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03/03/23 I have a need…for speed!

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Dang!  Those big fellas were movin’!  I’m talking about the 40 yard dash times posted by defensive linemen and linebackers at the Combine Thursday in Indy. Certainly, those were the fastest overall performances by those two position groups I’ve seen, and I’m a Combine-watching fiend.

Pitt DT Calijah Kancy laid down a 4.67, the fasted time by a DT since 2006.

Northwestern DE Adetomiwa Adebawore may have sprinted his way into the first round with a 4.49. That’s the fastest electronically timed 40 ever run at the Combine by a player who weighs 280 or more.  A.A. goes 282.

But the jaw-dropper for me was Georgia LB Nolan Smith. 4.39. I said 4.39. And it looked effortless, mostly because his running form is flawless. He could be a legit track guy, and probably was.

DB’s today at Lucas Oil Stadium. That’s my favorite!

If you thought for a moment, as I did, that the NFL future and draft standing of former Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter might be in jeopardy, think again. Carter faces reckless driving and racing charges for his part in a January 15 race with another vehicle. The race resulted in a crash that killed two people in the other vehicle. Those two people were a Georgia teammate of Carter’s, and a member of the Bulldogs’ recruiting staff. They’re gone. This race not only took two lives, it endangered the lives of everybody on that road turned racetrack. The charges against Carter are both misdemeanors. And barring additional evidence, no other charges against Carter are expected.  In other words, never mind. It’s all good. Dude is a hellacious football player. Hey, do ya think the Bears will take Carter number one?

Believe it or not, I make an effort to include at least one NBA tidbit per week, just to prove I can. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 82 points in the Mavs’ 133-126 win over the Sixers. Doncic had 42 of them. That’s the first time in Maverick history that two players have each scored at least 40 points in a game. More NBA insight a week from today, if I feel like it.

Did you see that Yankee pitcher strike a guy out in 20 seconds in a Spring training game? If not, it’s understandable. It happened in 20 seconds. This new pitch clock thing is a trip.

The best advice anyone could follow is “Don’t hit send.”  Ravens WR Rashod Bateman fired off an incendiary tweet Thursday that he later regretted and deleted. Here’s how it went down. Ravens G.M. Eric DeCosta was holding court with some reporters at the Combine. DeCosta was asked why Baltimore has had so little success drafting wide receivers. His response? “If I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers.” 

Ruh-roh. Bateman, who was the Ravens’ first round pick in 2021, got wind of that and immediately composed and fired off the following sonnet. “How bout you play to your players’ strength and stop pointing the finger at us and #8. (Reference is to Lamar Jackson.)

Bateman was just getting warmed up. “We take heat 24-7. Keep us healthy and care about US and see what happens. Ain’t no promises, tho…tired of y’all lyin’ and capn on players for no reason.”

SEND.

This would have to be considered a workplace faux pas, would it not?

It took Bateman only about 40 minutes to realize that the tweet probably did nothing to enhance his job security. He returned to the Twitter Machine. “My apologies.” Accompanied by an emoji of two people hugging,

So I guess we’re good, right?

There’s a chance this is my favorite story, like, ever.

Some background is in order. Since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1996, the Ravens are the only team in the NFL that has not drafted a Pro-Bowl WR. And in the past 12 seasons, Ravens WRs have produced the fewest yards and the second fewest catches in the league. Those are facts. But it’s not the whole story. The Ravens have been the most run-heavy team in pro football. It’s hard to catch passes that aren’t thrown, and it’s even harder for WRs when the Ravens don’t even TRY to throw the ball outside the numbers. 

I want to wish everyone a great weekend. But I will say ain’t no promises tho. I’m tired of y’all lyin’ and capn on Coach for no reason.

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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.