06/04/22 – Radically Rational

06/04/22

Now that 83-year-old Brent Musburger has been put out to pasture, the Raiders’ radio play-by-play job is open. I think they should hire me as part of a youth movement in the booth.

Mus reacted to his dismissal gracefully, as did Phillies manager Joe Girardi, who got canned after three seasons with the club.

Dusty Baker’s job prospects are solid for the moment. The ‘Stros are 34-18 after pushing their winning streak to five with a 10-3 rout of the Royals in K.C.

Everything was perfect for Yankees starter Gerrit Cole Friday night until the Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop buggered it up with a base hit with two out in the seventh. That came just one night after the Yanks’ Jameson Taillon lost his perfect game bid in the eighth. AllMOST!

Salute to future HOFer Alex Mack, who retired Friday after 13 stellar NFL seasons. That will leave a hole at center in the 49ers offensive line, and a hole in the hearts of NFL fans everywhere.

I’ve become a fan of Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman, whose contract has been extended through 2026. The Hogs are once again a handful. Just ask Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Penn State, all of whom got rolled by the Razorbacks in 2021. They’ll be even better this season.

Mack Brown has lured his buddy Gene Chizik back into coaching after a five-year hiatus. Chiz is now North Carolina’s defensive coordinator, a role he once held under Brown at Texas. Mack needs to win some games this year to keep the Wolves off his Heels.

Yeah, this is a chaotic time for the Big 12. But don’t feel too sorry for the conference, which made a league record $426 million dollars this school year.

No Williams Sisters at Wimbledon later this month? What’s that all about, Alfie?

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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.