Happy Sunday 🐶
We’re nearing the halfway point of 2026 (aka halftime).
Which means it’s basically the two-minute warning. A time to pause, reflect, and think about how we can maximize the rest of the time on the clock.
So instead of the usual featured story, let’s run through a quick two-minute drill recapping our top underdog stories of the year.
Top 2 stories
Top 2 mini-docs
Top 2 shorts
Let’s dive in 👇
UNDERDOG TRIVIA 🤔
On this day in 1971: Ken "Hawk" Harrelson retired from Major League Baseball to go pro in which sport?
Tap your pick to reveal the answer in a new tab. Then scroll down to Extra Innings for a full explanation below!
🗞️ 2 Stories You Loved the Most
The best (written) stories you all have enjoyed the most so far this year…
🏈 Mike Macdonald never played college football, had zero legacy connections, and climbed the ladder the hard way – from volunteer grad assistant, to intern, to one of the NFL’s youngest head coaches (and now, a Super Bowl champion).
💪 He was only a 5'4", 119-pound high school freshman – and that's only because he was wearing ankle weights. By the end of his final high school game, he had zero college offers. Here's how he became an NFL star and Super Bowl MVP.
🍿 2 Mini-Docs You Ate Up
Settle in on a comfy couch and get your popcorn ready…
⚾️ The $4,000 prospect who shocked MLB scouts (9:58)
👁️ He took a fastball to the face…then did the impossible (7:24)
🍿 2 Shorts That Hooked Your Attention
Two quick hits under two minutes each…
🍔 This guy went from working at Burger King to playing in the NFL (1:53)
🏀 The forgotten 13-year-old who changed the game of basketball forever (1:27)
Whether this is your first or 101st Underdog Newsletter, thank you for being here.
Your kind words and support are what keep me going!
Talk soon 🤝
Til next time,
Tyler
Extra Innings…
🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Golf. “Hawk” left MLB mid-season to pursue a career in pro golf and ended up on the PGA Tour. He later became the famed White Sox announcer we all know and love. “You can put it on the board…YES!”
🔥 Speaking of halftime, I was interviewed on my friend Ryan’s podcast, Halftime Heroes, a year ago. Crazy to listen back and see how much Joker Mag has grown since then.
👀 Fun fact: More than 18,000,000 people have read or watched our underdog stories across all social channels so far this year. That’s a pretty big number! Here’s to many, many more 🥂
🐶 Why “Joker Mag”? Here’s the real story behind our mascot.
