with Galaxy's or iPhones LOL.

 

[Songbird]

forking couplers.

 

[micropolitan guy]

There was a way you could plug into the wall outlet or something with a Trash-80 so you didn't need the couplers. Or so I think I remember.

Hard to believe that at one point a Trash-80 was a godsend to sports reporting. So clunky, but generally so dependable, sort of the DC3 of early portable laptops.

And, to get back on thread here, Olean will probably seem like the end of the world compared to the places he's been but hopefully it will be a great job for him, people there love Bonnies basketball. My family has a lot of connections to SBU and I have been a fan of the former Brown Indians since the Bob Lanier era.

 

[swingline]

Do you think Woj ever cost some kid a scholarship?

Gosh, I hope so.

 

[swingline]

Jeff D'Alessio is the only Bonnie I know.

He and Paul O are the best writers I've ever worked with.

Jim Rossow is really good, too.