Mike Missanelli off the top today on what he dubbed Dwaynegate:

Audio 97.5 The Fanatic

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“Today we will deem DwayneGate. Since this story has taken over the world. And thanks to the intrepid hardcore bastions of hard-hitting journalism reporters at Crossing Broad, cracking the big case as if they discovered the Lindbergh Baby, and where the Lindbergh Baby was kidnapped, comes up with the story that Dwayne from Swedesboro was actually not Dwayne from Swedesboro, that he was a voice from our own producer here at 97.5 The Fanatic named Pat Egan. Now, I don’t really quite know what the story is that is so important that it is a major story for all the blogs. It got to Deadspin somehow, and Philly Mag dot com, and Philly dot com, and all that. But here’s what I will say. I didn’t know that Dwayne from Swedesboro was not a real person. There may be people here that knew all along that he wasn’t a real person. I did not know, because I don’t know who are real persons that call us or not…I don’t really know them on a personal level…Dwayne from Swedesboro, we’ve occassionally asked the question if he was real or not, having never met him. Now I was told that he was at the station once…so I assumed he was a real person. Now, I don’t really know what the story is, and I hope that people will tell us what thw story is…Let’s face it, in radio, it’s not the first time people have made up a character in radio, so I don’t get what the outrage is, unless you thought that it pushed the boundaries of racial lines. And if you thought that, and you were offended, I’m right there with you. If you are offended by Dwayne from Swedesboro and the content of his call, then I have wide open ears for you to hear your calls and to hear your complaints…I mean I really don’t understand the hubub of a fake caller that has appeared many times in radio circles. The bottom line is: Dwayne entertained many people.”

Mike opened up his show for discussion on the topic, even though he continued to downplay the notion that it was a story. Pat Egan came on briefly and explained that he used to call as Dwayne from the studio behind Mike, which was quite funny. Mike is being sympathetic to the race angle. He is calling me “Woodward and Bernstein” and “an ambulance chaser blogger,” which is funny because he’s had no problem running those lights with me when he’s emailed me tips in attempts to get me to bash (off the top of my head) Glen Macnow, Howard Eskin, John Gonzalez, Andy Bloom, Tony Bruno, Michael Barkann, Josh Innes, and, my personal favorite in light of recent events:

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If you can’t read that:

“That other station is so desperate that they’ve resorted to having their minions (as few as they may be) making phony phone calls to all of our shows. Pathetic.”

Meanwhile, Glen Macnow comes over the top – publicly – as tipsters are lighting up my inbox and phone regarding fake callers in sports talk radio:

Bring me my wartime epaulettes. And the music. PLAY ME MY MUSIC: