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My inbox reflects the growing popularity of softball. Most of my literary contributors responded to a post-NCAA Tournament column on Lady Vols coach Karen Weekly.
But I also received numerous emails regarding my 1983 laptop computer.
Doug writes: Good article regarding Karen Weekly and other highly successful coaches who have not won championships or didn't until late in their careers.
One nitpick buried deep in that particular article: You said a story you were researching for the 82-83 NCAA Basketball Tournament was "snatched from your laptop" before you finished it. I wondered if you had a rich uncle in the tech industry in 1982 as laptops were not commonplace until much later?
My response: Both of my uncles were long dead by then, and neither was technologically inclined. But I started writing on a computer in the late 1970s.
I composed press box columns in Jackson, MS, on something called a Teleram. It was a suitcase-size computer that weighed about 30 pounds but had a tiny screen.
I remember toting a Teleram up the steps of Mississippi Memorial Stadium, which didn't have a press box elevator at the time.
The Teleram was soon replaced by Radio Shack’s Trash 80, which had a bigger screen and weighed about 20 pounds less.
Jack writes: I enjoyed your Karen Weekly column, as I do so many of your columns. You've still got it, old man.
I was especially impressed, though, that you had a laptop at that 1983 game in The Pit. Trash 80 portables came out that year, but we at The Albuquerque Tribune were not so quick to invest in those high-tech marvels. And I don't think we tried any of the earlier suitcase computers, though I may be misremembering.
My response: Thanks for the reminder that I am well into the winter of my life. I get a lot of emails like that, some of which begin: “You’re the only person I know who might remember this.”
And yes, Shemp − in response to your email − I do remember Kentucky’s Roger Bird being on the cover of Street & Smith’s preseason football yearbook in 1965.
Hal writes: I am an avid reader of your articles. Are you sure that you had a laptop when NC State beat Houston? It would’ve been hard to carry around. Thanks for the good work you do. Always interesting.
My response: As I mentioned, the Trash 80 was a huge improvement for event coverage. It also weighed less than my current laptop and was an easy carry-on item for air travel.
Maybe, too easy.
I once left my Trash 80 in a gift shop at JFK Airport after covering a U.S. Open for a Jacksonville, Florida, newspaper. Fortunately, air travel was more efficient back then.
My computer arrived in Jacksonville just a few hours after I did.
William writes: I was thankful for your vote of confidence for Karen Weekly, even if it wasn't particularly enthusiastic. While I know that in sports we recognize championships as ends in themselves, I believe that what Karen has done for UT in the past 20+ years deserves more than the "she can't win the big one" label.
I remember when people said the same thing about Pat Summit, given her 1977 team took third at the AIAW championships, and her teams lost a number of games in the finals in the next several seasons.
It wasn't until 1987 that she broke through, and even after that, she took a lot of criticism when her teams lost in the Final Four.
My response: Based on how Weekly and her staff are recruiting − and how many starters could return next season − the Lady Vols might be even better in 2027.
Colorado Mark: With your intimate knowledge of Louisiana culture and Lane Kiffin's close proximity to NOLA, do you think Kiff − given his lustful desire to win a Natty − would employ the use of Voodoo Dolls of opposing coaches and players to cause chaos and confusion for those opposing teams entering Tiger Stadium?
My response: Of course, he would. That’s probably why he brought back South Louisiana native Ed Orgeron as an assistant.
Surely, Orgeron has the number of an accomplished voodoo practitioner.
I’m not so well connected but did know a spiritualist who could conjure up a curse or two for the right price. She worked her magic on opponents of the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Bucs on separate occasions.
The curses often didn't work, reminding me that – in the football realm − blocking and tackling invariably will overcome voodoo.
Terry writes: Regarding the upcoming Neyland Entertainment District, if the acronym NED is to be used like the TBA acronym, I think the name should be quickly changed.
Competitors and recruiting coordinators will use that against us, I fear. Any reference with the letters ED will reflect us as weak and sluggish.
ADAMS: My response to preseason football magazine assessment of Josh Heupel
My response: I never thought of that. But we all have different experiences that shape our thoughts.
Since Tennessee athletic director Danny White is the creative force behind the project, how about: Danny’s Dollar Store?
