It’s getting nasty in the storied Clippers-Grizzlies rivalry as it heads back to Los Angeles, and it has nothing to do with the players on the court. Last week, T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times went after the city of Memphis in his column, referring to the city as a sweatbox and how the place smells like no one showers.

Simers article was a response to this one titled “All Flash, Clippers Are Easy To Hate” by Geoff Calkins, columnist for the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Calkins called the Clippers broadcast team of Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith “arrogant and dumb” after they had referred to Memphis’ win over the Spurs last year in the playoffs as a fluke.

Well, after Simers came off the top rope to attack the city of Memphis, Calkins went back at it late last night with his latest column, where he referred to T.J. Simers repeatedly as the city’s “backup sports columnist.”

The Los Angeles paper does have a gifted columnist on staff. He’s been covering the Lakers, of course. So they sent this guy to cover the Clippers and he trashes the city of Memphis in every column instead.

It’s the sort of thing Jim Murray used to write, only without any of the talent, humility or charm.

Memphis “smells.” There’s a “stench.” It’s that kind of clever stuff.

The ball is back in Simer’s court, literally, for Game Six. I’m guessing he’s not just going to let this one go.

[photo via US Presswire]