Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Ward.
Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey started in a somewhat unorthodox way compared to others that have come before me and that will come after me. I never aspired to be a writer, nor did I ever consider getting into sports in this capacity.
After high school, I was lost in terms of direction. The only talent I could run with was on the artist side. I was a fairly talented artist, handed down from my mother, who would’ve gone to art school in England had she not had me. Oh, by the way, I’m English. Both sides of my family are Brits going back for generations. All hardnosed blue-collar workers with work ethic driving them to survive, but passion for your profession was not thought highly of as all I ever heard was: “Get a trade!”
So even though I was a decent artist and was urged to go to art school by art teachers at Hart High and College of the Canyons, I was never passionate enough about it to drive me to go all-in. That led me to work a lot of blue-collar jobs that I despised. I worked with a lot of older people in construction and other odd jobs that told me to use them as an example of what not to do and get off my ass and get back to school.
Of course, I didn’t listen. I was more wrapped up in getting a paycheck and partying through my 20s. I had a lot of fun, especially during my time working in a warehouse in the Games department at Magic Mountain, where I made a lot of lifelong friends leading to memories and experiences I’ll never forget and helped mold me into who I am today.
However, I was still going nowhere and actually got into a life-altering car accident, which opened my eyes and drove me to turn things around by adopting a different mentality from Kobe Bryant. I became determined to turn my life around, and that’s exactly what I did after a friend revealed a talent I had that I had no idea was there.
I wrote a welcome note for a fantasy football league I was running with friends I had worked with for years and one of them was blown away by what I had written. It’s not like I went out of my way to write anything spectacular; it was basically making jokes about everyone in the league and getting guys pumped up for a season of trash-talking and competition.
A light bulb goes off! My writing was good when I was writing about something I enjoyed. Imagine what I could do if I were passionate about the subject? That inspired me to start a free blog and write about the team I grew supporting. I set up a blog and taught myself everything I needed to know about running and promoting a blog for free. Then, I was off and running!
After about six months of writing about the Los Angeles Lakers every day, I started to attract attention. I was getting advertising offers left and right, so the money started coming in, leading me to start multiple blogs, and the prospect of making a living in this space became a reality.
Once I had multiple blogs up and running while making relationships and soaking up all the knowledge I could find on improving my craft, the job offers started coming in. A gig here and a gig there until I received a job offer to make go full-time with the opportunity to cover games as a credentialed journalist.
The next thing you know, I’m sitting in the press box at Staples Center with a credential around my neck on a regular basis interviewing athletes and living the dream! A decade later, I’m still going strong and have interviewed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Ice Cube, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, and many more. Not to mention getting to cover Kobe for the majority of the second half of his Hall of Fame career up close and personal.
I also started to really dive into covering the NFL as well and am covering the Las Vegas Raiders as well as a credentialed reporter. I’ve interviewed many NFL players over the years like Richard Sherman, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Vernon Davis, and Ty Law.
I’m living the dream!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggle was becoming someone that people trust and view you as a source of information for the team(s) they root for. Winning over the fan base and being respected by my peers. That’s by far the hardest part. I’m definitely there when it comes to the Lakers, but I’ve still got a ways to go before getting the same respect on the NFL side of things. More work to be done!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in reporting the news, interviewing players, coaches and legends. I’d say I’m known for being on top of it when anything breaks and proving fans of the Lakers a reliable source of information and insight.
I’m most proud of the fact I was able to learn everything to break into the business on my own using only a laptop and the internet. I was determined to my a name for myself and defy the odds of being able to do it without a college education and the debt that comes with it.
Although a cliche that gets thrown out a lot, I proved to myself that anything truly is possible. It’s a matter of passion and determination. That’s it.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Setting a lofty goal and accomplishing it. Targeting a player or coach for an interview and figuring out how to make it happen even when the odds are completely against you. Interviewing Kareem and Ice Cube are two accomplishments that blew away as I really didn’t know how it would come together, but I was able to make it happy.
If I’m not striving for something that challenges me, I’m not happy. The chase and trying to figure out how to do this or that is the most exciting part for me. Drives me every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lakersnation.com/author/ryan-w/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RyanWardLA/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanWardLA/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwardlakers/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanWardLA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMvwOF2mD4gwHMlHwO5AAlQ
