Sports Blog: 06/22/2021 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 06/22/2021

The Cartel Known as the NCAA has been busted. And the Earth is still spinning on its axis.

An active NFL player has chosen to disclose that he’s gay. And as far as I know we’re still going to play football.

The NCAA’s very structure can be reasonably and honestly described as organized crime. The “final score” in yesterday’s SCOTUS game was 9-0. Those nine folks generally could never unanimously decide what toppings to put on a pizza.

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib delivered a very measured “Oh, by the way” message yesterday. He was cool about it. Everybody else should be cool about it, too. So far, so good.

Here’s what’s not cool. Chiefs DE Frank Clark got pulled over in L.A. Police found an Uzi in “plain sight” in his vehicle. That’s not exactly “oozing” brains.

Here’s what else is not cool. Vikings rookie DE Jaylen Twyman was one of several victims in a shooting yesterday in D.C. Twyman was shot four times. All four bullets exited his body cleanly, without causing vital damage. Twyman is not only going to be ok. He’s not even going to need surgery.

Was Monday “Defensive End Day” in the NFL?

One More Thing (OMT). Wishing the best for the Sixers’ Ben Simmons. Man, that was painful to watch. All of us as humans can have no more brutal company that our own minds. I’m pulling for him.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.