The Inquirer was my first job out of college. I did political reporting, municipal stuff. I covered 9/11. The pilot of the second plane, Victor Saracini, lived in Lower Makefield, one of the communities I covered.
Kayce Ataiyero, 35, is the original (and likely only) daily newspaper reporter turned minor-league basketball general manager. Prior to her tenure with the Chicago Steam, she spent time at the Philadelphia Inquirer, the News & Observer in Raleigh, and the Chicago Tribune, where she covered the infamous R. Kelly trial. If the concession staff happens to bail on a Steam home game, don’t be surprised to find her slinging hot dogs. —Kevin Warwick
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From Philadelphia I went to North Carolina and worked at the News & Observer. A lot of weird crimes go on in the south. I did a story on a teenager who killed his parents because they wouldn’t let him go to the prom or a prom party, and he kept them in the house and stayed in the house with them for two weeks or something. It’s one of these things where it can be absolutely depressing, but just seeing how the legal system works is fascinating.
I came here in ’05. I was at the Trib a little less than five years. I started out in the Schaumburg bureau and it was actually a really cool gig. I covered the R. Kelly trial. To sit and watch porn in open court is a very bizarre experience, mainly to look at the people’s faces while they’re not trying to react. I remember during the jury questioning the defense attorneys were asking a woman what her impression was: “Do you know the defendant? Have you heard of him? Do you listen to his music?” She says, “Well, I think he’s kind of dumb because I read that he couldn’t read.” He looked heartbroken.
We’ve really been growing in attendance. This year we’re shooting for 6,700. We’ve typically averaged about 3,000-4,000. We had an exhibition/scrimmage game yesterday, kind of kicking some tires on some guys that are trying to make the team.
Index: 2012 People Issue
