Sports Blog: 12/26/21 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 12/26/21

It seems like fifteen minutes ago that the Arizona Cardinals were cruising along at 10-2 and clearly appeared to be the best team in the NFL.

OK, actually it was three weeks ago. Since then, the Cards have dropped three straight, the last two in alarming fashion. They got blown out by the Lions last week, and then yesterday played like an Acme Mistake Machine in losing at home to the Colts 22-16.

That’s 10-5. Arizona has games remaining against the Cowboys and the Seahawks. They could lose both of them. Alarming, for a team that started the season 7-0.

It’s going to be very difficult for the Cowboys, Bucs or Rams to overtake the Packers for the top seed (and only bye) in the NFC. For all of his preseason melodrama, and through his COVID-Gate scandal (for which he should have been suspended), Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in football, and is the only 2021 QB who has avoided a slump. Rodgers threw three TDs in Saturday’s 24-22 win over the Browns to blow by Brett Favre on the Pack’s all-time touchdown pass list.

All three of those TDs were set up by first half interceptions thrown by Browns starter Baker Mayfield, who later tossed a fourth pick to seal the Packers’ win. Mayfield’s career is at a crossroads. Your guess is as good as mine.

Today looked like it was going to be another big opportunity for Ravens back-up QB Tyler Huntley, who looked so impressive in almost knocking off the Packers last week. Huntley was set to once again start in place of the injured Lamar Jackson in today’s crucial AFC North game against the Bengals. But Huntley is now on the COVID list, and the Ravens will turn to Josh Johnson, who was last seen toiling on the Jets practice squad two weeks ago and hasn’t started a game in three years.

As we complete Week 16, COVID is the most dominant force in the NFL.

Sunday Soothsayer

Lions 24 Falcons 21

Bengals 27 Ravens 17

Rams 31 Vikings 20

Bills 27 Patriots 24

Jets 3 Jaguars 2

Bucs 28 Panthers 20

Chargers 31 Texans 17

Seahawks 27 Bears 21

Chiefs 34 Steelers 24

Raiders 24 Broncos 17

Cowboys 34 WFT 21

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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.