Sports Blog: 06/29/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 06/29/21

It appears the Clippers require a hole to dig their way out of. They overcame 0-2 deficits in each of their first two playoff series, then got down 1-3 to the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. So once again, Paul George flips his switch. His Game Five Line last night in Phoenix? George scored 41 points (including 20 in the third quarter) on 15-20 shooting along with 13 boards, six assists and three steals in a 116-102 Clips’ win. It’s the Suns who will be feeling the “heat” in Game Six Wednesday in L.A.

One more hoops note. Scottie Pippen continues to embarrass himself.

Congrats and well done to Demaryius Thomas, who has announced his retirement from the NFL after ten seasons and 63 touchdowns. Big, fast, strong, fluid, reliable and by all accounts a wonderful teammate. That matters. Thomas will retire as a Bronco.

Hey, I was into the whole “Tight End University” thing. Very cool. The most versatile athletes in the NFL got together for three days to compare notes and make each other better.

“Throwback unis”? I hate ‘em. Just not fresh, with one exception. The Titans look sharper than sharp in the old Oiler threads, but that’s even more incongruous than most of these contrivances. As for the Cowboys’ “get a free uniform in every box of Breeze” retro look? RAAAALLLLLPPPPHHHHH! And the NFL is going back to allowing “alternate helmets”? Oh, joy.

But the NFL got this one right. The late John Facenda is the winner of the 2021 Pete Rozelle Radio and Television Award. Yeah, that John Facenda. The Voice of God, who was the lead narrator for NFL Films for 19 years until his death in 2015 at the age of 71. I honestly maintain he was the third most influential person in transforming the NFL into America’s Game, behind only Johnny Unitas and NFL Films genius Steve Sabol. I’m thinking of Facenda as I write this. I hear, “Dooooommmsday.” Chills.

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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.