Sports Blog: 09/05/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 09/05/21

That was a scary opener for Texas. But Texas never looked scared. That’s my takeaway from Sark’s debut in Austin. The ‘Horns looked prepared, composed, alert, confident and eager—adjectives seldom used to describe Texas football in recent years.

Louisiana is good, maybe very good. And the Cajuns got their Ragin’s removed in a surgical operation.

Arkansas is next for Texas. The Hogs have some legit SEC athletes, as my Rice Owls found out in the second half Saturday in Fayetteville. Texas-Arkansas wakes up some fun echoes for us old dudes.

Who’s more fun than the Roadrunners? Nobody. UTSA gets an opening road win over Big Ten opponent Illinois, one week after the Illini had handled Nebraska. (Not that handling Nebraska is a big deal anymore.) ‘Runners popped a cork in Champaign.

That didn’t really happen, did it, Huskies? Montana? Yeah, that’ll happen every 101 years, or so.

And that should not have happened, Badgers. Wisconsin dominated the first half at home against Penn State, but couldn’t score. Yeah, you know what generally happens then, and it did.

Receivers running free, bombs raining down from above. New quarterback, same old ‘Bama. The Tide is still in a league of its own. That pisses a lot of you off, doesn’t it?

Au Jus almost got dipped by Tulane. That was a manly comeback by the Green Wave, but a scenario that should genuinely concern Sooner fans. That was No Boomer. And No Bueno.

Comeback completed by Mississippi State. Leach was so dazzled he was even more unintelligible than usual. “Dental appointment”? Whaa?

‘Dogs hunkered down. And Clemson could not score a touchdown? That’s a Dabo Downer.

Really solid wins for both Kansas State (over Stanford) and Iowa (Indiana).

Maybe you were surprised by UCLA’s win over Ellessshyoo. I wasn’t. Yes, I did get at least one pick right yesterday.

Tonight? Would it be possible for Notre Dame and Florida State to both lose?

Saturday was glorious. And next week will be even glorious-er when we add the NFL to the banquet.

Brady had COVID last February? Hoonoo?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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.