TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
'Gas Phantom' Reveals Identity
Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN
Dave Legarreta, right, with Clear Channel, hands Milo Muchard $55.00 as part of a gas giveaway.
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Published: May 22, 2008
Updated: 05/22/2008 02:37 pm
TAMPA - It's no myth. It's just M.J.
For the past few weeks, the "Gas Phantom" has handed out wads of cash to grateful motorists at dozens of gasoline pumps across the Tampa Bay area.
After doling out more than $14,000 to patrons, a man in a dark business suit appeared today at a Shell station on North Dale Mabry Highway and revealed his identity.
Standing in front of a crowd of reporters, Dave Legarretaswept aside his tie and opened his dress shirt to reveal a T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of the M.J. Morning Show on 93.3, WFLZ FM.
Legarreta works in the maintenance department of Clear Channel Radio and said he was asked to undertake this unusual philanthropic gesture precisely because of his anonymity.
"Nobody knows me," Legarreta said. "I'm older and I've been with the company for years, so they can trust me. They've given me thousands in cash to hand out."
Reactions from puzzled drivers have been mostly positive, he said. Some people refused the cash, but most didn't and expressed a lot of gratitude.
"It was nice," Legarreta said. "It's kind of like a Santa Claus effect. Some people, I could tell, really needed the money. For others, it was like a found gift."
With only about three minutes per visit to a gas station, Legarreta said he didn't have time to seek out people driving less expensive cars. He offered the cash to whoever was at a pump.
"I gained the knowledge that a lot of people are hurting when it comes to gas prices," he said. "Fifty-five dollars won't fill up a lot of people's tanks."
AAA is reporting that about 31.7 million people are expected hit the road over Memorial Day weekend. The average gas price in Tampa was $3.75 on May 19.
Tammy Torres was one of the lucky drivers who received $55 from the Gas Phantom at the Shell station.
"It helps a lot," she said. "I'm a single mom with three kids. It takes about $75 to fill my tank. Every little bit helps."
Torres said she'd heard about the Gas Phantom and was surprised to learn a radio show was behind the money.
"Still, they helped a lot of people out," she said.
The Gas Phantom's identity was kept top secret, even amongst the radio show's staff, said Kim Collelo, an associate producer for the "M.J. Morning Show" who also is known as on-air sidekick "Jabberjaw."
"M.J. had the whole crew in the dark," she said. "We found out during the press conference, too."
The goal wasn't to boost the show's listener ratings, she said.
"It's all to ease the pain of the gas prices," Collelo said. "It was to put a smile on people's faces. It's just 'take this gift.' "
Other companies are seizing on the same idea and are having similar giveaways.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, the Verizon Yellow Pages and Superpages.com will hand out $40 pre-paid gas cards to the first 200 vehicles at the Shell station at 6901 West Hillsborough Ave.
The program is being rolled out to 23 other communities across the nation.
Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Lee ) on May 22, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
These kind of stories are great to read especially when times are getting tough for just about everyone. We need more of these kind of stories!!
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Posted by ( bigums ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Fem-J is trying to buy back ratings points. Cute.
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Posted by ( cherrylynn18 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This really is a great story. Where's the pic of the gas phantom though?
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Posted by ( SpeakingOut ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just last week I heard M J talking to the "Gas Phantom" and he had no idea who the guys was. He was trying to get the guy to reveal himself thru his show. Maybe it was all planned out or maybe he's trying to promote his show.
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Posted by ( RKTJ ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is an act of philanthropy - this is a marketing ploy by Clear Channel to buy back listeners
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Posted by ( Landsturm ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Gas Phantoms are really cool!!!...Especially when you let one fly just before you step off a crowded elevator...
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Posted by ( Nedley_Mandingo ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:23 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( lovetherays ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
LOL - Lanstrum
You made me spit out my salad with that comment
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Posted by ( progers13 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Buying listeners - very nice Clear Channel. It goes to prove how far you are willing to go to get your name out there and lure some listeners. I pay for satellite because it is FAR MORE entertaining than Clear Channel.
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Posted by ( ebgirl4 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You people are ridiculous. Whether any of you like MJ or not, you know dang well you'd have taken the money if the "Gas Phantom" had offered. So lay off with all the negative comments. It was a nice thing no matter who did it or why they did it...Also (SpeakingOut) MJ may have been pretending to not know who did this to um, hmm, keep the secret going longer?!?! hmm...
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Posted by ( Ryan_Levi_Lesswick ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Fem-J is #1 for soccer moms, and teeny boppers
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Posted by ( billdouglas00 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So if last week Fem-J had this so called "Gas Phantom" on his little midget show and she said he didnt know who the guy was that just means that Fem-J was just lieing to his listeners! That's right Fem-J lies to all 12 of his listeners!!! Geez at least Bubba doesn't have to buy his listeners!
