03/29/22 – Radically Rational

03/29/22

I’m not exactly on pins and needles awaiting possible changes in the NFL overtime format. It ain’t broke, and does not need fixing, IMO. I keep hearing, “Both teams need an opportunity to possess the ball in OT.” Both teams currently do have that opportunity. One team or the other’s failure to take advantage of that opportunity does not indicate systemic failure.

We now have the first hiring mandate as an extension of the Rooney Rule. All 32 teams are now required to have a minority assistant coach (which now includes women) on the offensive side of the ball. It’s the “offensive” stipulation that I find interesting. The NFL’s end goal here is to elevate the number of minority head coaches in the league. In recent years, a large majority of head coaching hires have been offensive coaches.

The ’Niners say they are not going to release Jimmy G. Nor should they. But they have received no trade offers for him, in part because he is coming off surgery on his throwing shoulder. This may end up being an “unanswered prayer” kind of thing for SF. Their best option by far heading into next season is…Jimmy G.

A new stadium for Bills Mafia. Yeah, there’s some tax money extortion there, if you choose to characterize it as such. But a perfectly valid economic argument would also be that the Bills are vital to Western New York. No roof. That’s a good thing.

Fourteen straight Women’s Final Four appearances for Connecticut? That’s insane. And Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith is not only a great player, she is also a very entertaining firebrand. U-Conn vs. Stanford and Louisville against South Carolina will be fun watches.

I just saw a Spring Training video clip of Albert Pujols wearing a red bat-and-birds Cardinals jersey. I smiled.

Four straight for the streaking Spurs, who are now locked in a to-the-death duel with the Lakers for the final Western Conference play-in spot. There’s a rumor that these gimmicky games will start with a runner at second base.

Don’t you miss Larry Hagman? I sure as hell do.

Happy Tuesday from this Tuesday Baby.

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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.