06/24/22 – Radically Rational

06/24/22

Yes, I tend to be conservative about these things, but I’m glad the Spurs played it straight in Round One. Hey, you got three first round picks, go get three good players.

Baylor guard Jeremy Sochan is a defensive demon. Ohio State Buckeye Malaki Branham has a complete game. And shooting guard Blake Wesley showed flashes of “wow” at Notre Dame. Yeah, that’s a good night, in my view.

Yeah, that’s a good commit. But can we please hold off on building the “Arch” de Triomphe over Red River Street in Austin? Right now, the kid has a college career record of 0-0 and leaves Clearasil stains on his footballs. And it will stay that way for at least another year.

And then, whither Quinn Ewers? After all, there are only so many car dealerships in Austin.

Don’t get me wrong. Young Master Manning can sling it. He also appears to be mature beyond his years. That’s a good thing. He’ll need it. Austin can be beyond brutal.

So, Aaron Judge is gonna walk into his salary arbitration hearing this morning just hours after lining a walk-off RBI single to beat the Astros. As Jack Palance once said on a commercial, “Confidence is sexy, doncha think.?”

If you get a chance, turn on the Google Machine and find some clips of HOF running back Hugh McElhenny, who died last week at 93. “Hurryin” Hugh” was special, and fun to watch. One of the greats who made me fall in love with pro football as a little kid.

Au Jus and Ole Miss in the best-of-three finals at the CWS. Works for me.

Yeah, I was surprised and disappointed that Tyreek Hill took those verbal potshots at Mahomes after moving on to Miami. Unnecessary at best. But death threats? C’mon, people.

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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.