June 27, 2000 - ESPN, "Outside the Lines." The show will re-air July 1 at noon ET, and July 6 at 7 p.m. ET. Read the story: Scoring big in business.

June 15, 2000 - Check out Troy's Team Fan Club web site for a wonderful picture of the VERY happy newlyweds: http://www.aikman.com/tworld.htm

June 12-14, 2000 - Cowboys practice facility, at Valley Ranch, Irving, Texas. Minicamp - mandatory for all players. [not open to the public]

May 22-25, 2000 - Cowboys practice facility, at Valley Ranch, Irving, Texas. Quarterback schools for veterans only (voluntary). [not open to the public]

May 22, 2000 - Stonebriar Country Club, Frisco, Texas. The Troy Aikman Corporate Challenge, the annual golf tournament benefitting the Troy Aikman Foundation was held today, and raised over $300,000. The gala was held last night. Troy said the money will be used to fund the children's playrooms that the Foundation places in hospitals around the nation. He said a fifth Aikman's EndZone will soon join the four already in place in Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles (UCLA). The new EndZone will be in Indiana.

May 17, 2000 - From this week's Sports Illustrated: "It was a pleasant morning for Troy Aikman last Thursday. He kissed his bride of one month, Rhonda, goodbye, then played in a friendly fivesome at Preston Trail Golf Club in north Dallas. He followed his round with a lunch of prime rib and trout. The day would soon get better: Troy and Rhonda would fly to Palm Springs to shop for a vacation home." Read the full story: Under The Gun.

May 16, 2000 - Athlete Direct, America Online. Troy visited his America Online message board and chatroom early this evening. Here are some of his responses to posts:

Question: Do you think that the Cowboy's can find a replacement for "Moose" Johnson?

Troy: I don't think you ever really replace a great player like Daryl Johnston. Daryl was not only a great football player, but he was also a great leader for our team. Daryl will be greatly missed.

Question: I would like to know if the Cowboys can hang with the redskins.

Troy: There has been a lot of talk this off-season about the moves that the Redskins have made. They are going to be a better team than they were last year, but I think we will be better too. One thing I've learned over the years is that the games are not played on paper. There are a lot of variables that come into play on Sunday's. It should be a great race in the NFC East this year.

Question: I was curious as to why Mike Weir was so interested in your clubs [at the Byron Nelson Pro-Am].

Troy: Mike was curious about the clubs because he had just began using the same clubs that day. Mike played exceptional during the pro-am...he shot 8 under par I believe w/ 9 birdies. I don't think he played nearly as well during the actual tournament. By the way, the clubs are Ben Hogan Apex Plus.

Question: Would we be intruding if we asked you to post a wedding photo of you and Rhonda?

Troy: You would not be intruding at all. We have been wanting to post a picture or two on the site, but we have not yet received our wedding pictures. When we receive them, we will post a picture on the site.

May 10, 2000 - Four Seasons Resort and Club, Irving, Texas. The team of Mike Weir, Troy Aikman, Mark Thompson, Dan Markle, and Lewis Brooks shot a 55 on the Tournament Players Course during morning play at the Byron Nelson Gold Pro-Am.

May 8, 2000 - Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Troy played golf at the Golf Club of Oklahoma in a charity tournament bearing his name. Proceeds go to Henryetta schools. You can read the full story online by going to the web site of The Tulsa World and searching their archives. Search for "Troy Aikman" in a story published on or after May 9, 2000.

May 7, 2000 - CBS-11, "The Score" with Babe Laufenberg. The rest of Troy's one-on-one interview with the Channel 11 sports anchor aired tonight:

Laufenberg said that there is a perception that the players got Chan Gailey fired, and that in particular, Troy Aikman was leading the charge. He asked Troy whether that was accurate.

Troy said, "I think sometimes that we want to say that's the perception because the media, that's what they write. I know what the facts are surrounding the situation. What happened with Chan. I was not instrumental in any removal of him from head coach, or anything like that. And Chan knows that. He failed to come out and say that, but he knows that. And I think by and large the media knows that. But it makes a better story. I recognize that. At the same time, if I know what the facts are, if I know what really happened, what the truth is, then I can live with that. Is it bothersome? Of course it is, if there are people out there who feel that I am capable of doing something like that. But I feel my team mates know better than that. Everyone within the organization, I think, has a pretty good grasp as far as what's happened within our football team, our organization, why changes are made sometimes. And I don't think they look at it and say that I'm a major part of some of the things that are taking place. Although people outside tend to think sometimes that I have a much bigger role in the decisions that are being made than what I really do.

Babe said that Jerry Jones can't say 'we're going to experiment with a new type of chin strap this year' without saying 'and I think Troy is really going to like it.' Troy laughed and got a big grin on his face at that statement. Babe said he didn't think there had been a signing or any change that has taken place on the Cowboys recently without Jerry Jones saying 'and Troy's on board with it.' Babe wondered if it hurt or helped Troy.

