MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Not since the French and Indian War has there been such a nasty disagreement in North America involving the French and English.

In this instance, it's a war of words between a Memphis restaurateur named Kelly English and Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who's also captain of the French national basketball team and proud Parisian.

It's also phony, and that's why Parker is upset.

English, the chef and owner of an eatery called Restaurant Iris, answered a query on his Twitter account Friday night about Parker allegedly being denied service.

Feigning astonishment at the “flap” about denying the Spurs' star, English explained that Iris is small, just 13 tables, with no way to accommodate Parker, or anyone else, on a walk-in basis.

Except Parker never was at the restaurant.

“I was in my hotel room eating room service with my girlfriend,” Parker said. “She's my witness.”

The flap has continued, reported by various national media outlets (CBS Sports and ESPN, to name a couple).

By Sunday, Parker had enough.

“I don't know what is going on with that, man,” he said on Sunday morning. “I did not do that. Can you stop doing promos? That is a new way of doing promotion now, using my name?

“It's definitely false. I don't know why you (media) keep fueling that. I guess he's going to have a lot of people now going to his restaurant because you guys keep talking about it.”

Does this mean Spurs-Grizzlies is now a heated rivalry?

Can you have a heated rivalry if the saucier hasn't actually fired up the sauce pan?

mikemonroe@express-news.net