Joker Mag is a digital media platform dedicated to inspiring underdog stories in sports.
By celebrating the underdog mentality, our mission is to inspire athletes, coaches, and sports fans to conquer obstacles and overcome adversity.
Since launching in November of 2017, our work has been featured in publications such as SB Nation, The Sporting News, ClutchPoints, MLB Trade Rumors, and more.
Testimonials
“Tyler was fun to chat with. He had great energy which made for a fantastic interview. I had a good time!”
– Jim Morris, MLB Pitcher, Subject of Disney’s The Rookie
“I was impressed by the preparation and thought that went into our conversation. I am very grateful that Joker Mag is using their platform to promote women’s lacrosse and helping to inspire the next generation.”
– Dempsey Arsenault, Professional Lacrosse Player
“The team at Joker Mag has been terrific to work with throughout and, most importantly, they are focused on telling truly engaging stories. I’m a fan of the content and love the opportunity to further highlight amazing TBT players!”
– Steve Gottlieb, VP of Marketing at The Basketball Tournament
“The entire process has always been highly organized and professional. The interviews and articles produced were phenomenal and uplifting. This type of content is much needed in our world today!”
– Brittany Gilman, Sports Agent, CEO of BG Sports Enterprises Inc.
The Underdog Newsletter
Each month, we scour the deepest corners of the sports world to uncover the best underdog stories. Our Underdog Newsletter captures the most inspiring, interesting, and entertaining stories all in one place.
Thousands of subscribers love it, and you will too.
Want the next edition in your inbox? Subscribe here.
Our Stories
Each month, over 45,000 readers look forward to our original underdog stories.
Each article we publish shines a light on the underrated and overlooked. The long-shots and little guys who’ve beaten the odds and overcome adversity.
There’s something for everyone. Below are some of our most popular stories to get you started.
Popular Athlete Stories:
From FedEx Driver to MLB Pitcher: The Story of Jose Cuas
How Julio Urias Overcame 4 Eye Surgeries on His Way to MLB
The Unlikely Story Of The Man Who Invented The Modern Jump Shot
Darious Williams: From D3 Football To Super Bowl Champ & 39 Million Dollar Man
Francis Ngannou: From Poverty & Homelessness to the Most Intimidating Fighter in the UFC
Popular Columns:
The Greatest Comebacks in Sports History
NAIA Football Players Who Made It To The NFL
Division 3 Baseball Players Who Made it to MLB
Shortest NBA Players: Now & Throughout Basketball History
Best Undrafted NFL Players: Now & Throughout Football History
Our Exclusive Interviews
Over the years, we’ve been able to connect with inspiring individuals from all walks of life. MLB veterans, professional fighters, Olympic athletes, and even Hollywood actors.
Our mission is to showcase these real-life underdog stories to inspire our readers to overcome adversity in their own lives. You can check out our exclusive interviews here.
Meet The Team
Tyler O’Shea – Founder & Editor
Tyler O’Shea is a former Division 3 athlete (McDaniel College) dedicated to building the first digital media platform for inspiring underdog stories. After getting cut from the baseball team in 7th grade, he found inspiration in the stories of undersized athletes who succeeded against the odds. He decided to stick with it and ended up playing baseball through college – being named Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team his senior season.
Alex Horowitz – PR Director & Contributing Writer
A 2019 graduate from Muhlenberg College, Alex Horowitz has a B.A. in Media & Communication. After writing for the New York Post and ClutchPoints, Alex now operates Joker Mag’s public relations, social media, and athlete interviews. He resides in New York City.
Nolan Anderson – Contributing Writer
Nolan is a 2014 graduate of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis with a degree in journalism and a minor in creative writing. Since 2019, he’s worked as a contributing writer and reporter for multiple online platforms, including Heavy Sports and Joker Mag.
Our Community
We’re proud of the relationships we’ve built with our strong, budding community.
The Underdog Mentality is the heart of our message. It represents the attitude of never giving up in the face of adversity.
It’s the belief that anything is possible if you have the drive and determination to overcome any obstacle in the way of your goals.
This mentality extends far beyond the boundaries of a conventional media platform and has inspired readers across the globe to make positive changes in their own lives.
Why “Joker Mag”?
The site’s mascot is named after our founder’s family bulldog, Joker. He was the runt of the litter and the O’Shea family picked him out after learning that he was the outcast that no one else wanted.
Joker has had a tough journey – overcoming two hip replacements, breathing problems, and other ailments. Joker is a literal underdog in every sense of the word and represents everything we’re about here.
In case you’re still wondering, he got his name from the black spot around his eye that’s reminiscent of the infamous Batman villain!
Advertising & Sponsorships
For all advertising and sponsorship-related inquiries, please reach out to Tyler – founder [at] jokermag [dot] com.