Troy said, "It doesn't help because then it does look like that maybe things are being done to accommodate me, when I don't really feel that that's the case. I think things are being done to accommodate our football team, and what he can do to help our football team win. That's what he's going to be doing long after I'm gone. It's going to be whatever's best for the Dallas Cowboys. But you're right. I think that sometimes he wants the public to feel things have been thoroughly evaluated and discussed, and everyone is on board as far as what's happening. From Jerry's standpoint it's not necessarily a bad thing, but in light of maybe how people view some of the events that have taken place within our organization, then from my perspective it's obviously not a real positive thing to do."

Babe asked Troy whether he had to put in a lot of extra thought into inviting both Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson to his wedding. Troy said, "I wasn't real sure that Jimmy was even going to come in, and I didn't know until the last minute. But it was nice to see them both there. It meant a lot to me that they both came and it meant a lot to me that Jimmy flew in from Miami to be there." Babe asked whether Jerry and Jimmy got along at the wedding. Troy said, "they were cordial. They visited from what I understand." Then he got a HUGE smile on his face and continued, "I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to those two." He also said that it was nice to see Jerry and Jimmy interact and hopefully put all the past behind them.

Babe said that the off-season is a time for evaluation and for self-evaluation. He asked Troy when he looks back on his performances of the last three seasons, what is the one thing that he feels he needs to get better at.

Troy said, "well I'm disappointed in general because offensively we've not gotten it done, and that's just the simple facts. I feel that I can be better. There's no question about that. I've got to be better in my execution. I've got to be better in knowing what our football players can do, and what I can do and what throws I can make. I think there is always room for improvement. There certainly is in my case. And so I hope that with what we are doing offensively and some of the people that we've brought in, I hope that elevates all of our games. And I think that we have an opportunity to be a pretty good offensive football team."

Babe asked Troy whether Dave Campo would be the last coach he'd play for.

Troy laughed hard and answered, "I think that's pretty safe to say. I sure hope so. I think he's going to do well, I really do. You know, I said it when Chan got the job. I really thought that Chan would be here 10, 15 years. And I think Jerry hires people with those intentions. Campo, he's been around. He's seen what's happened to this organization over the last 11 years. I think he's going to bring a lot to this football team. I think he's gong to be someone that the organization and the community is going to be proud of."

Babe then talked about the ending of the careers of John Elway and Dan Marino. He asked Troy how important it was for him to have a storybook ending like Elway did. Troy got very serious and thought for a long time before answering.

"As I sit here today it's extremely important. If I didn't think we could create the kind of success we had in the early to mid 90s, it would be hard for me to continue to keep playing. I believe, I really believe, that we will win another Super Bowl before I'm done playing. The way it happened for John, obviously, is the best way to go out. Unfortunately for most players, that's not the way it goes. And for most guys that are competitive and love to play the game and love to go out and compete, it usually ends the way it did for Danny [Marino], and Phil Simms, and guys like that. And I hope that it doesn't end that way for me, but I'm realistic enough in knowing that it will end some day for whatever reason it's going to end. Whether it's because of my own choice or because of injury or what have you. And if you could pick a time to go out, it would be four years from now and we've just won our second consecutive Super Bowl. That would be a nice ending."

May 5, 2000 - Clad in a caddie vest borrowed from the Byron Nelson, Troy caddied for Babe Laufenberg who was playing in the Avid Golfer media tournament against George Dunham from The Ticket radio. Babe was having a great round while Troy was there to encourage him with such bits of wisdom as "when you got a man down, stomp on his throat!" Apparently Babe's game soured when Troy stopped to eat lunch.

May 3, 2000 - CBS 11, Fort Worth-Dallas. Troy was interviewed by Channel 11 sports anchor Babe Laufenberg for the 10:00 news. Babe interviewed Troy about his recent marriage. "Marriage has obviously brought a real sense of fulfillment in my personal life," Troy said, "and I think there is a certain amount of that, that will carry over into my professional life."

Babe asked Troy about the fascination with his private life and remarked that he did as good a job as he could to keep his wedding private, yet word got out and a news helicopter flew over his home to film the reception. Babe asked, "why not be like Jason Sehorn and propose on the Jay Leno show?" Troy laughed and responded, "Well you know, it's just not my style. That's really the bottom line. Some people, they want that. Some people want to be in the spotlight and have the cameras and all that be a part of it. But for myself and for my wife Rhonda, neither one of us is that way, and so we chose to go about it that way [privately]."

Babe remarked that Troy had always guarded his privacy and his private life, and now he has two other people to worry about. He asked Troy whether that was one of his biggest concerns. Troy said, "You know, Rhonda, she's been around it, she understands it. She has a daughter Rachel, my stepdaughter. When you start involving children then it becomes an entirely different set of circumstances. I think that's the unfortunate thing. And a lot of times, whether it be media or fans, they don't understand maybe the things that are said, that are done, how those things affect young kids. So from that standpoint I'm very protective of her, and try to allow her to have as normal a childhood as she can, and not kind of get caught up in the things that are going on in my life."

More of this interview will air on Sunday, May 7, at 10:20 p.m. on "The Score" with Babe Laufenberg, Channel 11, Fort Worth-Dallas.

May 1-4, 2000 - Cowboys practice facility, at Valley Ranch, Irving, Texas. Quarterback schools for veterans only (voluntary). Practice at 10:30 a.m. every morning [not open to the public].

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