02/01/23 Bonus Edition. Brady. – Radically Rational

02/01/23 Bonus Edition. Brady.

I don’t blame Brady for “unretiring” last year. I think he followed his heart. The issue with his now ex-wife is their business, and I will never write or say a word about that dynamic. Brady came back because he wanted to come back.

And, this morning, I do not blame or question Brady for re-retiring. For any number of reasons—including the bad taste left in his mouth by the Bucs’ season, and the certain knowledge that he can still play—this had to have been a difficult decision. But in watching that short (and eloquent) video post, it appears to me that he simply woke up with a clarity. One can be emotional and serene at the same time. Brady is re-retiring because he wants to re-retire. That’s more than good enough for me.

So the greatest quarterback to ever play the game closes his NFL book at age 45 after 23 seasons. And there can be no serious debate or dissent surrounding his historical supremacy. No, he really was that great. There was Brady, and then there was everybody else. I feel no need to regurgitate his stats. And you should feel no need to hear them again. He was the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.

Brady wound up being a surprisingly polarizing figure. But maybe that’s not surprising, given America’s track record of tearing down the people they had first built up. Americans resent consistent excellence as much as they claim to worship it.

Number 12 owes me nothing. He owes you nothing. He wasn’t perfect. But he earned everything he achieved and he earned it the hard way, in every respect. He was, by almost unanimous account, a wonderful teammate. He made physical, emotional and lifestyle sacrifices, and he did that for more than two decades. Hell, I had a relatively late-night snack last night, because in this case I lacked the discipline to resist.

BWNDT. Brady Would Not Do That.

All respect to the GOAT, Tom Brady.

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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.