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Posted by ( gina1108 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If they were really just doing this to be nice, they would have stayed anonymous and continued handing out the cash. But of course, the station needs to be recognized.
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Posted by ( Randy08 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm with bigums... BUBBA ARMY!!
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Posted by ( Ms_Suess ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
How sad...this would have been much better had his identity remained anonymous.
The MJ Morning Show contrived this bit, period. Just leaves a bad taste in the mouth, that's all.
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Posted by ( TylerDurden ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
My 'Gas Phantom' is usually blamed on the dog
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Posted by ( krick426 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think MJ is great! and if he wants to give me $55 bucks to listen to his how I would be more then happy to! Who gives a rats behind whether or not he is trying to get ratings, he's giving people money!!!! I want some! Those of you that say he should be ashamed, you'd be saying something different if you were to get some free cash!
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Posted by ( rayking19 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Big deal. I'm a Bubba fan, but I'm not going to get on here and bash MJ. If you don't like him then don't listen to his radio show. Besides you would take his money if he would have offered it to you. Everyone knows that MJ will lose the suit, but if you retards keep bashing him, you actually help his case. I hate Ninjas and Kickballers, but if they gave me 50 bucks for free gas, I'd sure as hell take it!
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Posted by ( HG813 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
MJ is a loser! Who wants to listen to such an idiot in the morning?
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Posted by ( Magz ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
LOL nice try clearchannel. trying to win back listeners, MJ the cretin sucks.
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Posted by ( billdouglas00 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Oh I would take his money also...just like Bubba is going to take his money in court!!! I would take the money and then go buy some new Bubba Army Gear!!
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Soccer moms and Cowhead fans resent that remark, Ryan. Cowhead rocks!
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Posted by ( lovetherays ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If you think about we are all doing what brillo pad head wants us to do-Talk about him.
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Posted by ( woundedmullet ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
oh what we will do to win the ratings war.Just castrate some animal for God sakes.
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Posted by ( darthgirlthing ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
TylerDurden - too funny!!!
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Posted by ( goodhands33637 ) on May 22, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Krick; M-J is not giving away the money...Cheap Channel is. M-J wouldn't give a dime out to anyone... From my sources at Berns, he is the worst tipper and absolutely rude to everyone. Clear and simple. I'm not a BTLS fan either so I'm not in the DJ vs. DJ bash fest...
But I do wonder how M-J / Schnitt will like it when his butt is ticketed for poor treatment to animals. Ask anyone here with CC about his bird...
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Posted by ( billdouglas00 ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
That bird got taken away from Fem-J this week!! Bubba is the new proud owner of the bird!
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Posted by ( KM13 ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!! I can't believe people are turning this into an MJ vs. Bubba battle. WHO CARES what the motive was... the point is that they are giving out money to people who may or may not be their listeners. If they were trying to buy listeners, they certainly wouldn't waste money on people who are already hooked on the show. They are STILL going to hand out thousands more...
It just blows my mind that people can't just recognize it for being a good deed... REGARDLESS of if the media was involved or not.
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Posted by ( Come_on ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
KM13 - EXACTLY what I was thinking. And why are the "Bashers" idolizing radio talk show hosts? Have they nothing else in their lives? How very, very sad.
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Posted by ( BernHard ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
All of you are complaining about Clear Channel trying to get back ratings and MJ this and that, but if the money was handed to you, you would've took it quicker than anybody else. Punks. Shut up.
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Posted by ( McFire ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bubba is no better than MJ. He merely uses fouler language and appeals to the cruder, more immature listeners. I listen to both, it just depends on what kind of mood I'm in. I doubt Bubba tips any more at restaurants than MJ. All DJ's are cheapskates. Bubba is no animal supporter either, especially after the pig castration in the parking lot fiasco! Plus, if Bubba is so great, why did he crawl back to Clear Channel to broadcast on terrestrial radio? What happened to the satellite gig?
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Posted by ( gina1108 ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think the "bashers" are bashing because MJ always puts other radio guys down for staging stunts for ratings. He does it too, but he's a little more subtle about it.
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Posted by ( Randy08 ) on May 22, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bubba is at Cox radio, not Clear Channel, and he didn't crawl back. He still is on Satellite Radio.
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Posted by ( Petey90 ) on May 22, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
All the bashers are just haters cause Bubba didn't think of it first. Admit it and you will be happier for it.
And why would you let two grown men allow you to get into disagreements with others over THEIR fight? You must have nothing else going on in your lives. Unbelievabe.
