07/16/23 The ‘Stros blew HOW big a lead? – Radically Rational

07/16/23 The ‘Stros blew HOW big a lead?

That was the Astros’ worst loss of the season Saturday night in Anaheim. Houston blew a six-run lead in the 7^th and a three-run advantage in the ninth before falling to the Angels 13-12 on a tenth-inning throwing error by rookie shortstop Grae Kessinger. Shohei Ohtani hit his MLB-leading 33^rd homer as the Angels broke a six-game losing streak. Those 12 runs by the Astros were the most by a losing MLB team this season. That’s not much solace.

So I needed some mindless distraction. The WNBA All-Star Game provided that with 270 total points. Who won? I’m not even sure who was playing. But those women can sure enough shoot those threes. And fours. From 28 feet!

LeBron, saying he wants to honor the late Bill Russell, will change his jersey number next season back to 23 from the 6 he’s worn from time to time in his career, including the last two seasons with the Lakers. I’ll alert the media. Oh, wait…

The NCAA has stripped the Tennessee Vols of eleven football victories from 2019 and 2020 because of the slimeball actions of then head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Those forfeitures pushed the Vols out of the top ten in all-time wins.

Saturday I learned how to spell Vondrousova and Jabeur. At least I hope I did. It was pretty cool to see an unseeded player win the Wimbledon women’s singles title for the first time.

What’s the over-under on how long it will take Djokovic and Alcaraz to decide the men’s championship Sunday morning? Whatever it is, I’m taking the over.

I just hope they get it done before the final round of the American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament. Yep, it pulled me in on Saturday. Gorgeous course alongside gorgeous Lake Tahoe. Folks having fun, especially NFL players trying to get in some last yuks before the grind of training camp. Oh, and that hole-in-one by Warriors sharpshooter Steph Curry was a hoot! Seems Steph can put any ball in any hole. Mostly, though, I just took comfort in seeing at least one place on Earth that is not currently on fire.

We are burning down our planet. And, yes, it’s on us. No longer the slightest doubt about that.

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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.