We still have that? The funny, nostalgic (and totally random) stuff WTOP staffers found during building move

WASHINGTON — It’s amazing what you find after spending 30 years in one place.

As you might have heard, WTOP is on the move, heralding an exciting new chapter for Washington’s Top News. Sadly, it means saying goodbye to the digs here in D.C.’s McLean Gardens neighborhood, and that means bidding farewell to what is affectionately known as “The Football Table.”

The Football Table: Hallowed be thy name. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)

The table has been the newsroom’s Main Street, its Town Hall. It’s a place where editors and reporters converse or catch a few minutes of a news conference on TV. Most importantly, it’s where free snacks or lunches occasionally appear, albeit briefly. Put something on The Football Table, the legend says, and it will magically disappear.

So yeah, the table isn’t making the trip and it’s not alone. Work anywhere long enough and you’ll accumulate a surplus of stuff. And if Marie Kondo were to ask us, for instance, whether that cutout of Richard Sherman’s face we found brings us joy, the answer would be a furrowed brow.

(At the moment, Sherman is over by WTOP Entertainment Editor Jason Fraley’s desk. No word yet if he’s keeping it.)

Much of this surplus stuff has been appearing on The Football Table because an important part of packing up is throwing out and giving away.

Here now is a sampling of the random items up for grabs that won’t be making the trip to Chevy Chase, Md.

Do we have any takers?

Afternoon news writer Keara Dowd models "The Nasuti + Hinkle and WTOP-Radio Tastee Diner Softball World Championship Series" trophy. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Afternoon news writer Keara Dowd models “The Nasuti + Hinkle and WTOP-Radio Tastee Diner Softball World Championship Series” trophy. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
This is a "cart." Such tape cartridges were used many, many years ago for playing news pieces and commercials before everything went digital. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
This is a “cart.” Such tape cartridges were used many, many years ago for playing news pieces and commercials before everything went digital. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Here's a notepad from back when WTOP had "Magic" 102.3 as a sister station. 
(WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Here’s a notepad from back when WTOP had “Magic” 102.3 as a sister station. The letterhead is no longer good, but the paper still is. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Promotional silly putty? Unclear. It doesn't do a grerat job of pulling pictures off a newspaper (or a Wheaties box). It's not that bouncy. It also tastes terrible. It's probably no longer fresh. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Promotional silly putty? Unclear. It doesn’t do a great job of pulling pictures off a newspaper (or a Wheaties box). It’s not that bouncy. It also tastes awful. Go figure. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Check it out: A box of Wheaties featuring the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.  (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Check it out: A box of Wheaties featuring the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
clip-on man bun
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein had this clip-on man bun in his locker. He bought it for a fun feature that never happened. Luckily. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
microphone
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein still had the first microphone he brought when he joined WTOP in 1997. Geeks — it’s a Shure SM63, which they still make (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Google Glass
Google Glass was supposed to be the next big thing. WTOP’s Neal Augenstein got the company to spring for it, but Google quickly stopped producing the smart glasses. Would make a cool Halloween costume. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
locker survival food
Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher admits it. She’s a pack rat. Fearing she won’t be fed during snow storms, she found storm-survival food — a diet bar (expiration 2010), a cup of noodles (expiration 2013) and hot chocolate. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
This is a snapshot from the 2003 Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Invitational. As everyone knows, it's where WTOP News Director Mike McMearty (far left) and General Manager Joel Oxley (far right) shot a 51 and 50, respectively. Both later turned down invitations to join the PGA Tour. Also pictured here are two guys who are not my bosses and are, therefore, probably average golf players. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
This is a snapshot from the 2003 Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Invitational. As everyone knows, it’s where WTOP Director of News and Programming Mike McMearty (far left) and General Manager Joel Oxley (far right) shot a 51 and 50, respectively. Both later turned down invitations to join the PGA Tour. Also pictured here are Steve O’Keeffe (second from left) and Mark Meudt. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Football Table snacks: Write your own joke here. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Football Table snacks and OTC medication (both of questionable age). Write your own joke here. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
How can one resist a cutout of outspoken 49ers DB Richard Sherman? (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
How can one resist a cutout of outspoken 49ers DB Richard Sherman? (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
They call these "mic flags." They're the cool things you see on a microphone when, for instance, a coach is being asked why the local team lost again. I snagged one for no practical reason. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
We call these “mic flags.” They’re the cool things you see on a microphone when, for instance, a coach is being asked why the local team lost again. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
For the staffers who helped  earn these awards, it's nice to have an opportunity to take one home. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
WTOP has won a fair amount of awards through the years. Some are now finding new homes with the staffers who helped win them. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
To win those awards, a news organization submits a collection of its best work. Some discs were never sent out. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)

To win those awards, a news organization submits a collection of its best work. Back in the (recent) day, those submissions were done on CD. Apparently, we like to have extras. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)

