03/26/22 – Radically Rational

03/26/22

Every year we hear “Cinderella” invoked into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. If you say, “Big Dance,” I swear I’ll slap you.

And every year I roll my eyes. Because it’s a romantic myth. Some 15^th seeded Compass School or St. Otherwise pulls a first-round upset, and here we go with the sonnets. Then said gnat gets crushed by 40 in the Round of 32, and we say, “Oh, well. Never mind.” But the myth endures.

OK. Circle this date on the calendar. I am granting you a 24-hour dispensation to call St. Peter’s Cinderella, Lucretia, Tyra Banks or anything else you want to. They’re amazing. A fifteen in the Elite Eight? They have earned the right to peacock a little bit.

There. Now knock yourself out. But be quick, because they’re still gonna get their ass kicked Sunday.

Hey, Deshaun. Shut up. For now, at least, just shut up.

Marcus Mariota is now 28 as he becomes the Falcons’ (temporary?) QB. So, it’s pretty much now or never. I’m pulling for him, but take “never” and lay the points.

I am resigned to the certainty that the NFL is going to change its overtime system. That notion has reached critical mass among fans and the NFL media. But they’re gonna fix something that ain’t broke. Look. There is no such thing as a perfect OT system. What we should be looking for is the LEAST IMPERFECT system. And that’s exactly what we have. I just shake my head when I hear that “both teams should have an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime.” Both teams already have the opportunity. If they fail to take advantage of that opportunity, that does not mean the system is flawed.

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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.