Hey I dared - did I win ? I'm a full time pro. And the opportunities that were around even ten years ago are no longer the same.

The general consensus of many in the profession that it's lifespan is seriously challenged.

So yes sure go and live the dream. For all of the ones that do make it, I can see a vast number who dont. So if we're answering the original question, the state of the market is best described as seriously challenging. Much more so than even just a short time ago. Most of the extremely well known photographers I know of, are fast exchanging their skill as a photographer to one of highly successful speakers/educators. With so few sports photographers positions actually available, I would definitely question it as a good career path. Saying that, there is definitely opportunities to go out and with the right personality, drive and ambition, I would be quite sure that with all of those factors and a good degree of skill and craft, yes they could succeed.