How feasible is it to become a professional sports writer?

Hey guys, I am interested in something. I have been around sports all my life and feel like I should of taken advantage of it earlier. Now in my middle age years the clock is ticking and I am still hungry. Do any of you think it is feasible to become a professional sports writer in your 40s?Say if I had a portfolio how would one go about starting a career in NFL writing? Would you contact every major sports media company and send your portfolio? Would you try to connect using twitter or linked in? Let me know because I am trying my best to make a living writing about sports, primarily the NFL. My belief is if you want something bad enough it is going to happen. All the rich people I have talked to have one trait in common, they all use the LAW OF ATTRACTION using positive thoughts on a daily basis.

My tips:

Practice here by posting a lot
Be a specialist - the world doesnt need another NFL fan writer.  It does need more good NFL sports betting writers
Be prepared for horrific income and writing for free
If you post stuff, you will be approached

I have been approached several times.  It is always the same.  Write some stuff for us (for free), and we will evaluate it over time and see if people like it.

I say - build it and they will come.  Dont ask them to come before you build anything.

GL

Edit:  What they always want when I get approached is clicks.  Mainstream stuff.  That is not the stuff I am interested in.  I want to talk about more than the pick of the week - which in gambling - is what sells.

The first question is, are you a writer? Were you an English major? Did you write for the school paper at any level.if yes, the yes, it is feasible. Start a blog. Hope it picks up steam. Someone would come to you anf offer you some form of opportunity.

Attend a local sporting event & write a story about it. 

Post your story in here & you'll get honest opinions.

Or you can even write a story about something going on in sports. Not a post. A piece.

@Loveeachother

 You need to go to school for Media Relations

You do not need to go to school for it.  Just have a decent command of the language and knowledge of the subject.  I do not know if you have to limit yourself to, say, sports betting.  But if you do find a niche that you can get into that is okay, just do not let it limit you at the beginning, until you decide to specialize.

I know a few guys that do exactly this.  I know a guy that specializes just in NCAA football and one that specializes in horses.  I know a few more that are all over the place.  Only one of them does it as his full-time thing, but he is retired already.  Blogs are a nice way to get started and make a name for yourself.  Then you will have some material to present to a local paper or news site.  Then maybe you can cover a local sporting event for them, etc.

However, the main thing that guys are doing nowadays, besides blogs, are podcasts or YouTube channels and that sort of thing.  These are guys that are younger and trying to generate sources of revenue to make a living from something they love.  I know a few that this is their sole source of income.

I know folks that do this for a living with travel and poker, for example.

This, of course, is not writing, alone.  So, you would have to have/obtain a couple of other skills, like public speaking and videoing, etc.  But they are easily learned.

So, there are many ways to do this, even if you want to concentrate on sports-writing.

There are many places on the internet that will actually walk you through some of this.

I think some of the job recruiting sites also have postings for sports bloggers.

There are forums of all types online.  I do not know for sure if there is one exactly for what you want to do, but there might be.  I would look and see and, if so, maybe you can connect with someone that can really help you get started.

At any rate, keep us posted with how it goes.  And good luck.

@Raiders22

 I just said that Dumbass

@CygXanadu

 Huh?  No, you did not.  You said, "You need to go to school for Media Relations."

Unless, you meant it as a joke?  Either way, I was not even really replying about your answer.  I was just saying at his age that school is not necessary, is all.

I am saying that he does not. 

@Raiders22

I enjoy reading an article when its kind of a story. Read up on some of your favorite journalists. Why do you like there articles more then some others.

Find a way to create a narrative when writing and thread facts throughout to enhance your point.

Then maybe start a twitter account and post there and on Facebook.  What do I know. I missed my calling. If you really have the passion, go for it

Try going to a local high school basketball game. Watch tie parents & other fans, watch the interaction between the refs/coaches, visit the concession stand & note the best seller, tell us about the players, are their any brothers playing, anything unique about anyone you see. Throw in some personal memories at that age & whether you participated or was a fan. Tell us a little bit about the town & the opposing team (rural, inner city etc.)

Catch our attention right off the bat or we won't bother reading the rest of the article.

Super easy to be any kind of writer these days.  Also very easy to get (self) published. The hard part is getting paid enough to make it more than a hobby. 

You think you want to do this....well, sit down and write 3 articles and see if they are total trash or not.  Good luck, writing is not easy.

its horrifying income

Brush up on your grammar first.  You said "should of" which should have been "should have."

Good luck.  I live in Los Angeles where a lot of aspiring actors and actresses actually make a living by waiting tables.  I can only imagine how painful that frustration is for most of them.  Is it 1 out of 1,000 that eventually make a decent living at it, or 1 in a million?

Since you really want it, go for it or you'll face a lifetime of regret for your lack of self-confidence.  "Why didn't I take a chance?"

You are certainly not getting any younger.  I remember a letter to Dear Abby.  "I'm 52 and I really want to be a doctor.  By the time I get through medical school and complete my residency, I will be close to retirement age."

Her response:  "How old will you be if you DON'T go to medical school?  You'll still be that much older without a valuable, revered profession."

All the best, OP.

I would PM Bigred . Wealth of experience and knowledge on this matter