Sports Blog: 09/27/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 09/27/21

I’m all in for MNF tonight. Eagles at Cowboys. Dallas showed me something last week in beating the Chargers. And you know who deserves my props? Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. While I loved him in college—both colleges–I never thought he would make an NFL roster as a QB, let alone become a starter. Why? Because he couldn’t throw the ball like an NFL quarterback, and if you can’t do that, nothing else matters. Nobody suddenly “becomes” a good passer. To a large extent, you can either do it or you can’t. But, dang, Hurts has made himself into a legit thrower. I respect that. This will be fun tonight.

Who’s a good boy?

Give a bone to the Cards, Broncos, Raiders, Panthers and Rams, who are the NFL’s big woofin’ dogs at 3-0.

Still looking for a biscuit are the winless Jets, Jags, Colts, Giants and Lions.

Five unbeaten teams, five winless ones.

Pleasant surprises would include Denver, Las Vegas and Carolina. But Indy is 0-3? I didn’t see that coming. Looks like the Colts’ season may have already come and Wentz.

The Jolly Roger has got it goin’ on. The season is off to a spectacular start, and the banquet table is already set for next week. How’s this?

Panthers at Cowboys

Browns at Vikings

Cardinals at Rams

Seahawks at 49ers

Ravens at Broncos

Raiders at Chargers

And…Brady goes back to Foxborough.

It’s good to be the Jolly Roger

Here’s what can happen when you attempt a 68-yard field goal. Your miss gets returned 109 yards for a TD. (Bad ideer, Cardinals.)

But 66-yarders that doink through the uprights to win the game as time expires are cool. It helps when the kicker is Justin Tucker. Now “NFL record holder Justin Tucker.”

There’s a thing I call “The Look.” Through three weeks, the Rams have The Look. Sean McVay finally has the Big Arm he wants in Matthew Stafford. DeSean Jackson looks like he’s 23. And that pass rush? Yep, they got The Look.

Looking around wondering what the hell is going on are the Chiefs. I don’t think it’s gonna happen this year. That defense is bad. I didn’t say “ordinary.” I said bad.

Hoping Andy is ok.

Aaron Rodgers told us to relax. Aaron Rodgers was right. Again. But I felt badly for Jimmy G.

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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.