Reporters Notebook: BPW or World Cup?

The Board of Public Works was doing one final test of its live-streaming technology on Wednesday before a full-scale launch in two weeks.

For some, the timing could not have been worse.

In his opening remarks, Peter Franchot applauded Martin O'Malley and others for getting the meetings broadcast live on the Internet, part of a larger push for more government transparency.

But Franchot wanted to know who would choose to watch the Board of Public Works over the U.S. World Cup match against Algeria being played at the same time.

He even had a tantalizing offer for his occasional BPW sparring partner — O'Malley — that prompted roars of laughter from the crowd.

"If you put the soccer game on the screen," Franchot said, gesturing to the flat-screen TV positioned in front of the front table where the three-member board sits, "I'll stay quiet the entire time."

Alas, Franchot had to settle for another way to keep track of the game, won by the Yanks in thrilling fashion.

— Alan Brody