Most people who get into sports broadcasting are like me. They do it because, at some point, they realized they weren’t going to get paid to play.

Broadcasting was the next best way to get paid to attend games.

For me, the realization came during my senior year in Jon Robertson’s TV class at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego. Once it hit me, I applied to three schools — Syracuse, Colorado and the Princeton of the Plains, Kansas State University. I ended-up at K-State and landed my first full-time sports broadcasting gig four years later.
Read More

It was almost midnight when I unlocked the door to the gym carrying a sleeping bag, alarm clock and tooth brush. I walked towards the back of the gym and into the short hallway that led to the men’s locker room. That is where I rolled out the sleeping bag — where I would be out of the sight of the security guard who patrolled the strip mall at night. I set the alarm for 5:45 am.

For many, sports broadcasting is a part-time pursuit — at least while they are building their careers. That was the case for me in the Spring of 1994. I was a sports update anchor and talk show host at XTRA Sports 690 in San Diego. To make ends meet, I had kept several other jobs, including fitness trainer at a gym. On this particular night, my radio station shift ended at 11:30 and I had to open the gym the next morning at 6. Sleeping at the gym afforded me an extra 45 minutes of sleep.
Read More

The traditional path to a sports broadcasting career might not be for you.

The common route is to earn a degree from a four-year school, start in a small market, and work your way up. That is certainly the most reliable path.

But it isn’t the only path.

If you don’t have the time or money for four years of school, take a sports broadcasting curriculum at a local community college. Just be sure to choose a school that has a campus radio station. You’ll want the on-air reps for your demo and resume.

Here are three additional game plans you can try:
Read More