t

hi. cool moment yesterday.

so i'm sitting at a table in my lunch location of choice with a friend, facing the windows. then i see him - the best college basketball player in the country - about to walk in and have lunch. i mean, this guy was the most dominant player on the most dominant team in the first four rounds of the tournament, and he's about to stroll into this place the very next weekday where everyone's a fan.

he walked in the door, unobtrusive. he was with another person. a single clapper broke through the lunchtime din. patrons glanced up at the sound, then switched their gaze on the doorway. slowly the applause grew, and soon the entire place was alive with whoops, cheers, and ovations of appreciation. tyler just humbly nodded and politely waved, his innocent midwestern face belying his on-the-court tenacity. the applause lasted for maybe twelve seconds - which isn't that long, but seemed long enough - and people returned to their meals and conversations.

it was a special event, because it's exactly what should have happened. not a word was said. there wasn't Beatle-like over-adulation or excessive gawking; similarly, to not acknowledge him would not seem to have been right either. it was simply a local hero (who happened to possess the national spotlight) being thanked by the local populace. beautiful.

i'm glad i was there. sorry, branson.