01/23/22 – Radically Rational

01/23/22

hardly knew ye.

In each conference, the bye led only to “bye!”

Now what, Packers. You’ve won 13 regular season games for three straight years and have not even a Super Bowl appearance to show for it. Your star quarterback now has plenty of time to “do his own research” about where or even whether he’ll play in 2022.

Your special teams are a travesty. You got a FG blocked. You got a punt blocked for a touchdown. You gave up a 45-yard kick return. And, as Robby Gould kicked the Niners into the NFC Championship Game, only ten guys in green shirts witnessed it from between the sidelines.

There is no more Lambeau Frozen Tundra Mystique. The truth is the Cali boys operated better in the deep-freeze than you did. You scored three points on your final nine possessions. You gave up five sacks. You lost a fumble.

The Niners out-toughed you, just as they out-toughed the Cowboys six days earlier.

Hold on, Tennessee Titans. You didn’t think I forgot about you, did you? I guess we shoulda had this one figured out when Tannehill threw a pick on the Titans’ first play from scrimmage.

Vrabel, I like you. But what in the wide, wide, world of sports is going on with these brain-dead “analytics.” Don’t ever pass up a virtually certain chance to take the lead.

How was that point you rejected looking to you at 16-16?

As for going for it on fourth down, I had no problem with the decision. I had a major problem with the play call. All eleven Bengal defenders were locked in on King Henry. A boot or an outside toss would have been a gimme.

It’s hard to lose a game in which you sack the other team’s QB nine times. But the Titans found a way.

As a result, as Evan McPherson said right before he sealed it with his fourth field goal of the game, “Ahh, looks like we’re on our way to the AFC Championship.”

For the first time in 34 years.

Today?

The Bucs are out of offensive linemen. Rams win.

It’ll be a classic at Arrowhead. The key here is Arrowhead. Home team wins.

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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.