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This Team Is Ruining My Life (But I Love Them): How I Became a Professional Hockey Fan
Steve Dangle's incredible odyssey, from self-starting Leafs lover to sports-media star
How do you turn ranting about hockey into a career? Steve "Dangle" Glynn is a YouTuber, podcaster, and sports personality from Toronto, who managed to turn a 16-second online rant about the Maple Leafs into a career in sports media. From video blogging in his parents' house at 19 to yelling on televisions across Canada at 28, Dangle has been involved with some of the most important sports companies in the country.
In between tales of Steve's adventures, both online and off, This Team Is Ruining My Life is also a kind of how-to (or how-not-to) guide: in an ever-evolving media landscape, sometimes you have to get creative to find the job you want. This is Steve Dangle and his accidentally on purpose journey through sports media so far.
How do you turn ranting about hockey into a career? Steve "Dangle" Glynn is a YouTuber, podcaster, and sports personality from Toronto, who managed to turn a 16-second online rant about the Maple Leafs into a career in sports media. From video blogging in his parents' house at 19 to yelling on televisions across Canada at 28, Dangle has been involved with some of the most important sports companies in the country.
In between tales of Steve's adventures, both online and off, This Team Is Ruining My Life is also a kind of how-to (or how-not-to) guide: in an ever-evolving media landscape, sometimes you have to get creative to find the job you want. This is Steve Dangle and his accidentally on purpose journey through sports media so far.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 19, 2019
87 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
June 6, 2020
Just as hysterical in the book as on his videos. My fav video is when he’s ranting about how the Leafs lost to a 42 year old Zamboni driver who works for them. Classic, look it up. His passion is priceless!
Also, props for discussing the stigma of mental health issues and for showing the love he has for his sister who is differently abled and for his charity work with the Easter Seals who helped his family when he was younger. He is a regular man who is doing the best he can and giving back so much.
5, loved this book you need to YouTube that video now, stars. :)
Also, props for discussing the stigma of mental health issues and for showing the love he has for his sister who is differently abled and for his charity work with the Easter Seals who helped his family when he was younger. He is a regular man who is doing the best he can and giving back so much.
5, loved this book you need to YouTube that video now, stars. :)
June 17, 2019
Are you ever just, like, so incredibly happy for someone you've never met?
August 18, 2022
I have been a Leafs fan almost as long as I can remember. I’ve told this story before in a review, but it bears repeating. When I was 8 years old, I came home after spending the afternoon with my friend, who happened to be a Montreal Canadiens fan. I told my Mom and my Uncle, who was visiting that day, that I was now a Habs fan. Without missing a beat, my Uncle sat me down and told me that I was a Leafs fan. I said, “OK.” That was it.
(I swear, this is the last time I'll tell this story).
Luckily, this was in 1993, when the Leafs were great! However, that was twenty-nine years ago and things have not been super great since in the years that followed.
So with Steve “Dangle” Glynn being around my age and becoming a fan around the same time, I can sympathize with his plight. In fact, never has a book title been so accurate when it comes to the life of a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. It’s a love/hate relationship that carries with it a delicate balance between sanity and insanity.
This book could have easily digressed into one of Steve’s classic rants that make up the bulk of the content of his YouTube channel and turn into a three-hundred page dissertation into what is wrong with the franchise and how hopeless it is for its fans. But that’s not the point of the book and most importantly, you absolutely do NOT have to be a Leafs fan to find this book hilarious, endearing and above all else, entertaining.
Steve’s journey from life-long fan to media personality is both amazing and frustrating. It often seems like many of the breaks you get in the industry are completely random. It’s not like Steve didn’t work his ass off to get to where he is today, but it seems like along with talent comes a considerable amount of luck. I loved reading about his time working with Nike and his travels to the annual World Juniors tournament as well as the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. There were also some great stories about time with the Toronto Zoo, working for the now defunct Leafs TV and his internship with the Fan 590 (a sports radio station in Toronto).
I’ve never really been a big follower of Steve’s work. I’m not sure how I’ve missed him all these years, but I have a feeling that is going to change. You get a real sense that Steve is just a great guy – especially given his reputation among those in the hockey-media community. Dangle is equipped with a fairly earnest work-ethic and when you combine that with a self-deprecating writing style and sense of humour, you have a recipe for an easy read that I can whole heartedly recommend.
(I swear, this is the last time I'll tell this story).
Luckily, this was in 1993, when the Leafs were great! However, that was twenty-nine years ago and things have not been super great since in the years that followed.
