The door slammed shut.
A piece of paper stuck to it.
I scanned the list of names.
Up and down. Down and up. Twice. Three times.
My name wasn’t there.
Reality set in.
I didn’t make it.
I hurried out of the locker room, fighting back tears.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“You’re not good enough.”
“You’re too small.”
“You’ll never make it.”
It would’ve been easy to quit. Who would’ve blamed me?
“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” Chazz Palminteri’s voice echoed in my head.
I knew I had the talent. And I loved the game too much to let one setback stop me from trying.
After all, you need to fail in order to succeed.
So I decided put in the work. Doubled down on my dreams. And made it my goal to prove everyone wrong.
Nine years later I’m sitting in an apartment with my college teammates when my phone starts blowing up.
“Congratulations!”
“Well deserved brotha”
“Proud of you”
I was named honorable mention All-Conference for my senior season.
Reflecting on my journey and all the time and hard work, I realized that it was my underdog mentality that brought me to that point.
At some point in our lives, we all face road blocks. Barriers that challenge our will.
Everyone has an underdog story.
And that’s what Joker Mag is all about.
Telling the stories of those who’ve conquered every obstacle and found success against all odds.
Welcome to the home of the underdog.
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