08/11/22 Let the (pre) season begin! – Radically Rational

08/11/22 Let the (pre) season begin!

Deshaun Watson will start at QB for the Browns in their preseason opener Friday night in Jacksonville. I guess the Browns figure they need to get Watson ready for the season. I mean the 2023 season.

These joint practices and Saturday’s preseason game between the Dolphins and Bucs in Tampa may be a little awkward, at least for Tua, given the “dating” that apparently went on between the Dolphins and Tom Brady.

I cannot begin to express my level of disgust for the Los Angeles County deputies and firefighters who callously and casually shot and shared photos and videos at the scene of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. That is sub-human behavior.

Wishing Serena the very best as she transitions away from tennis. We have been privileged to watch her as she made history.

Astros righthander Lance McCullers Jr. will make his first start of the season Saturday against the A’s. He’s been on the injured list since spring training with a right forearm strain. McCullers has looked pretty good in his recent minor league rehab starts. Regaining a healthy McCullers—and his mutant curveball—would be a nifty August boost for Houston’s starting rotation.

It came as no surprise Wednesday when the Detroit Tigers fired general manager Al Avila. The only shock was that Avila lasted seven years in that job, during which time the Tigers finished last in the AL Central four times and are on track to do it again this season.

I remember watching Bears linebacker Roquan Smith during his college days at Georgia. Every time I saw him, regardless of the opponent, I thought Smith was the very best player on the field. Smith has fallen out of love with the Bears and is demanding a trade. It will be interesting to see how the Bears play this.

If you watch the Giants and Patriots tonight, file this under “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Mac Jones will be under heavy scrutiny this season. We’ll see if Mac can build on his impressive rookie year in 2021. I remain intrigued by Daniel and I’m not ready to give up on him. He’s a very impressive athlete whose progress has been stunted by injury and by the Giants’ endless parade of offensive coordinators.

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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.