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Full disclosure. I did not stay up late enough Friday night to watch the live telecast of Game Six between the Warriors and Lakers, despite my strong interest in it. But I did get up shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday to watch the replay in its entirety. I gotta give it up to L.A. That was a statement. It’s remarkable that the Lakers bounced back from a 2-10 start to their season to get to the Western Conference Finals. Lakers-Nuggets will be epic.

LeBron will now play in his 12th Conference Final. Say whatever you want about him. But that stat is a jaw-dropper.

The Dubs? A team dynamic is a mercurial thing. It just never came together for them as they tried—and failed—to defend last season’s championship. They simply weren’t good enough, and that’s shocking.

See? I actually care very much about NBA basketball in May and June. Almost as much as I don’t give a flying flip about it from October through March. And you can be sure I’ll be locked in on Sunday’s Game Seven between the Celts and Sixers to see which team will tangle with the Heat in the East.

This iteration of the XFL is pretty good. That resurrected league has learned a lot from its past mistakes and has developed a palatable product. I hope this Biblical Deluge in San Antonio doesn’t spoil the league’s championship party Saturday night at the Alamo Dome. Oh, I like D.C. in that one. That defense is nasty!

Some towns get an undeserved bad rap. Let’s play word association. I say “Cincinnati.” You might respond “drab” or “boring” or “generic” or “nondescript.” I respectfully disagree. Cincy is a lovely city. And, thanks mostly to Joe Burrow, I’ve kinda gotten into the Bengal thing. So I was hoping the Stripes would succeed with their pitch to host the new Black Friday game annually. No cigar, unfortunately…

Cincinnati. And as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Kurt Warner’s kid wants to be an NFL receiver. And young Kade is getting an opportunity with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State. Well wishes!

Chances are good that I’ll grab a cold beer sometime Saturday. I will raise it to the fact that the NFL is now officially rid of The Scumbag That Is Dan Snyder.

And while we’re talkin’ scumbags, a special commendation to player agent David Canter, whom the league is investigating for allegedly offering gifts to NFL team executives if they would draft players he represents.  I see two words in Canter’s professional future—“aluminum siding.”

Tom Brady has the right idea, IMO. Sure, buy an ownership stake in an NFL team, as #12 is reportedly trying to do with the Raiders. But he’s staying out of any decision-making role. Just keep the checks coming.  To quote Dire Straits, “That’s da wayya do it…”

Somebody needs to re-establish running back as a marquee position in the NFL. Somebody is going to. Somebody will be Bijan Robinson in Atlanta. He will be a monster, immediately, as a rookie. Write it down.

The Astros and White Sox had to sit through a two-hour rain delay Friday before they could get their game underway in Chicago. It was well worth the wait for the ‘Stros. That 5-1 win may have been as good as they’ve looked this season. Maybe it’s finally coming together. And Mr. Altuve will be back soon.

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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.