I think your idea is too fuzzy to work unless you can be specific about who would employ you in such a capacity. If you're thinking about research into sport, a sports journalist would, as part of his role, from time to time have to research various issues on sport before writing about it, but getting into sports journalism would be difficult without any prior experience, even on a local provincial paper as these are all feeling the financial pinch as a result of the recession and many of them are merging.
You don't say what you are doing at the moment so it's difficult to try and suggest how you might possibly use existing skills in a different role. One book I can recommend is a handbook for job hunters and career changers is called "What Colour is your parachute? by Richarde Nelson Bolles.. It's full of really helpful suggestions on how to "brainstorm" future career possibilities. If you belong to a local library, they may have a copy which you can borrow free, but it's such a useful handbook that it's probably worth having a permanent copy to keep on your bookshelf..