Tom Barnard, the KQ92 franchise, may well have been in Minnesota on Thursday, but he wasn't really answering my question about his whereabouts last week.
An FM radio source -- who for years has maintained that Barnard does way more of his morning shows from Florida, via phone, than KQ lets on -- sent me a link to a redandnater.com reader posting on this subject. The radio listener claimed on Feb. 7 that "Tommy B phoned it in ... literally. The Florida studio line crashed, and he said he was out on assignment."
Then a "David Kaiser" e-mailed me a link to an mspmag.com blog that essentially said, so what? According to mspmag.com, a KQ spokesman confirmed the technical glitch and gossip that Barnard had nose surgery.
"Doesn't everyone know he has a studio at his house, and this time of year he does a lot of shows from his other place in West Palm Beach?" read the mspmag.com blogger. "What percentage of Minnesotans are either in Florida this time of year or wishing they were? I'd think it'd be a pretty good running bit, playing up the piña colada stains on my Rash Guard swimwear while my knucklehead compatriots are kicking slush off their Uggs. The KQ spokeswoman argues that Tommy B. in Florida is 'no different than doing a remote.' Well, when Dan Barreiro is out on the deck at Maynard's, he says so constantly. I get the feeling Tommy isn't exactly copping to his Florida 'remote.' "
So I e-mailed Barnard on Valentine's Day, saying I was seeking the truth while asking whether he was inclined to throw light on this "technical difficulty" that occurred in Florida.
His response: "It must be media idiots that are calling you, I am in Minnesota, I'm having lunch with Adam Platt [of MplsStPaul] tomorrow. (You can ask him.) [Haven't heard back from Platt.] As for all of their other moronic claims, let me say directly to them, I don't like you either. These are the same dolts that were calling you names last week. This week it's my turn."
Anybody else reading this and feeling like a mushroom?
C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on FOX9 Thursday mornings.
