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“There’s not a racist bone in my body.”

Jeez. At the very list you’d think racists could find a new and different cliché to deny their racism.

“There’s not a racist bone in my body.”

Hey, Grudes. There are 206 bones in the human body. You’re telling us that not even one of yours is racist? Or homophobic? Or misogynist?

Evidence would suggest otherwise.

I mean, not one bone? Even a little bone? Like either the hammer, anvil or stirrup in your left ear? Not one racist bone?

That sounds like a “wishbone” to me.

Gruden officially “resigned.” But he was fired. Not by the NFL, because the emails were all written and sent while he was an employee of ESPN, not the NFL.

But he was fired. He was fired. He was fired by a ghost.

He was fired by Al Davis. He was fired by the late father of Raiders owner Mark Davis.

Say whatever you want about the Raiders. (And I have.) They are outlaws, they are rogues. They are contrarians. They are obstructionists. They do not play well with others.

But dating back to the inception of the NFL, the Raiders have been the most progressive franchise in the league when it comes to issues of race, human equality and human dignity. The Raiders haven’t “talked about” inclusiveness. They have walked the walk. Maybe it’s because the Raiders have always been the Island of Misfit Toys. They know what it’s like to be “different.”

And they did so again Monday night. (Anybody else find it ironic this happened on Monday Night?)

The spirit of the late Al Davis lives.  THAT…is “the greatness of the Raiders.”

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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.