10/12/23 Just a little pinch between your cheek and gum… – Radically Rational

10/12/23 Just a little pinch between your cheek and gum…

While I knew this was coming, news of Walt Garrison’s passing hit me like Number 32 used to hit opposing linebackers. Walt was not faux-tough. Walt was deep down, to the bone tough. He was also funny as hell, witty, insightful and great company. Walt was very much a “people person,” who brightened any room he was in. I was privileged to get to know Walt pretty well because we did a lot of promotional work together after he retired from the NFL. I remember the laughter, because where there was Walt there was laughter.

Walt died early Tuesday after battling Alzheimer’s for several years. I encourage everyone to join the fight against this terrible disease that dimmed Walt’s warm light near the end of his life.

On a personal level, Walt may have been my favorite Cowboy.

I have a lot of Walt stories, many of which unfolded in a honky-tonk in Wimberley, and some of which I can actually tell.

I’ll get to them. But not today. I’ve never before lived in a world without Walt Garrison, and I’m not handling it well.

So long, ‘Lil Puddin’. Yeah, I’ll get to that story, too.

Let’s all hug a Cowboy today.

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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.