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Readers sold on Karen Weekly, but not so sure about my 1983 laptop computer
Continue reading...
But I also received numerous emails regarding my 1983 laptop computer.
Doug writes: Good article regarding Karen Weekly and other highly successful coaches who have not won championships or didn't until late in their careers.
One nitpick buried deep in that particular article: You said a story you were researching for the 82-83 NCAA Basketball Tournament was "snatched from your laptop" before you finished it. I wondered if you had a rich uncle in the tech industry in 1982 as laptops were not commonplace until much later?
My response: Both of my uncles were long dead by then, and neither was technologically inclined. But I started writing on a computer in the late 1970s.
I composed press box columns in Jackson, MS, on something called a Teleram. It was a suitcase-size computer that weighed about 30 pounds but had a tiny screen.
I remember toting a Teleram up the steps of Mississippi Memorial Stadium, which didn't have a press box elevator at the time.
The Teleram was soon replaced by Radio Shack’s Trash 80, which had a bigger screen and weighed about 20 pounds less.
Jack writes: I enjoyed your Karen Weekly column, as I do so many of your columns. You've still got it, old man.
I was especially impressed, though, that you had a laptop at that 1983 game in The Pit. Trash 80 portables came out that year, but we at The Albuquerque Tribune were not so quick to invest in those high-tech marvels. And I don't think we tried any of the earlier suitcase computers, though I may be misremembering.
My response: Thanks for the reminder that I am well into the winter of my life. I get a lot of emails like that, some of which begin: “You’re the only person I know who might remember this.”
And yes, Shemp − in response to your email − I do remember Kentucky’s Roger Bird being on the cover of Street & Smith’s preseason football yearbook in 1965.
Hal writes: I am an avid reader of your articles. Are you sure that you had a laptop when NC State beat Houston? It would’ve been hard to carry around. Thanks for the good work you do. Always interesting.
My response: As I mentioned, the Trash 80 was a huge improvement for event coverage. It also weighed less than my current laptop and was an easy carry-on item for air travel.
Maybe, too easy.
I once left my Trash 80 in a gift shop at JFK Airport after covering a U.S. Open for a Jacksonville, Florida, newspaper. Fortunately, air travel was more efficient back then.
My computer arrived in Jacksonville just a few hours after I did.
William writes: I was thankful for your vote of confidence for Karen Weekly, even if it wasn't particularly enthusiastic. While I know that in sports we recognize championships as ends in themselves, I believe that what Karen has done for UT in the past 20+ years deserves more than the "she can't win the big one" label.
I remember when people said the same thing about Pat Summit, given her 1977 team took third at the AIAW championships, and her teams lost a number of games in the finals in the next several seasons.
It wasn't until 1987 that she broke through, and even after that, she took a lot of criticism when her teams lost in the Final Four.
My response: Based on how Weekly and her staff are recruiting − and how many starters could return next season − the Lady Vols might be even better in 2027.
Colorado Mark: With your intimate knowledge of Louisiana culture and Lane Kiffin's close proximity to NOLA, do you think Kiff − given his lustful desire to win a Natty − would employ the use of Voodoo Dolls of opposing coaches and players to cause chaos and confusion for those opposing teams entering Tiger Stadium?
My response: Of course, he would. That’s probably why he brought back South Louisiana native Ed Orgeron as an assistant.
Surely, Orgeron has the number of an accomplished voodoo practitioner.
I’m not so well connected but did know a spiritualist who could conjure up a curse or two for the right price. She worked her magic on opponents of the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Bucs on separate occasions.
The curses often didn't work, reminding me that – in the football realm − blocking and tackling invariably will overcome voodoo.
Terry writes: Regarding the upcoming Neyland Entertainment District, if the acronym NED is to be used like the TBA acronym, I think the name should be quickly changed.
Competitors and recruiting coordinators will use that against us, I fear. Any reference with the letters ED will reflect us as weak and sluggish.
ADAMS: My response to preseason football magazine assessment of Josh Heupel
My response: I never thought of that. But we all have different experiences that shape our thoughts.
Since Tennessee athletic director Danny White is the creative force behind the project, how about: Danny’s Dollar Store?
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Readers sold on Karen Weekly, but not so sure about my 1983 laptop computer
Continue reading...