Straws, straws, straws: Grab 'em while you still can. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Straws, straws, straws: They’re banned now, so grab ’em while you still can. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Like any news junkie, WTOP hangs on to commemorative issues of big events, like the 2009 inauguration of the 44th president. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Like all good news junkies, WTOP staffers hang on to commemorative issues of big events, like the 2009 inauguration of the 44th president. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
More print publications marking big news events (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
More print publications marking big news events (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Sports media guides are taking up a sizable chunk of real estate on The Football Table. Who's up for a 2008-2009 Virginia Tech Hokies guide? Get some insight into how they finished 19-15, (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Sports media guides are taking up a sizable chunk of real estate on The Football Table. Turns out WTOP Sports Reporter Jonathan Warner has been hoarding these things for decades. Who’s up for a 2008-2009 Virginia Tech Hokies guide? (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
When you score press credentials to an inauguration, you hang onto them — until it's time to move. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
When you score press credentials to an inauguration, you hang onto them — until it’s time to move. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
The Smithsonian has claimed WTOP News Director Mike McMearty's media credentials. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
The Smithsonian should claim the media credentials of WTOP Director of News and Programming Mike McMearty. Approximate date? Back when he still had hair. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
No idea who these people are. They seem nice. ()
Former WTOP News Director Michelle Komes-Dolge and Production Director George Moshos mugged for the camera in this newly unearthed photo. Moshos has worked for WTOP for 40+ years and will be making the move to the new digs.   (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
It's either miniature Monopoly or a version for cats. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)

A miniature Monopoly board — really? (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)

Check it out: an old umbrella! Snag it while you can, dude. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)

Check it out: an old umbrella! Snag it while you can, dude. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)

Kristi King says these have expired. I'm selling them on eBay anyway. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)

The expiration date on these things is from, like, 2003. I’m selling them on eBay anyway. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)

We didn’t write the book, but we did read it. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
A brief history of media storage devices. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Here's a whole box full of plastic and paper sleeves for disc media, all of which would have been more useful during the Clinton administration. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Here’s a whole box full of plastic and paper sleeves for disc media, all of which would have been more useful during the Clinton administration. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
The WTOP web team keeps track of its page views. In Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher's locker, she found a spreadsheet from early 2008 that showed 2007's progress. At the time, an average of 9.9 million page views a month seemed great and a January 2008 average of 12.8 million was fantastic. Let's just say, the number of page views now far surpasses those. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
The WTOP web team keeps track of its page views. In Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher’s locker, she found a spreadsheet from early 2008 that showed 2007’s progress. At the time, an average of 9.9 million page views a month seemed great and a January 2008 average of 12.8 million was fantastic. Let’s just say, the number of page views now far surpasses those. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
In the olden days, circa 2008, Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher would print out reporters' stories and edit them. (OK, sometimes she still does.) In the bottom of her locker, Kelleher found this J.J. Green story. Back then, the website was WTOPnews.com. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
In the olden days, circa 2008, Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher would print out reporters’ stories to edit them. (OK, sometimes she still does.) In the bottom of her locker, Kelleher found this J.J. Green story. Back then, the site was WTOPnews.com. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
(1/30)
Afternoon news writer Keara Dowd models "The Nasuti + Hinkle and WTOP-Radio Tastee Diner Softball World Championship Series" trophy. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
This is a "cart." Such tape cartridges were used many, many years ago for playing news pieces and commercials before everything went digital. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Here's a notepad from back when WTOP had "Magic" 102.3 as a sister station. 
(WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Promotional silly putty? Unclear. It doesn't do a grerat job of pulling pictures off a newspaper (or a Wheaties box). It's not that bouncy. It also tastes terrible. It's probably no longer fresh. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Check it out: A box of Wheaties featuring the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.  (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
clip-on man bun
microphone
Google Glass
locker survival food
This is a snapshot from the 2003 Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Invitational. As everyone knows, it's where WTOP News Director Mike McMearty (far left) and General Manager Joel Oxley (far right) shot a 51 and 50, respectively. Both later turned down invitations to join the PGA Tour. Also pictured here are two guys who are not my bosses and are, therefore, probably average golf players. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Football Table snacks: Write your own joke here. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
How can one resist a cutout of outspoken 49ers DB Richard Sherman? (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
They call these "mic flags." They're the cool things you see on a microphone when, for instance, a coach is being asked why the local team lost again. I snagged one for no practical reason. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
For the staffers who helped  earn these awards, it's nice to have an opportunity to take one home. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
To win those awards, a news organization submits a collection of its best work. Some discs were never sent out. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Straws, straws, straws: Grab 'em while you still can. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Like any news junkie, WTOP hangs on to commemorative issues of big events, like the 2009 inauguration of the 44th president. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
More print publications marking big news events (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Sports media guides are taking up a sizable chunk of real estate on The Football Table. Who's up for a 2008-2009 Virginia Tech Hokies guide? Get some insight into how they finished 19-15, (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
When you score press credentials to an inauguration, you hang onto them — until it's time to move. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
The Smithsonian has claimed WTOP News Director Mike McMearty's media credentials. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
No idea who these people are. They seem nice. ()
It's either miniature Monopoly or a version for cats. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Check it out: an old umbrella! Snag it while you can, dude. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)
Kristi King says these have expired. I'm selling them on eBay anyway. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
Here's a whole box full of plastic and paper sleeves for disc media, all of which would have been more useful during the Clinton administration. (WTOP/Jack Pointer)
The WTOP web team keeps track of its page views. In Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher's locker, she found a spreadsheet from early 2008 that showed 2007's progress. At the time, an average of 9.9 million page views a month seemed great and a January 2008 average of 12.8 million was fantastic. Let's just say, the number of page views now far surpasses those. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)
In the olden days, circa 2008, Senior Digital Editor Colleen Kelleher would print out reporters' stories and edit them. (OK, sometimes she still does.) In the bottom of her locker, Kelleher found this J.J. Green story. Back then, the website was WTOPnews.com. (WTOP/Colleen Kelleher)

Check back soon to see what else we’ve unearthed! We’ll continue to update this gallery with more random stuff as we find it.

Jack Pointer

Jack contributes to WTOP.com when he's not working as the afternoon/evening radio writer.

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