01/28/24 Pickin’ and Grinnin’ – Radically Rational

01/28/24 Pickin’ and Grinnin’

For once, I won’t bury the lead.

The Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the NFL. I’ve seen them toy with the Lions. I’ve seen them crush the 49ers. I don’t even want to talk about what they did to my Texans a week ago.

Lamar Jackson will no doubt win his second NFL MVP Award. And he is now a much better player than he was when he earned his first one. Oh, and you wanna screw with the Ravens’ defense?

Nevermore.

M&T Bank Stadium in “Ballmer” is a way-underrated home field advantage.

And Mark Andrews is once again healthy.

Still, those are the Chiefs. And that’s Patrick Mahomes. Fifteen has taken his team to the AFC Championship Game in each of his six seasons as KC’s starting QB. In some ways, that’s almost as impressive as Brady’s seven SB titles in 23 years.

And Andy remains the best offensive play-caller I ever saw. It’s easy to go broke betting against the Chiefs. And now their defense is great, too.

But the Chiefs are not as explosive as they have been for the past five seasons. And they will be without Kadarius Toney, although some might maintain that’s a good thing. And Pacheco’s toe injury could wind up being a big deal.

This might end up being a low-scoring game. Both defenses are excellent.

But I’ll go back to “the lead” of this blog. The Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the NFL.

Ravens 24, Chiefs 20.

NFC? Who doesn’t love the Lions? It’s the feel-good story of the year, and I’m into it. If Detroit wins, I’ll be high-fiving strangers on the street. It would be wonderful.

But I don’t think it’s going to happen. This game is on grass in Santa Clara. I don’t always think the turf vs. grass thing is that big a deal. But in this case I do. I don’t always think playoff experience matters. But in this case I do.

It won’t be a blowout. But the ‘Niners will win relatively comfortably.

49ers 27 Lions 17.

And then it’s on to Vegas.

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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.