Troy’s Back In Town

Years ago, I started blogging about Wi-Fi because strangers would approach me in the coffee shop and ask me how my computer was on line … keep in mind that was 2003.  Wi-Fi was not ubiquitous then as it is now.  Do you know anyone who doesn’t use Wi-Fi?
You see people of all ages, all professions, all creeds, whipping out their laptops or smart phones to socialize or compartmentalize or whatever … anywhere there is caffeine.
Frankly, Wi-Fi in the coffee shop just isn’t as interesting as it once was.  However … every once in a while, fate throws a hail Mary my way, and there is a little story to tell.

Just the other day … It was just the other day … I swear it was just the other day …  I took a break from working on the home/office and hit one of my favorite coffee shops in Dallas.  There is always great people watching there, at what I am told is the oldest retail shopping center in the country.  And there is a nice Starbucks.  Best of all, there was a new motorcycle ride for me involved.  I have moved from Fort Worth’s Cultural District out to just south of TCU.  So now the ride to Dallas can easily be accomplished all the way on I-20, as opposed to fighting construction on I-30.  I digress …
So, I pulled up to DallasBucks on the Triumph, after circling the parking lot a few times.  I spied a primo parking position (PPP) as soon as I pulled into the lot, but some utility truck shot through the one-way the wrong way, and snatched up the spot before my very eyes.  As I circled, I saw the driver out on the sidewalk, playing with his phone … And I thought nothing of it.
As I circled and came back around the dude and his truck were gone.  They must have used the  smart phone app to call in their order to expedite, I surmised.  This time, the #1 spot was open, and I blitzed on in on the bike.
About the time I removed my helmet, I noticed Starbuck’s windows were covered with brown paper … Ha … kind of like the entire store had one of those hot drink sleeves wrapped around it.
“Ain’t no quit in me,” so I tried the door anyway, just to find out it was, in fact, locked.
I gave the door a second pull, and asked the guy sitting at the sidewalk table what the deal was.  I thought maybe another door was unlocked.  Perhaps this stranger could provide some helpful 411 — a scouting report, so to speak — and save me a few steps.
“I don’t know what the deal is,” he said.  “I just came here to do a little work and it’s closed.”
By the way … the guy was Troy Aikman.
I realized that yes, I had been lucky enough to randomly cross paths with Troy, twice now in the Metroplex … I realized this as he was mid-sentence.  For the first Aikman sighting, I was in a recording studio working on some radio ads in Fort Worth, and walking through the lobby was Troy.  I will never forget … he could tell I was trying my best not to bother him … he appreciated that and so he actually approached me and introduced himself and shook my hand.  What a guy! … I digress …
So this time, in our second meeting, I thanked him, called him “Mr. Aikman,” even though #8 is younger than me … and asked him to get back on the field and help the quarterback-less Cowboys.   He laughed … and the look on his face said he wanted no more of Jerry’s World.
Yes, it is unlike me, but I was courteous and just walked away and let the man go back to his laptop, to do his work.  I wondered if he was liking something on Facebook, or prepping for his next pressbox gig with Joe Buck, or whatever … as I chose  a table a few feet away.
Mr. Aikman and Mr. Wi-Fi both worked online at the tables — me in the lateral position (like I was the I-back …) — for about another hour.  It was probably annoying for #8, but it was very enjoyable for me, to watch all of the people’s reactions.  To my surprise, many people walked by and had no idea they were in the presence of Dallas royalty … a Cowboy legend.  Others would walk by, whisper to each other, “Do you know who that is?” … and eventually circle back around to take selfies with Troy.
I did not.  And I am kicking myself that I did not ask him if I could interview him for the blog … but I didn’t.  (Just posted a one-on-one interview with Dirk Nowitzki a few months back.  … Interviewed Nolan Ryan on a book project back in the day.  Troy would have completed the Dallas Superstar cycle …) But I stayed back, and only crossed the line of privacy slightly, when I shot a quick photo, from my table … as proof that all of this happened.
The fans and selfies continued though.  I did photo bomb one lady’s selfie as I made the universal photo bomber peace sign/rabbit ears in the background.  Hope she saw that.
Ha … I heard some woman laughing, slightly at a table behind me, as I did the rabbit ears.
Somewhere — approaching an hour into this Aikman on the sideline gig — Troy stated the obvious.  “Man … this is like a set up for Candid Camera or something,” … after dozens of people asked Troy Aikman what the deal was with the closed Starbucks.  Some of the reactions were priceless, when they realized it was him.  Troy was Troy … still, after all these years, a good sport.
Starbucks had no idea there was a Hall of Fame doorman that day.
Finally, he packed up and moved on.  So did I … but just before I left, I turned to the woman behind me.  “Did you get your photo with Troy?” I asked.  I kid you not, she said, “Oh is that who that was.  I thought it was either Troy or Emmitt Smith or somebody …”
Obviously, not a fan. LOL.
Know what I sayin?