Sports Blog: 08/29/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 08/29/21

I’m so old I remember when Nebraska used to play boys varsity tackle football.

There’s already Frost on the punkin’ in Lincoln. Right now, that “N” stands for “No.”

I liked UCLA better when they were secure enough in their masculinity to wear those almost faded-out, pale, powder blue Tommy Prothro and Terry Donahue jerseys with the curly-cue numerals. It was cool. Like you were gonna jack with Kenny Easley or Ken Norton, Jr.? Hell, even Gary Beban was a college badass.

It looked to me like breathing the air at the Rose Bowl yesterday was much more dangerous than playing football.

Oh, BTW. Yes, I am picking the Bruins to upset Elleshyoo next Saturday.

The shorthanded Texans used safety Justin Reid to boot the opening kickoff last night against the Bucs? Yes. And he killed it! That was fun.

I wanna cry for Sam Ehlinger, who suffered a sprained knee that will keep him out for six weeks. Just as he was making a run at the Colts’ starting QB job.

That’s 20 straight pre-season wins for the Ravens. That’s a record, if you care. The funny thing is, THEY DO! And I think that’s kinda cool.

Once innovation becomes universally adopted, it is no longer innovative. Football is an example. Stuff that was considered cutting-edge a decade ago is now mundane, sheep-like and often boring. Time for new and fresh innovation. If I see one more WR screen…

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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.