Sports Blog: 09/10/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 09/10/21

If NFL football did not exist, we’d have to invent it.

That was better than…(Fill in your own blank.)

There is no such thing as a good loss. But Cowboy fans have genuine reason to be optimistic.

Dak is back. 400-plus yards. Three TDs. There were only a handful of plays where he appeared to be surprised by the speed of the game.

The patchwork O-Line generally performed well.

The Dallas defense is no longer a bad joke.

The Cowboys were not intimidated in the least.

Ultimately, it came down to red zone failures. That can be corrected.

At least on three different occasions, it looked like the Bucs had it put away. They didn’t, until there were two seconds left.

That was promising, even in defeat. But there is no such thing as a good loss.

One word of caution. Next week’s matchup with the Chargers is a trap game if ever I saw one.

Oh, p.s. Brady is pretty good, or will be if he keeps practicing.

Paul’s Picks

College

Ohio State 42 Oregon 27

Pitt 31 Tennessee 27

Georgia 24 UAB 21

Texas A&M 38 Colorado 17

California 28 TCU 27

Iowa State 31 Iowa 27

UTSA 51 Lamar 13

Houston 31 Rice 27

Texas 28 Arkansas 17

Missouri 24 Kentucky 21

USC 38 Stanford 21

Paul’s Picks

NFL Week One

Falcons 24 Eagles 14

Bills 31 Steelers 24

Vikings 27 Bengals 23

49ers 30 Lions 17

Titans 28 Cardinals 24

Seahawks 24 Colts 23

Washington 27 Chargers 24

Panthers 17 Jets 13

Texans 19 Jaguars 17

Browns 31 Chiefs 30

Patriots 24 Dolphins 17

Packers 27 Saints 21

Broncos 20 Giants 17

Rams 23 Bears 16

Ravens 34 Raiders 24

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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.