A few years ago, I grew tired of working in roles where I felt undervalued and unfulfilled. Friends and family insisted that I had “good” jobs and should be content, but I saw things differently. I put in long hours, often working harder than most, yet my efforts rarely seemed appreciated, and opportunities for growth felt limited. The compensation and benefits were consistently average, and I struggled to feel motivated.

In 2017, I took a job with the post office, hoping it would offer the stability I sought. Unfortunately, it was similar to my previous roles in terms of compensation and benefits. After three years, I was promoted to full-time mail carrier. However, due to staffing shortages and ongoing resignations, the job demands increased unexpectedly. I was soon required to be available Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.—a significant shift from the hours I’d initially agreed to. As a single father with two young children, I relied on daycare, which only operated until 6 p.m. When I explained this conflict to my supervisors, I was met with little empathy or flexibility. I faced a difficult choice: stay in a job that increasingly took a toll on my family life, or pursue a new path. Drawing on my savings and embracing a frugal lifestyle, I made the tough decision to leave my position and explore new career possibilities.

Initially, I experimented with various ventures, such as reselling items from second-hand stores on eBay. I quickly realized, however, that sustaining this required a significant amount of space and inventory—neither of which was feasible in my small apartment. I looked into any opportunity I thought could help me earn an income: cryptocurrency investments, short selling houses, signing up for delivery gigs like Door Dash, exploring affiliate marketing, and even dabbling in day trading. None of these proved to be a viable long-term solution.

I also researched several social media-based income ideas, but many turned out to be far more challenging to implement than they appeared. Then, a few conversations with a friend introduced me to coding. He had returned to school later in life, landed an IT job, and genuinely enjoyed his work. I had an idea for a startup, so we began meeting to brainstorm. Although we realized we lacked the resources to fully develop the concept at that time, the process sparked my curiosity about coding and web development.

That’s when I discovered Code.org and began learning the basics. I committed hours each day to self-study, immersing myself in various coding projects. I even created a simple game and shared it with my friend, who encouraged me to consider web development as a career. While I was initially uncertain, I soon found I genuinely enjoyed coding and saw potential for a rewarding career in tech.

In 2022, I enrolled in a formal program to deepen my skills, balancing classes with a part-time job and the responsibilities of raising two kids. Dedicating over 30 hours a week to my studies was challenging, and I often had to take days off work to focus on assignments. It was financially straining and made it hard to spend as much time as I wanted with my children. Balancing everything was difficult—I couldn’t excel as a student, employee, and parent all at once. Ultimately, I prioritized my studies and parenting, often at the expense of my job, but I was determined to succeed.

After graduating, I applied to numerous jobs but faced challenges due to my lack of professional experience beyond school projects. Taking a proactive approach, I started cold-calling local businesses that didn’t have websites to offer my services. This was nerve-wracking at first, but I was determined to make it work. While some declined politely, others were rude or dismissive. However, I learned to handle rejection and persevered. Eventually, a few businesses agreed to work with me, allowing me to gain real-world experience and build my portfolio. I charged modestly for these early projects, focusing on gaining skills and practical knowledge.

Recognizing the importance of structure, I established an LLC and created a website for my business, which also allowed me to hone my skills further. I reached out to the University of Wisconsin’s business department for guidance, and they referred me to their law department, where I received help with drafting freelance contracts.

As I continued freelancing, my skills in web development significantly improved. I realized that, while client projects helped build my experience, I needed to create a few more websites to truly showcase my abilities. I wanted to build a site of my own—a project where I had complete creative freedom and could focus on something I was truly passionate about. That’s when I decided to develop SportsRevolt.net.

I’ve always been a passionate sports fan and often felt that mainstream media coverage was skewed by commercial interests. Networks would hype certain players or teams if it benefited their ratings, often overlooking promising athletes and important narratives. This inspired me to create a platform where sports fans and writers could freely share their insights and opinions without bias. SportsRevolt.net became that space—a place for sports enthusiasts to discuss the topics they cared about most.

When the site was nearly ready, I reached out to sports content creators on TikTok, recognizing how passionate fans were on that platform. To my surprise, several responded, and a few even started contributing articles. I supplemented their work with my own articles to keep the content flowing.

