TJ Simers reportedly hired by OC Register

T.J. Simers has been hired by the Orange County Register after a nasty split with the Los Angels Times, according to multiple reports.

A number of journalists and reporters tweeted that the controversial sports columnist is headed to the OC paper. Oregonian columnist John Canzano says “the ink is dry” on the deal between the two sides. NBC LA sports reporter Fred Roggin, who used to co-host a local radio show with Simers, says his colleague is headed to the Register and calls it a “devastating loss” for The Times.

We noted in July that Simers was conspicuously missing from The Times’ sports page for a six-week span. He hadn’t even written about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ hot stretch, which would have caused him to lose his mind over the “choking dogs.”

We said that Simers’ tension with The Times, where he had worked since 1990, brewed over his association with Mandalay Sports Media, which The Times considered a conflict of interest. In reality, The Times was likely using that as an excuse to get out of paying Simers the big money he was making.

We don’t know exactly what Simers’ role will be at the Register, but we imagine he’ll continue doing what he does best — writing columns and being the pot-stirring, sarcastic, humorous critic he’s always been. Also, knowing Simers’ style, expect some fireworks from his first column; we have no doubt he’ll rip The Times a new one and explain what happened, so long as he’s not taking legal action against the paper and unable to comment.

H/T Jay Christensen