01/11/23 Playoff preview! – Radically Rational

01/11/23 Playoff preview!

It’s Playoff Time! And that means it’s My Time!

Sure, we’ll start with Dallas. Yes, the Cowboys have a talented roster. Yes, they’re 12-5. Yes, they’ll open the postseason against an 8-9 team. Yeah, they can win this game. But as I bang away on this blog at 5:13 a.m. Wednesday, there is not one rational, non-emotional reason to pick the Cowboys. Not one. You think there is? OK, like what, exactly?

There are some rational reasons to pick the Giants to upset the Vikings. Let me see if I actually wanna go there tomorrow. I’ll say this for now. Anyone who has watched Daniel Jones closely over the back half of the season has to be impressed with his growth.

All respect to the Seahawks, Pete Carroll and Geno Smith. Now enjoy your offseason. The ‘Niners are the NFC’s Rolling Ball of Butcher Knives. They are genuinely nasty. And genuinely cutting-edge.

The Dolphins don’t have much of a chance at Buffalo even if Tua can play. And they have zero chance if he can’t.

You want a fun game? Your best bet is Chargers at Jags. Herbert vs. Lawrence? I’m in. And hell yes, Jacksonville can win this game, especially if Chargers receiver Mike Williams can’t play.

Which brings us to the one-week turnaround rematch between the Bengals and Ravens. This is a dicey deal for Cincinnati. But the Bengals can only lose if they turn it over at least three times. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is wearing his poker face about the availability of Lamar Jackson. This is a messed-up situation that requires some hard decisions by everyone involved. Can he go? Even if he can, is it a good idea? Jackson hasn’t played in a month and a half. If he gets out there, his mobility will be limited. What good is a mobility-limited Lamar Jackson? That’s like Elton John with no piano.

Then there’s this. Remember that Jackson has to date turned down long-term contract offers in Baltimore. He has essentially “bet on himself.” Whether he plays—or doesn’t—against the Bengals, he may have just crapped out to the tune of a quarter of a billion dollars. Hell, that’s almost real money.

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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.