As the site grew, I decided to apply for press passes to cover local sports events. Living in southern Wisconsin, I reached out to various teams in Madison and Milwaukee, explaining my new sports website and request for press access. While some didn’t respond or politely declined, a few showed interest. On November 1, 2024, I received my first media pass from Forward Madison FC for their playoff game. Thrilled and nervous, I attended the game as a press member.

The game took place at Breese Stevens Field, a historic Wisconsin venue dating back to 1926. That night, Forward Madison FC was playing their first home playoff game, and the atmosphere was electric. Fans packed the stands, and I found a spot near the corner of the field, surrounded by supporters with drums, megaphones, and pink smoke—representing the team’s flamingo mascot and Madison’s official bird. Madison took the lead with a goal in the 37th minute, and later, after a foul, they scored again from a penalty kick right in front of me. They ultimately won 2-0, marking a memorable victory for fans and players alike.

The following day, I was approved for a press pass at a Division 1 basketball game. Sitting courtside, with my kids watching from home, was surreal. The fans and staff were welcoming, and I had an unbeatable view of the action. Since then, I’ve been invited to cover more games, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see SportsRevolt.net grow. Now, with writers from across the country contributing to the site, we’re able to share diverse perspectives on sports. I’m excited to see where this opportunity leads. It took time to get here, but the momentum I’ve built reassures me that investing in learning something new as an adult was the right decision.

If you’re interested in contributing, please reach out to me at owner@etechinnovations.com. I’m also looking to collaborate with photographers to capture game moments. Some of the photos featured here were taken during my recent assignments. I’m deeply grateful to everyone involved and excited about the future of SportsRevolt.net.

Following my first-ever hockey experience through Ontario Reign’s home game against the Texas Stars, which concluded in a 3-5 defeat, it was time to use what I learned about the sport and the league to attend the following games with a better understanding and concept of the game. December 15 and 21 were important for Ontario Reign as they had to go against two significant and direct opponents in the AHL’s Pacific Division: San Jose Barracuda and Coachella Valley Firebirds.

On December 15, Ontario faced off against San Jose Barracuda, one of the leaders of the Pacific Division. Ontario fans, as loyal as always, gave San Jose an intimidating welcome and experience, highlighting the rivalry between both teams. Ontario Reign dominated the first period, and with a lone goal by Charles Hudon, they entered the second period with a 1-0 lead. Despite their early goal, penalties against Ontario allowed San Jose to capitalize on their power plays and Ontario’s defensive errors, scoring three goals to secure a two-goal lead against the Reign.

The third period was worthy of admiration for the Reign, as Samuel Fagemo, Shawn Element, and Aatu Jamsen equalized the game for Ontario despite Barracuda’s partial 4-3 lead. Concluding 4-4, it was the first time I experienced a 3-on-3 overtime and a shootout, which ended in an important victory for the Ontario Reign.

A week later, Ontario returned to Toyota Arena to face the Coachella Valley Firebirds, recent runners-up of the Calder Cup despite the team’s short history, being founded in 2022. A day before this game, Ontario visited the Firebirds, securing a dominant 4-1 win. Being the closest rivals in terms of location, the environment was heated in Toyota Arena, and on the rink, multiple fights between players from both teams and Coachella’s physical game were proof of it.

Ontario had a challenging first period as Coachella’s physical and strong defense prevented them from shooting, while the Firebirds were effective and capitalized on the Reign’s defensive errors to end the first period with a 2-0 lead.

For the remainder of the game, it was Ontario’s show, as Fagemo, Jeff Malott, and Jacob Doty led a comeback in the second period, with Element scoring the insurance goal in the third period to secure an important 4-2 victory over their rivals from the Valley and move the team into the 4th spot in the Pacific Division.

This game hosted a teddy bear toss. When Fagemo scored Ontario’s first goal, the nearly 10,000 fans at Toyota Arena tossed thousands of stuffed animals and toys onto the rink, which would later be donated.

As an aspiring sports reporter, I attended the post-game interviews to learn and gain experience for my professional career. With determination and a bit of nervousness, I asked defender Caleb Jones about the previous day’s game against the Firebirds and how it compared to their home victory.

