Sports Blog: 07/09/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 07/09/21

I wouldn’t give up on the Bucks just yet. “Series doesn’t start until the home team loses,” and all that stiff-upper-lip stuff. But it doesn’t look good for The Deer when Giannis goes off for 42…and they lose.

I would challenge anyone to give me one good reason why these Olympics should happen. But there are billions of reasons, all with dollar signs in front of them. Still, this is insanity.

Yankees at Astros this weekend? Hey, that place has a roof. So let it rain. I’m in!

I will tell you from (more than I would like to admit) decades of experience, that ANY electronic news and/or sports organization is at its core a glorified daycare center. Yes, that would absolutely include The Four Letter. “Management”? Apparently, ESPN has no “management.” They had a year to get out in front of and repair this embarrassing episode. Now the loaded cigar has blown their noses off. Nobody is “adulting” here, with now the possible exception of Rachel Nichols herself. She’s owned it. And if you actually listened to the tape, she did NOT attack Maria Taylor. In fact, she praised her profusely. Nichols properly attacked ESPN “management,” which has pretty much screwed every pooch they have encountered for the past 20 years. Hey, Maria. Answer the phone. Your colleague is trying to fix this. Time to “adult.”

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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.