Dime: You’ve toured with AND 1 since 2000 and recently left the Mix Tape tours at the top of your game- still widely known as the most popular ball handles in streetball. Everyone wants to know what you’ve been up to since then.
Hot Sauce: I decided to take a break and explore acting. I also needed to take care of some family business. You know how that goes.
Dime: So what brings you back to the AND 1 tours and how did negotiations come about?
Hot Sauce: I think I’ll let Mark handle that one.
Mark Edwards: Well, we heard that AND 1 was being sold over to new management and they were interested in having Hot Sauce come back. I mean, I figured that since this new management was taking the tour to a new level, Hot Sauce should be apart of that fresh start. He’s part of a new breed of ball players and would bring something new to the tours.
Dime: What will Hot Sauce be bringing back to the tour?
Hot Sauce: I think I’ve gotten better. I’m still working on stuff now and I’m not only trying to clown people on the court. If they want the light, they’ll play me. They gotta know that a boxer is coming back. I’m probably gonna dunk a little too.
Dime: What did you miss most about the game?
Hot Sauce: Shuttin’ games down!
Dime: You’ve already been marked as one of the best street ballers in history. How does it feel to have such a large fan base and be compared to street ball greats?
Hot Sauce: It makes me feel good because I’m doing something that people like. It’s a blessing, it’s God’s grace and I appreciate it.
Dime: Have you ever had any NBA aspirations?
Hot Sauce: NBA is not really my inspiration. It really wasn’t my route. I just love ball. Streetball is my profession.
Dime: You’re known for saying ‘sauce’ every time you sink your jumper. Now, I wanna know where you came up with that tag line.
Hot Sauce: It’s just what you said, “sauce.” Every time I hit it, my handle was on point. I was hot. I knew it would go in so I would say “sauce”. I would say it even if it didn’t go in.
Dime: What are you driving?
Hot Sauce: It’s a 2005 Expedition. It has three TV’s and a nice surround system.
Mark: His car has about $30,000 worth of work. And this thing has chrome all over and it’s all white. Ford customized it for Sauce. We even want to take out the middle seat and give it a limo style, add a satellite system and a computer to it. It’s important that he rides comfortable when on tour. And he’s the only one with a car like this. When he rolls in, people are like ‘WOW.’
Hot Sauce: I still wanna put another 30-inch flat screen in there.
Mark: Thirty inch? He has a 25-inch and he wants to put in a thirty inch? Man, he be killing me. It’s possible but his TV is already huge. I drive behind him sometimes and I can see the whole film playing.
Gruss Air Up There