“I think actually yesterday we came out slow again. I think both games had slow starts,” said Jones. “Yesterday (December 20), we were fortunate to be tied after the first period. Tonight we were down 2-0, and I think we responded well. We just have to find a way to put a full ‘60’ together because eventually, we are not going to be able to come back against top teams and claw our way back in. We just have to find a way to start better.”

While there is still much to learn about hockey and its rules, I gained a lot of important facts and insights about the sport during this three-game experience. I even asked my first question in a post-game interview in a professional environment, reflecting what I have to do when I become a professional sports reporter.

Looking forward to covering more about the Reign and other sports teams in other leagues. It is not only about the stats and the action on the field. It is also about the experience and enjoying what you do.

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top-tier soccer league in the United States. It began in 1996 with 10 founding teams. In recent years, the league has experienced significant growth, drawing millions of spectators annually and featuring numerous high-profile players across various teams.

What started with 10 teams has grown to a total of 29, with the 30th team, San Diego FC, set to join in 2025. The rising popularity of soccer in the U.S. has led to the development of soccer-specific stadiums, with many teams either having their own or planning to open new ones.

In 2023, MLS gained worldwide attention when Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, signed Lionel Messi, the league's most significant signing. Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez and Spanish defender Jordi Alba joined him for the 2023 season. Other notable players have concluded their careers in MLS, including Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy), Kaká (Orlando City), Gareth Bale (LAFC), and Wayne Rooney (D.C. United).

While MLS is thriving, the league's expansion has led to concerns about overcrowding. With 30 teams in 2025, the league will need to balance the number of clubs in each conference. While the playoff race is exciting, especially for newer teams, the lower-ranked teams often lack motivation. Introducing relegation could enhance the league's competitiveness and attract more viewers.

Most European leagues utilize a tiered system, where top-performing teams compete for titles and European competitions, while bottom-performing teams are relegated to lower divisions. This system fosters competition and provides opportunities for emerging talent. MLS currently has a lower tier, the United Soccer League (USL), but promotion and relegation between the two divisions are not implemented.

With 30 teams in 2025, MLS could consider implementing relegation and promotion. The bottom three teams in each division could be relegated to the USL, while the top three USL teams could be promoted. To initiate this system, MLS could analyze recent team performance to determine initial placement in the top and second tiers.

As MLS continues to grow, a third division could be introduced to further increase viewership and competition. While implementing such a system is complex, it could elevate MLS to a top-tier league, attract global attention, and provide a platform for new talent.

For a long time, my dream has always been to become a sports reporter. I always expressed my enthusiasm for one day traveling around the world to cover sports games. At first, I was all about soccer; no other sports attracted my attention. However, after graduating from Cal Poly Pomona and understanding that getting a job as a sports reporter was challenging for those stuck with only one sport, I decided to give other sports a chance, like American football—which I initially disliked—and, most recently, the subject of this article: hockey.

As the face-off approached and the arena filled with Reign fans, I got nervous. Fortunately for me, I met two hockey enthusiasts who were also there to cover the game with press passes. They taught me the basics of hockey, such as what each play represented, what determines a penalty, what icing means, and other factors. When the game started, guided by my peers, I was able to understand the game much better and take notes on what was happening on the rink.

From the stands, I had a closer look at hockey culture. Despite the low attendance at the 11,000-seat venue, Reign fans never stopped cheering and pushing their team to victory. Unfortunately, the game ended in a 5–3 victory for the Texas Stars.

On the rink, it was an intense game. The Ontario Reign finished the first period leading 2–1. However, for the remainder of the game, and despite having multiple opportunities to extend their lead, the Stars took advantage of Ontario’s defensive flaws and wasted goal-scoring opportunities to turn the game around, achieving an important 5–3 victory to keep them in third place in the Central Division.

The Reign are currently fifth in the Pacific Division after an important 2–1 away victory against the San Diego Gulls and a 5–3 home win against the Bakersfield Condors. Ontario Reign will return to Toyota Arena on December 15, when they take on the San Jose Barracuda—a match that promises intensity and good attendance from Reign fans.

As a press pass holder, I have more confidence for this game. I’m looking forward to providing a better analysis of the match, including my attendance at the post-game interviews—a crucial factor in the field of sports reporting.