04/12/23 OK. But tell me where Pop was wrong. – Radically Rational

04/12/23 OK. But tell me where Pop was wrong.

NFL teams have started their formal, organized, voluntary, on-site off-season conditioning programs. I guess Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is just not feelin’ that volunteer spirit. No-show. But he did get on Instagram Tuesday while he was doing a solo workout in Houston. This will get sticky. How do I know? It involves the Arizona Cardinals. Expect a trade.

Bucs Pro Bowl inside linebacker and 2019 first-round draft pick Devin White says he wants to be traded. You know, “It’s not about the money,” but it’s about the money. The team’s response thus far is, essentially, “We’re not trading you, man. Why would we do that? You’re a very good player.” White reportedly is pissed because the Bucs picked up his fifth year option worth $11.7 million—as is their right under the CBA—rather than tear up his contract and sign him to a new one.

Heard any updates about the Rodgers trade? Me, neither. The Packers and Jets will ultimately get this done, pretty much because they both have to get it done. But this could go on all the way to draft day, and maybe beyond.

Kliffy Kingsbury will do a great job in his new role as USC’s quarterbacks coach. Because he is a very good quarterbacks coach, as he has repeatedly proved in a lengthy list of college stops. It was the NFL head coaching thingy that tripped him up.

I feel very badly for USWNT striker Mallory Swanson, who suffered a torn patella tendon in an exhibition match on Saturday and will miss the upcoming Women’s World Cup. That’s a big blow for the Americans.

Still waiting for the Rays to lose a baseball game? You’ll have to keep your shirt on. Tampa Bay is 11-0 after trouncing the Red Sox 7-2 on Tuesday night. The Rays hit four homers. That’s the third time they have done that in eleven games.

I’m trying to get into this NBA play-in tournament thing. I’m failing. This marks the fifth straight year I have failed. Coincidentally, this is the fifth year of the play-in tournament.

But, you know, wayta be there for your team, Gobert. Good larrid…

Let me pose this question to critics who are predictably telling Pop to “stick to coaching” after his impassioned plea for common-sense gun control? Where was he wrong?

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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.