Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Davis.
Hi Erica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m from a small town in Southeast Georgia called Waycross. It’s not one-traffic light small. But it is two Wal-Marts, one high school small. Like in many small towns, sports weave through every part of the culture’s fabric. As a daddy’s girl who started going to sporting events with my daddy before I could say “ball,” my upbringing set the stage for my passion for and career in sports.
During my years double majoring in Journalism and Political Science at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs, Sic ‘Em), I fused my loves for performing and sports and ultimately enjoyed some of the most incredible collegiate experiences imaginable. I twirled as a majorette in UGA’s prestigious Redcoat Marching Band, the second Black majorette to make the squad in the school’s history. I was a captain and a choreographer for the Dance Dawgs, the athletic association’s official basketball dance team. I cheered as an NFL cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons. So as a dancer and performer, From Bowl games to meeting some of the League’s most dedicated fans, I had a sideline seat to all the action. Wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world.
After I graduated, I packed up my two-door Honda Civic and drove cross-country to Los Angeles. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure where I wanted to focus my energy in Tinseltown. Growing up, I had done it all — tap, jazz, ballet, baton twirling, musical theatre, piano, saxophone, track. I was confident that I had a lot to offer and that I had a unique perspective. So, I did it all. I worked professionally as a dancer and appeared in ads for Target and New Amsterdam, and more. I worked as an actress in horror and indie films and auditioned for some really cool projects. But when I started booking jobs as an on-air talent covering sports, my heart was home.
I consider my experience hosting Kevin Pollak’s This Week in Football (TWIF) as my break into the sports world as a host. TWIF was a topical sports show, but we also delved into sports gambling. After TWIF, I began making appearances as a sports contributor on CNN Domestic, CNN International and HLN. I grew up watching CNN with my mom, so appearing on the network to discuss sports and socio-political issues was a full-circle moment for me!
And then the pandemic.
The pandemic made me pause and rethink my path and my pursuits. There was so much death and divisiveness, and it was, for me, a moment of reckoning. Where I could best fuel my fire while making a difference in the world — personally and professionally? By Fall 2021, I had my answer. I landed at FOX Sports as a writer and editor on our sports gambling vertical.
I was working with the sports media company of my dreams. Moreover, I was on a kick-ass team in the sports gambling space — a corner of the sports world where Black women especially aren’t often represented. A legit dream come true.
And now, after a little over a year at FOX Sports, I also work as on-air talent and as a writer for our partner sportsbook FOX Bet. I pen two weekly columns and am the host for our wildly popular FOX Bet Super 6 contests. I help our audience make picks for our cash jackpots, I interview our winners, and I help introduce sports betting concepts to fans in a fun, non-intimidating way.
I cannot overstate how blessed and fortunate I am to be working at both FOX Sports and FOX Bet doing work that I absolutely love. My story is a true testament to how dreaming big, working hard, and staying persistent pays off.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Because I didn’t take the traditional route toward an on-camera career in sports, I’ve encountered my fair share of pushback. The on-camera talent in our world — hosts, and reporters — are usually personalities who have worked their way up after spending time in small markets for countless years. It’s not an easy or a glamorous path.
But because of my background in dance, theatre, and performing, I knew that I wanted to spend my immediate years after college maximizing my entire skill set. My parents paid GOOD money for all those extracurricular activities. So, I owed it to the dreamer in me to give my FULL, multifaceted self a chance. I had to nurture all parts of Erica — not just the journalist and sports lover.
I know my stuff, and I do my research. I’m a dedicated sports fan, but I’m also a student of the game. I’m a talented writer voracious reader, and am magnetic on camera. But while a lot of my peers were covering high school sidelines, I was sitting in makeup chairs as an actress on television sets.
Hear me out when I say there’s no right or wrong path. Different ways to get to the same destination, right? But not having those early experiences on my resume has presented some challenges along my journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Let’s face it. Sports can be intimidating. Even getting your feet wet can be overwhelming. Who do I cheer for? What’s a first down? Now add the element of sports gambling into the equation. A parlay? The spread and the over/under? Forget about it, right?
This doesn’t have to be a lost cause! That’s why I strive to make sports and sports betting relatable to everyone. I write and produce content that everyone can enjoy — from sharp bettors to casual gamblers, die-hard fans to the folks who watch the Super Bowl for the commercials.
Sports are the ultimate connector, the supreme icebreaker. After reading my weekly columns and watching my digital vignettes, everyone should walk away feeling a little more knowledgeable.
Contact Info:
- Website: ericareneedavis.com
- Instagram: @EricaReneeD
- Facebook: Facebook.com/ericareneedavis
- Twitter: @EricaReneeD
- Other: TikTok-@EricaReneeDBets
Image Credits
Dana Patrick
Ronn Brown
Leta Taylor
