You probably remember Joyner. He was last heard on WPTF, hosting a weekday talk show that often (and typically) had loads of fun with liberal dogma. Joyner was the Triangle's version of Rush Limbaugh, but many people didn't realize his on-air radio gig was more hobby than profession. He was actually a radio tycoon -- the owner of a tidy handful of stations and a general wheeler-dealer in broadcast properties.

Joyner's on-air gig at WPTF ended in 1997, and he has been absent from the airwaves ever since. But it's not as if Joyner has been sitting on his hands. He continued to deal in radio properties, and as recently as a couple of years ago got mired in a sitcom-worthy standoff with fellow local broadcast tycoons Don Curtis and Jim Goodmon. (Short version of the tale: Curtis had an option to buy one of Joyner's radio stations, but allegedly missed the deadline. When Joyner then accepted a better offer from Goodmon, Curtis cried foul. Everybody got lawyered up, and by the time it was over Goodmon had the station, Joyner had a pocketful of cash, and Curtis was left standing on the dance floor by himself. Can you guess which of the three was the unhappiest? It's not an idle question. We'll get back to it in a moment.)

Joyner eventually sold all his stations, however. A certain antsiness then settled into his life. His cure was to start talking again.

On Nov. 1, a daily weekday commentary from Joyner will begin running in a number of cities, including Miami, Philadelphia and Las Vegas. The 60-second commentary won't be overtly political, and in fact won't even technically be from Joyner. It'll be his voice -- albeit with an amped-up country accent -- and his thoughts, but the daily commentary will be from "Clyde Rambo," Joyner's alter ego.

"It's not Andy Rooney, but it's along those lines," Joyner says. "[Riffing on] the frustrations we all encounter every day."

Sounds great. So which local station will be carrying Clyde Rambo's folky wisdom?

Uh, none of them. At least not yet.

Joyner says he's waiting a while to approach a local station about airing the commentaries. One obvious choice, considering Clyde Rambo's country flavor, is WQDR, the Triangle's leading country music station (and its top-ranked station overall). Another choice might be WPTF and its news/talk format, which of course is also Joyner's former broadcast base.

Did I mention both of them are owned by Curtis?

Oh, this is rich. I ask Joyner if Curtis is still steamed about the station sale. "He swears he's not mad," Joyner says. Getting on one of the Curtis stations is "a possibility," he says.

Really? Why, I believe this calls for a talk with Curtis. Journalistic responsibility demands it, not to mention the appeal in poking a stick into the hornet's nest. So, Don, what's your level of annoyance with Joyner these days? High enough to keep him off your stations?

"I never was mad at him," Curtis says. It was just business. In fact, Curtis says he's a big-picture guy these days, and happy to let others sweat the details. His staff will decide whether Clyde Rambo gets on the air.

Gentlemen, that's an admirably adult way to conduct your affairs. Given the opportunity to make a spectacle of yourselves, you instead took the high road.

Now I'm mad.

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