Like a four-engine plane with three engines out, like a penguin, like the coworker or classmate that hasn't missed a day of work or school in three years, or like the Macarena, there are some things that just unexpectedly take off.

Add the P. David Romei live trial blog to that list...or, should I say, "the blog."  That's how everyone seemed to refer to it.

"Steve, I love the blog."

"Steve, I can't pull myself away from the blog."

"Steve, why haven't you updated the blog in the last ten minutes?  I could easily walk over from my office in the courthouse, but I'd rather not do work at my desk than not do work in the courtroom."  (you know who you are...let the speculation begin on that one)

Let me preface the rest of this post by saying that this was a serious matter which we covered, one with significant ramifications for this community, one dealing with the reputation and livelihood of one man and the money of charitable donors and taxpayers.  I put those facts at the forefront of my mind each time I felt a twinge of frustration with my task, a menial one in comparison to prosecuting, defending or judging this case.

I could go back and list off so many things that I thought would have gotten me more comments.  How about the Steve vs. Bob French flight simulator competition (Barbara: "What a bunch of dorks!")?  How about Ladies' Nite?

No?  A blog about a trial?

Whatever floats your boat...

Courtroom drama draws attention.  Prominent people in the community draw attention.  Put one of those prominent people on trial, and you've got a recipe for an attention-drawing souffle of a spectacle that lent itself to a little something extra when it comes to coverage.

My hope is that we were fair in our coverage.  In this day in age where claims of media bias are shouted from the digital rooftops, as a journalist, I can only do my very best to call it as I see it.  Nothing more, nothing less.  From the response I've received (including from some key figures in the case who shall remain nameless), I think that goal was accompished.

You never know when we'll bring the concept back, but with the response we've gotten, it will be back.  Don't know if I'll be doing it, but I'll be happy to if called upon.  Thanks for reading it, and for counting on us.