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Yesterday, as I was mangling facts about Kareem Rush, I also pointed out that Phil Jackson was sticking it to the Bobcats for letting rush go. Jackson called the move "vindictive."

The Bobcats' Bernie Bickerstaff more than took the bait, and as laying into Jackson just about every way he knows how! Professional decorum this is not! Makes for good theater.

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer:

On Sunday, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson criticized the Charlotte Bobcats for abruptly cutting Kareem Rush, calling the act "vindictive." On Monday, Bickerstaff -- the Bobcats' coach-general manager -- bit back.

"Phil has that ability" to judge, Bickerstaff said sarcastically. "He was in our locker room ... at our games."

Then Bickerstaff brought up Jackson's tell-all memoir, "The Last Season,'' on the Lakers' 2003-04 season. Jackson frequently revealed private conversations in that book and wrote, among other criticisms of players and colleagues, that Kobe Bryant was "uncoachable."

At the time, the Lakers distanced themselves from the book, noting various inaccuracies.

"He probably forgets he wrote a book for profit and (revealed everybody's confidences). So he has no credibility," Bickerstaff said of Jackson.