Sports Blog: 08/05/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 08/05/21

Light it. Grab it. Smoke it. Pass it.

No, not that. I’m talking about the way the 4 X 100 m relay is supposed to work. The last time I saw an attempted pass that ugly, it was thrown by Tim Tebow.

“USA” and “Olympic gold” used to be synonymous in the men’s sprint relay. America has won it 15 times. But not in the last 21 years. This time? We didn’t even make it to the finals, finishing sixth in a qualifying heat. Carl Lewis calls it an “embarrassment.” Carl Lewis is right.

All that hand-wringing about USA men’s basketball, including mine? Never mind.

Very cool moment provided by American gold medal shot putter Ryan Crouser. He not only broke his own Olympic record, he dedicated his victory to his grandfather, who died shortly before Ryan left for Tokyo. And 76 feet, 5 and a half inches? I don’t think I could move 16 pounds of steel that far in my pickup truck.

Remember that DeChambeau had to withdraw from Olympic golf after he tested positive. DeChambeau is unvaccinated. Says he doesn’t regret it. Why? He says he didn’t want to take a dose away from older and less healthy people who need it more than he does. That’s horseshit, DeChambeau. There are no vaccine shortages. None. Your statement is not only disingenuous, it absolutely qualifies as reckless and dangerous vaccine misinformation. No wonder you went to SMU.

358 COVID cases now linked to The Games. Faster, higher, stronger!

Retribution time in the Big-12! Let’s get it on! Texas on its way to the SEC, along with Au Jus? OK. So Big-12 Commish Bob Bowlsby yesterday removed Longhorn A.D.Chris Del Conte from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and replaced him with K-State A.D. Gene Taylor. This is getting good!

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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.