I got this email from Kristi Anderson, chairwoman of the 16th annual Rhubarb Jones Celebrity Golf Classic. She doesn’t seem to understand what I do for a living, that I cover radio and I came for Rhubarb. She also doesn’t get that I write it as I see it in as fair a manner as possible with no regard to whether it’s “positive” or “negative” but simply interesting. I included the Buzz item I wrote (as opposed to the blog entry from Tuesday) since I presume that’s what she saw.

Dear Mr. Ho,

Thank you so much for coming out to cover the 16th Annual Rhubarb Jones Celebrity Golf Classic this past Monday at The Golf Club of Georgia. While coverage by the AJC is VERY much appreciated, I was extremely disappointed to read the spin that was put on the article.

The article’s main focus seemed more about the radio industry and Rhubarb losing his job rather than the REAL reason that we were all there — to raise money to fight blood cancers for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You mentioned the “continued support” of Citadel/KICKS which, once the station changes were announced, became negligible, especially compared to our Premier Sponsor, the PGA Tour Superstore, who wasn’t even mentioned.

Then there was the negative spin on the amount of money that was raised. Despite all the MAJOR hurdles that the Committee faced such as losing the majority of the station’s backing and Rhubarb no longer having a radio home less than 2 months prior to the event, extreme declining economic times, etc., we were very proud to have raised $160,000. Instead, you compared it to last year’s total and touted the fact that we raised less this year than last.

What ever happened to positive news? Not every story has to have a negative spin, and in these hard times, some positive news is always welcome.

Sincerely,

Kristi Anderson, Volunteer Chairperson, 16th Annual Rhubarb Jones Celebrity Golf Classic

Here’s the item she was disturbed about:

GOLF TOURNAMENT GETS SUPPORT

Rhubarb Jones, after 23 years, lost his job as Atlanta’s longest-running morning host when Citadel Broadcasting killed the Eagle on Feb. 29. But using former sister station Kicks 101.5, Citadel continued to support his 16th annual celebrity golf tournament for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

In the end, he still managed to raise about $160,000. Though that’s down from $190,000 last year, he was happy he was able to hold the event, which he plans to continue next year, with or without a radio partner.

Jones is not bitter about Citadel’s moves. “I didn’t take it personally,” he said. “It was just business.”

It doesn’t hurt that he’s still under an iron-clad five-year contract with Citadel, which pays him to do nothing until April 1, 2009. Plus, he already has a new job lined up to teach mass communication classes at Kennesaw State University starting later this year.

He also hasn’t ruled out going back to radio at some point if the opportunity is right.

Friends and fans slapped Jones on the back and posed for pictures, offering condolences for his job loss. Former Braves players Rick Camp, Ron Gant and Brian Jordan played golf for charity. And country legend Charlie Daniels came out as usual, rockin’ his violin on “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

-Tonight was another compelling episode of “Lost,” which now appears to be a war between Ben & Charles Widmore, though we’re still trying to figure out what Jacob’s role is in who controls the island. Other fun elements:a dead doctor, a dead daughter (plus some dead extras), revenge motives, and smoke monster, will travel! Plus, Claire is apparently invincible—for now. (Kinda like how Ben can get the stuffings beat out of him yet come away fairly unscathed.) And they answered why Sayid is working with Ben in the future.