05/07/22 – Radically Rational

05/07/22

Becky Hammon got her first career WNBA head coaching win Friday as her Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 106-88. How long do you think it will be before she gets her first NBA head coaching win? Because that will happen someday, and she will have fully earned that opportunity.

Joel Embiid keeps telling everybody he should be the NBA’s MVP. Well, I can’t tell him he’s wrong. After missing more than a week with a concussion and a facial fracture, Embiid strapped on a mask and dropped 18 and 11 to keep the Sixers from going down love-three to the Heat. That was manly, Big Fella.

News is often defined as “deviation from the norm.” So it’s newsworthy that the Mavericks beat the Suns, something they had not done in their previous eleven meetings.

That would be five straight for the ‘Stros, after a 3-2 Friday night win over the Tigers. That’s impressive focus displayed by a team that has played 15 straight days. Astros starters have been inning-eaters, giving the pen a break during this long grind. Everybody finally gets a day off Monday!

I respect this. MLB umpire Dan Bellino says he was wrong to have ejected Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner in the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Marlins, triggering a lengthy and nasty scene. Bellino: “I take full accountability. I will learn from this incident, and I sincerely apologize.” There. That’s the way you do that.

Former Longhorn and NFL safety Earl Thomas faces an arrest warrant in Austin for allegedly violating a court order related to his ongoing divorce. For now, let’s just say that Thomas appears to have chronic anger issues. Thomas, who turns 33 today, says he wants to return to the NFL. This won’t help. Thomas hasn’t played since 2019, when the Ravens released him after he punched out a teammate at practice.

Twenty horses. Twenty jockeys. That’s a lot. Everybody just stay safe and healthy at Churchill Downs.

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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.