03/31/22 – Radically Rational

03/31/22

I’ll miss seeing Bruce Arians on the Bucs’ sideline, but I’m happy his move to the team’s front office is not health related. Todd Bowles’ promotion to head coach is a solid move that will ensure continuity on a Tampa Bay team that remains my pre-season pick in the NFC.

Does Colts’ owner Jim Irsay need to see a gastroenterologist? His public potshots at Carson Wentz and the Jacksonville Jaguars could be indicative of a bile duct problem.

Lamar Jackson’s frustration over reports he wants to leave Baltimore appears to be genuine. The Ravens and Jackson are a good fit. Lamar has been reluctant to sign a long-term deal in Baltimore until the skyrocketing NFL quarterback market moves from the stratosphere into outer space. That doesn’t make Jackson disgruntled or disloyal. It makes him smart.

Patrick Peterson is staying with the Vikings. Just a feeling here, but I think Minnesota may finally get its act together under new head coach Kevin O’Connell. It appears Peterson shares that hunch.

A tip of the cap to retiring Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins, who Wednesday announced his retirement after 13 seasons in New Orleans and Philadelphia. The definition of “professional” football player, on and off the field.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has selected Colin Kaepernick to be an honorary sideline captain for the Wolverines’ spring football game on Saturday. Harbaugh was the 49ers’ coach when Kaepernick quarterbacked San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance following the 2012 season. BTW, I’ve never really understood what was “disrespectful” about taking a knee. In fact, historically kneeling has been considered a gesture of deference.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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.