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The Spurs have a downright scandal on their hands.
It all started innocently enough. As you probably know if you follow him on Twitter, every game day Patty Mills sends out a tweet that reads "GAME DAY BALA GAME DAY!!!" Always in all caps and always with three exclamation signs. "Bala" means brother in Patty's language, so this is a rallying cry of sorts.
Even though he's been out for the whole season and probably will be out for a couple more months, Patty has still been doing it every game. Most people would say it's a sweet gesture that signals that he feels like a part of the team even when he doesn't suit up. Manu Ginobili is not most people.
GAME DAY BALA GAME DAY!!! #vsHouston #GoSpursGo
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) noviembre 6, 2014
@Patty_Mills Are you back??
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) noviembre 6, 2014
@manuginobili not yet but my Bala's are playing today though!
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) noviembre 6, 2014
So far this seems like an innocent mistake. Manu knows that Patty is hurt but perhaps he thought the Aussie had miraculously cured. Patty certainly didn't take offense and answered respectfully.
Moving on a couple of days.
@Patty_Mills Are you playing today??
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) noviembre 8, 2014
Followed by...
@Patty_Mills Welcome back Patty! I guess you are back today, right?
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) noviembre 10, 2014
...which finally made it clear...
@Patty_Mills Pretty sure you are not gonna make it this time...
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) noviembre 11, 2014
...that Manu was trolling Mills. Patty decided to not engage. "Don't feed the troll," Internet etiquette suggests.
Keep The Passion http://t.co/JMoQqYPmKn
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) noviembre 13, 2014
But this troll was determined to get a reaction and didn't even wait for the next "GAME DAY BALA GAME DAY!!!" post. When Patty posted a photo of himself looking ripped from his rehab work, this is what Manu said:
@Patty_Mills Incredible what you can do with photoshop now!
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) noviembre 14, 2014
That straw broke the camel's back. Patty decided to respond and he didn't hold any punches.
@manuginobili Yes It's great! You should try it out time. Could work wonders on filling in some areas that are missing #hair
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) noviembre 14, 2014
But Ginobili, like any good troll, knows that the best way to get a rise out of someone is to pretend that an insult is just the advice desired.
@Patty_Mills Do you like this one? Not bad at all! pic.twitter.com/Ov1PTFFHV9
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) noviembre 14, 2014
After that exchange, Patty went back to his normal routine...
GAME DAY BALA GAME DAY!!! #vsLALakers #GoSpursGo
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) noviembre 14, 2014
...but not before taking a preemptive strike.
And no gramps I'm not!
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) noviembre 14, 2014