This blog is different from many blogs. In other words, it’s not a breaking news blog.
Instead, I tend to do three or four longer, essay-style posts each week rather than a lot of short posts.
That said, this will be a short post.
Tommy Smith of KABZ-FM, 103.7, in Little Rock is my friend. Like many of our Arkansas readers, I’m shocked by the news that Tommy suffered a seizure on the air this morning and was transported to the hospital.
I’m not a radio expert (though I’ve dabbled in that medium since age 13), but I can state this: Tommy has long been popular in this market, especially among the male demographic, because he is real — an authentic Arkansan who loves this state, loves its history and traditions, loves the Hogs, loves visiting the Redneck Riviera, loves fried chicken, loves barbecue and loves his wife while still loving to look at those pretty Southern women.
Like all of us, he has his faults and has not been shy about sharing those faults on the air through the years.
Those of us who are Arkansas boys — those of us who grew up calling the Hogs, hunting, fishing and even spending afternoons at Diego’s — can relate to Tommy.
It’s why we listen. He’s not some golden throat imported from another market. He’s one of us with the same likes and dislikes.
He’s also a man with a heart “as big as Dallas” as they used to say down my way. My favorite mornings are those I get to spend on the air with Tommy trading “Arkansas stories.”
Get well, my friend.
UPDATE: At 4:30 p.m. Friday, The Buzz reports that Tommy is “resting comfortably” and that his condition is NOT a life-threatening condition.