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Posted by ( FLAGAL102 ) on May 22, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well said BernHard
For all you MJ/Clearchannel haters! I'll take your $55.00!!! Whether it's buying listeners or improving ratings, that's neither here nor there. I still think it's a GREAT gesture, they are just trying to help out the people who are being hit by the gas prices. I'm sure you wouldn't be talking your trash now, had that money been place in your hands.
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Posted by ( krick426 ) on May 22, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
He needs to head to Gibsonton/Apollo Beach!!! I dont care if cc or mj or bubba or delilah is give the $$ away, i just want a slice of the pie! and of course its about rating, does anyone now a days do things from the kindness of their hearts? very very rarely!
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Posted by ( itsme813 ) on May 22, 2008 at 6:34 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Toonsdad ) on May 22, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I can't believe you people, Bubba blows "Big Time". Bubba wouldn't be where he is today if Ron & Ron stayed together. How quickly we forget that Bubba was a little tween premadonna on the Power Pig himself. In fact, he nearly got himself in deep dong with a little underage action. If Only Ron & Ron where around today, Bubba would have been bug splatter on their windshield.
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Posted by ( danrome1 ) on May 22, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
regardless of the reason, you all know YOU would have taken the cash. Even Bubba's fat azz would have taken it!!!
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Posted by ( jandpbell ) on May 22, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
so where was this guy when i spent 110 to fill up last week?
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Posted by ( rcg2 ) on May 22, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
My wife claims that I'm a "Gas Phantom". Especially after a big meal.
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Posted by ( Budbkind2u ) on May 22, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
RKTJ,
"Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is an act of philanthropy - this is a marketing ploy by Clear Channel to buy back listeners"
yeah, and so what??
like bubba has never done anything like that........like each and every TV or radio show hasn't done anything like that.
They all do it, thay all need more ratings. To put down mj by saying he is just tring to buy back ratings points is about as dumb as...............sorry it's so dumb I can't think of something to compare it to.
I will say this though, some of you need to pull your tungs out of bubba's a$$ a little, he's not all that.
BTW I know I can't spell.....................
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Posted by ( RadioHitz ) on May 22, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bubba castrated a pig for ratings.
MJ handed out $14,000 to strangers for ratings.
Gee, who should we be ripping here?
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Posted by ( Gladiator ) on May 23, 2008 at 6:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bubba dont buy his listeners. You eithe rlike him or not its really simple.As usual MJ lied and played dumb about the whole stunt. Why didnt the guy stay a phantom? he revealed himself for the publicity and hopes that everyone would say hey clear channel is cool they give away gas money. Sounds pathetic.
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Posted by ( Christine ) on May 23, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This whole "Bubba's Army" is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. Who cares? It's just a radio show! I'm sick of hearing Bubba trash MJ. That's why I stopped listening to Bubba. Flip over to MJ and he mentions none of this "radio war" crap. It's a show everyone. Find something more productive to join.
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Posted by ( Budbkind2u ) on May 23, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Bubba dont buy his listeners"
yeah right, if you belive that, I've got a bridge for sale real cheep.
Of course to tell the truth more then likely he hasn't but then again neither has MJ, I'm sure the money came from the station, and not MJ, so really he hasn't bought anything.
DJ's are like most of us, they have a boss, and MUST do what they say. Even your beloved bubba has to answer to someone. If the station Bubba works for(as that is all he does, work for someone else) told him to do the same thing, he would. As he is nothen more then a pawn/tool in the radio war.
Just one more reason I like my mp3's
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Posted by ( vannessia ) on May 23, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Nothing from nothing leaves nothing and you have to pay the cost to be the boss
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Posted by ( DrPatel ) on May 23, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bubba didnt take MJ's listeners, he took a little from all the rest of the stations. 97x is dead now. ALL of MJ's listeners are still around.
And, thanks for the $55, MJ...I sent it to Obama's campaign.
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Posted by ( R2DBLOW ) on May 23, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think he should be known as the gas Admiral. No particular reason why.
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Posted by ( RadioHitz ) on May 23, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
1. If people think Bubba doesn't answer to anyone, send Mr. Clem an email and ask him who John Larson is. I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you.
and...
2. 97x is not dead. As far as morning show ratings are concerned, MJ has always been the front-runner in the Arbitron books, so to have Bubba come in and take over that spot really has no effect on 97x (specifically Fisher & Boy). The audience tuning into F & B is a completely different demographic than what is tuning into Bubba or MJ. As far as ratings go for the rest of the day, 97x can definitely be considered part of the cream. People listen for much longer periods of time than they do with 93.3. FLZ appeals to a much younger demo, and they program the music to facilitate the ADD mentality of young females. That is why you hear the same song every 90 minutes (and sometimes less).
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Posted by ( DrPatel ) on May 23, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The "ADD mentality of young females?" Ha ha
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