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The purge continues at Northwestern University, which Thursday fired head baseball coach Jim Foster. That dismissal comes three days after NU fired football coach Pat Fitzgerald following an investigation into player hazing.

The school’s human resources department found that Foster engaged in bullying and abusive behavior that created a “toxic environment” in the baseball program. Foster lasted only one season at Northwestern, posting a 10-40 record. Sixteen Wildcat players have entered the transfer portal.

Keeping a roster together is also going to be a massive challenge for interim football coach David Braun, who was elevated to the position on Thursday. Players have a four-week window during which they can transfer without penalty. Braun was hired as Northwestern’s defensive coordinator in January, well after the hazing investigation had begun. Northwestern is Braun’s first FBS coaching stop following a long career at FCS schools.

Former Georgia football recruiting analyst Victoria Bowles has filed a lawsuit against the UGA Athletic Association and former Bulldog defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Bowles suffered multiple and massive injuries in December’s drag racing crash that killed a Georgia football player and a female recruiting staffer. The suit accuses the athletic association of negligence in permitting the recruiting staffer, Chandler LeCroy, to drive a leased SUV. LeCroy had four speeding tickets on her record, including two “super speeder” citations. Police say LeCroy was driving over 100 mph and had a blood alcohol content of .197 when she crashed the SUV into trees and utility poles. Bowles’ suit also accuses Carter of leaving the scene of the accident and failure to render aid. Carter was the driver of a second vehicle that police say was involved in a brief drag race with the SUV driven by LeCroy. Carter is entering his rookie season in the NFL after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the ninth overall pick in the draft.

Rory McIlroy says he’d rather retire from golf than tee it up with the Murderous Saudis. That makes Rory my favorite golfer. Meanwhile, the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund are trying not to raise antitrust alarms in the U.S. DOJ. The pending golf merger “framework agreement” could still collapse, but this wreck has already burned the foundation of the sport. A “good walk ruined,” indeed.

TGIF.

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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.