Sports Blog: 12/16/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 12/16/21

I never really understood why Jags’ owner Shad Khan hired Urban Meyer in the first place. But I applaud Mr. Khan for owning his mistake and not waiting another day to correct it.

Meyer is a bad guy. He was an abusive and dishonest martinet as a college coach, and his unfounded arrogance and disregard for others was an embarrassment for the Jaguar organization from the jump.

Meyer is also a liar. Khan clearly did his due investigative diligence with respect to the half-dozen or so new incidents that have been reported in the last two weeks. In October, following that viral bar video, Khan said publicly that Meyer had to regain his trust. Instead, he squandered any grain that remained.

Neither the Jags, the NFL, nor anyone who loves football or even just believes in basic human decency will miss Urban Meyer.

I’m wondering how the WFT and the Cleveland Browns will even be able to field a team this weekend. Washington has 18 players (including nine starters) on the Reserve/COVID list, with eight new positives on Wednesday. Five of their six defensive linemen will likely be unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Eagles, a matchup between two 6-7 teams who are fighting for playoff berths.

The Browns’ situation is at least equally alarming, and even more pressing because they play SATURDAY against the Raiders. No head coach. No Baker Mayfield. Cleveland is fortunate to have a back-up QB of Case Keenum’s caliber.

More than 100 NFL players have tested positive since Monday.

The Cards will be without D-Hop for at least the rest of the regular season. Longer, if his injured knee needs surgery. Yes, that right there could alter the race for the top seed and bye in the NFC.

ESPN says Texas A&M “won” Early Signing Day. Well, ok, I guess that’s that. We don’t even have to play next season, right?

Recruiting is ultimately the lifeblood of college football. But recruiting rankings and lists are a joke.

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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.