From a Challenge to a Career

Sometimes an argument can have unexpected consequences, especially when it involves social media, which is exactly what led to California State University Dominguez Hills alumni Darrel Wilson’s career in journalism.

Wilson was always a sports fanatic but did not always aspire to be a sports journalist. Before transferring to CSUDH, Wilson attended El Camino College, where he was initially studying physical therapy and personal training.

However, following an argument that Wilson was having with someone on Twitter a few years ago, the person then asked Wilson to write an article for them. Not one to back down from the challenge, Wilson wrote it and the positive feedback he received led him to seriously consider a career in journalism.

“A few years ago somebody asked me to write an article because I was arguing with them on Twitter,” said Wilson. “I wrote an article and it got some good reviews.”

After transferring to CSUDH, the article Wilson wrote also gave him the confidence to change his major to Communications, become a journalist, and start his own blog.

Wilson launched the blog with the help of a friend and has since had the opportunity to cover a variety of sporting events, including Super Bowl LI, an NBA All-Star Game, and Dodgers baseball.

“By me starting my own blog…I had some articles on there and somebody saw one of my articles. That was the first person to ask me to write for their site,” said Wilson. “That in turn led me to get credentials to cover NBA games. That’s been the biggest thing that has happened in my life so far. Having a blog has absolutely changed my life.”

The name of Wilson’s blog, SpitsGame.com, refers to the slang term, “spitting game,” or as he explains means “the articulation of sports knowledge from an unrealized perspective.”

“I wanted it to have an authentic, urban name,” explained Wilson about the name of his blog. “In the streets, when somebody says you’re spitting game, that means you’re giving knowledge. I’m giving out my sports knowledge to somebody else.”

So far, SpitsGame.com only has Wilson’s personal catalog but that has not stopped people from offering to buy the name from Wilson. The bids range from $600 to $1,100, but Wilson is in no rush to sell the rights to the name just yet. Wilson’s goal is to write or partner with a big company, such as ESPN.

Wilson is still in the early stages of his journalism career, but has covered some of the biggest events in sports. He worked hard to get here and does not plan on stopping anytime soon.

“Being able to rub elbows with the best and being able to put out quality work with those people lets me know there is still a possible future for me,” said Wilson on his work thus far as a journalist. “I’m just getting started.”

Wilson graduated from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills in spring 2016 with his bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in journalism. For more on Wilson, visit his blog SpitsGame.com or follow him on Twitter @SpitsGame.