It was an early, cool morning in March and I was driving to downtown San Antonio for an audience with one of San Antonio’s most recognizable basketball players.
I was told to show up at 7:30am to attend a media session in which Johnsonville Sausage hosted a Q&A with their spokesman, followed by a breakfast buffet which featured, of course, plenty of sausage.
As I arrived at the hotel, I could see Spurs fans waiting outside the conference room for their chance to take a picture of Spurs #8 in passing.
After I was let in through the door, I found, not to my surprise, members of the press waiting for “Mr. Aussie Awesome.” Some had expensive video and lighting equipment, while others simply had a cell phone. I found my spot with just a minute to spare, but the man of the hour was nowhere to be seen.
Then just before the clock struck eight, Mr. Patrick Sammy Mills walked into the room like a rock star, book ended by two tall and beautiful women – one a blonde and the other a brunette. He smiled at the groggy attendants and blamed his delay on traffic.
(Photo credit: Andrew Jason Flores)
While his entourage took their places in the back of the room, Mr. Johnsonville Sausage promptly sat down at the red clothed table we had all been staring at for a while, with a portable wall checkered with his partner’s company logo behind him. His upbeat entrance was followed by a genuine willingness to answer all questions asked from the rejuvenated reporters.
To no one’s surprise, the more notable media outlets asked the same questions you’ve heard asked to every Spurs player throughout the season. The questions went something like…
- ‘Blah blah blah… what is it like playing for the Spurs this season?’
- ‘Blah blah blah… can this team beat the Golden State Warriors?’
- ‘Blah blah blah… what are your thoughts about the Spurs home winning streak?’
There were questions about Pop, Kawhi, and Timmy, as well as the responsibility he feels bringing together basketball and his culture. You merely have to visit Spurs.com to get a glimpse of his responses to those questions, answers which every Spur gives in a syncopation parallel with the system they play in.
A few of us were brave enough to ask more topical questions of our esteemed guest. I now present to you Patty’s thoughts on all things related to breakfast sausage. (I am curious if you can pick out the few I asked myself):
INTERVIEWER: “What is the essence of sausage? If you could make that turkey or chicken or pork, what is sausage?”
MILLS: “The essence of sausage for me is having it with eggs and no matter how it is cooked I think I just love having the sausage whether it is in my omelet or with my scrambled eggs… breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I could have breakfast patties, for sure, I could have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner – I’d recommend.”
INTERVIEWER: “It’s safe to say that between links and patties, you’re a patty guy?”
MILLS: “Yeah, there’s no other choice really.”
INTERVIEWER: “How do you prefer to have your sausages prepared: pan fried or grilled?”
MILLS: “You know what – pan fried because it is probably the quickest and easiest to do. If I can, I’ll chuck them on the barbie. Everything is good on the barbie.”
INTERVIEWER: “Who would you most enjoy preparing breakfast for on the team?”
MILLS: “Probably for Timmy… and Kawhi because that would probably turn into a really cool food fight. They would be sitting down expecting a really cool breakfast and once the breakfast patties are on the barbie, you just pick it up and throw it at them. They wouldn’t be expecting that. Then it’s on like Donkey Kong.”
INTERVIEWER: “I’d like to get your official take: what do you like to have your sausage patties with?”
MILLS: “Eggs. Right now it’s scrambled egg whites with vegetables in it or an omelet. Along with either scrambled or sunny-side up on toast with some barbecue sauce with the breakfast patty. It’s money.”
INTERVIEWER: “Who do you think would win a sausage eating contest: Boban or Boris or some other dark horse?”
MILLS: “I would throw our ex-teammate, Aaron Baynes, in there as the top three but if it is out of Boban and Boris, I want to route for Boris because I reckon he could, but I think Boban has him covered because he could probably inhale those things probably too easy.”
INTERVIEWER: “What flavor of Johnsonville Sausage would you compare the Spurs team to and why?”
MILLS: “Every one because it’s an all-around team and organization and company. So I think you could throw them all on the plate.”
After fielding our questions, Mills took time to take pictures with signed basketballs and awe-struck fans. Then he made his way to the buffet room, where he met a sea of black & silver and more cameras hungry for his attention. That was the last I saw of the “Tasmanian Devil” before I found myself deep into a plate of biscuits and gravy. (Author’s note: it was on a Friday during lent, so I had to pass on the Johnsonville delights.)
What did I take away from my meeting with Mr. Game Day Bala?
Patty has the personality you expect from a Spur: intelligent with a slightly sarcastic air that makes you wonder, “Is he being serious?” In my personal opinion, he was approachable and genuinely expressed a sense of honor to be a part of the greatest organization in sports. I can see why Patty is so well liked by his teammates and coaches. His aura makes you feel like you are on a beach with your mates, enjoying a shrimp off the barbie – or a sausage patty flying off the barbecue grill.
