Sports Blog: 01/04/22 – Radically Rational

Sports Blog: 01/04/22

Ambivalence—my feelings about Ben Roethlisgerger. Eighteen years is a long time. He has played more games for the Steelers than any other player in the history of that storied franchise. He has always showed up. He has played hurt (and never failed to call our attention to that). Two Super Bowl rings. The throw he made to Santonio Holmes to beat the Cardinals was not just the greatest throw in Super Bowl history. It was the greatest throw in NFL history. In his prime, his ability to avoid sacks and extend plays was unparalleled.

First ballot Hall of Famer. I respect him.

Just don’t ask me to get all warm and fuzzy about him.

T.J. Watt got four more sacks last night. There are a half dozen strong candidates for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. But Watt wins in a photo-finish, in my view.

Another DWI on the Raiders. Yeah, that’s a problem. Was anybody on that team paying attention two months ago?

OK. I give Jets Coach Robert Saleh credit for seeing the error of his ways. On Sunday, Saleh tried to blame OC Mike LaFleur for that ridiculous fourth-and-two quarterback sneak that almost certainly cost the Jets a huge upset win over the Buccaneers. Yesterday, Saleh walked that back and took responsibility for it. That’s what head coaches do. That’s what leaders do.

There have been 16 national semifinal games played in the history of the CFP. Thirteen of them have been decided by double digits, Twelve of them by at least 17 points. And you want to expand to a 16-team tournament? Doing my best Michael McDonald, “What a fool beleeeeeeeves…he sees……..”

I want to rename the NCAA Transfer Portal “White Rabbit.” ‘Cause we done gone Through the Looking Glass.

One pill makes you larger…and one pill makes you small…

There’s a bowl game tonight. Really.

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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.