The Ford brothers used their two-hour talk radio show Sunday to assail the media, go after opponents on council and take shots at tree huggers, lefties and elitists, but the mayor still would not directly answer to allegations he has been misusing taxpayer-funded staff and city resources to help with his football teams.

Speaking for the first time since the football firestorm erupted last week, Mayor Rob Ford joked he and his wife half expected to roll over in bed that morning and see the media looking in their windows.

At one point, Ford appeared to be challenging reporters to run against him.

“Why don’t they just put their name on a ballot and let’s go toe to toe with them in a real election. Like I don’t understand. They sit there and take shots at us and ridicule you, but why don’t you just put your money where your mouth is ... I’ll debate any of those — but you know what, it’s a laugh,” said Ford.

With about 15 minutes left in the show, a caller identified as “Dave from Toronto” asked Ford to explain how he justifies using office staff to help with his private coaching hobby, but before the mayor could answer properly, Doug Ford went on the attack, accusing the caller of lying and not checking his facts, before hanging up.

The caller on Line 6 began: “You’ve built your brand over the last 10 years fighting against wasteful use of office expenses ... And I’m wondering how you square that with the fact that you’ve been using your office resources and people and —”

Doug: “No we haven’t. That’s a lie.”

Rob: “Let him finish. Let him finish.”

Doug: “I can’t have this guy sit there and lie.”

Rob: “OK, but its just not true sir. It’s not true. With all do respect. I haven’t been using my office resources. That’s where the misnomer comes in.”

Doug: “Let me jump in here, Rob. You know something, let’s compare it. If you want to talk office expenses sir. He dropped the office expenses down from $55,000 down to $30,000.”

Rob: “I cut my own by $700,000.”

Doug: “He cut his own office expense by $700,000. (Former mayor David) Miller used to have 25 people. Rob has 16 people. And sir. Do me a favour. Do your due diligence. You know something. Why don’t you add up, why don’t you stand outside the office and add up the hours that they work for the city. And then add up and rather than going after these poor people that work and target his employees that work their back off 60, 70 hours a week. Why don’t you look into it ... I’m sick and tired of guys like this that sit there and accuse (us).”

When a later caller said Doug Ford should apologize, the Ward 2 Etobicoke North councillor did so readily, explaining that the issue gets him worked up.

The elder Ford said his brother Rob mentors 200 kids a year and does more for black youth than anyone.

“They look up in the stands and they don’t see a father, they don’t see a mother, they see Rob Ford standing there and supporting them,” the councillor said.

When leaving Newstalk 1010’s studio, neither brother responded to questions about whether taxpayer-funded resources were being used improperly.

Last week it was revealed that a number of “special assistants” in the mayor’s office have spent a significant portion of their workday helping with the two football teams that Ford coaches. A city car and city cellphones have also been used in connection with the Don Bosco Eagles and Rexdale Raiders. One recent hire in the mayor’s office, who has been photographed helping lead practices, is a former quarterback for the University of Toronto.

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A statement released from the mayor’s office last week said the assistants put in at least 40 hours of work each week and that part of their job is to be with the mayor at all times.

Doug Ford meanwhile maintained that the assistants were working on volunteer time.

Former staffers in the administration told the Star this alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars was a sore point in the office, especially given the fact Ford swept the election with a promise to end this type of spending.

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