So with Steve “Dangle” Glynn being around my age and becoming a fan around the same time, I can sympathize with his plight. In fact, never has a book title been so accurate when it comes to the life of a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. It’s a love/hate relationship that carries with it a delicate balance between sanity and insanity.
This book could have easily digressed into one of Steve’s classic rants that make up the bulk of the content of his YouTube channel and turn into a three-hundred page dissertation into what is wrong with the franchise and how hopeless it is for its fans. But that’s not the point of the book and most importantly, you absolutely do NOT have to be a Leafs fan to find this book hilarious, endearing and above all else, entertaining.
Steve’s journey from life-long fan to media personality is both amazing and frustrating. It often seems like many of the breaks you get in the industry are completely random. It’s not like Steve didn’t work his ass off to get to where he is today, but it seems like along with talent comes a considerable amount of luck. I loved reading about his time working with Nike and his travels to the annual World Juniors tournament as well as the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. There were also some great stories about time with the Toronto Zoo, working for the now defunct Leafs TV and his internship with the Fan 590 (a sports radio station in Toronto).
I’ve never really been a big follower of Steve’s work. I’m not sure how I’ve missed him all these years, but I have a feeling that is going to change. You get a real sense that Steve is just a great guy – especially given his reputation among those in the hockey-media community. Dangle is equipped with a fairly earnest work-ethic and when you combine that with a self-deprecating writing style and sense of humour, you have a recipe for an easy read that I can whole heartedly recommend.
November 23, 2024
This book was my favourite thing to listen to whenever I had a spare moment of time. I even secretly listened to it while I was working for a few days :’)
I am a very passive fan of the leafs, I’m an oilers fan at heart. I was automatically able to relate to the struggle of being a leafs fan :’) the oilers aren’t exactly what they used to be.
I came across this book through the library website totally at random, it was in the new releases category! I was captured by the fun title and cover. It’s not often that you find books written by professional fans. Usually it’s retired players or coaches, or even biographies by reporters.
I connected with Steve on a whole new level on the journey I took reading this book. Steve has lived such a wonderful life! A healthy mixture of mostly good times, some bad times, and a whole lot of lessons learned. I don’t think I can put into words how inspiring it was taking this story in. This book made me laugh, it made me cry (mostly of joy, his love for his wife is palpable and adorable) and I learned so much. He talks about his passions, his dreams, how hard he worked to make them come true and get to where he is today, it’s all love and passion. You don’t hear genuine stories like this anymore and it made me so hopeful, this was a story that I needed to hear at this time in my life. He also speaks on his struggle with mental health, and I just adore his outlook on life and how much he has learned from his struggles, and his triumphs. He’s just such a good person, like, I screamed so many times reading this just because like, wow, you don’t really see people that are this shamelessly positive, genuine, raw, and passionate about his dreams, dreams that have made him jump for joy at times, as well as cry in the rain. This man is ballsy and he is not afraid to shoot his shot. As I said before, this is a story that I so badly needed to hear at this point in my life. I connected with this in ways I never expected. I was instantly hooked.
I will now be joining the horde of people Steve calls his fans.
I am a very passive fan of the leafs, I’m an oilers fan at heart. I was automatically able to relate to the struggle of being a leafs fan :’) the oilers aren’t exactly what they used to be.
I came across this book through the library website totally at random, it was in the new releases category! I was captured by the fun title and cover. It’s not often that you find books written by professional fans. Usually it’s retired players or coaches, or even biographies by reporters.
I connected with Steve on a whole new level on the journey I took reading this book. Steve has lived such a wonderful life! A healthy mixture of mostly good times, some bad times, and a whole lot of lessons learned. I don’t think I can put into words how inspiring it was taking this story in. This book made me laugh, it made me cry (mostly of joy, his love for his wife is palpable and adorable) and I learned so much. He talks about his passions, his dreams, how hard he worked to make them come true and get to where he is today, it’s all love and passion. You don’t hear genuine stories like this anymore and it made me so hopeful, this was a story that I needed to hear at this time in my life. He also speaks on his struggle with mental health, and I just adore his outlook on life and how much he has learned from his struggles, and his triumphs. He’s just such a good person, like, I screamed so many times reading this just because like, wow, you don’t really see people that are this shamelessly positive, genuine, raw, and passionate about his dreams, dreams that have made him jump for joy at times, as well as cry in the rain. This man is ballsy and he is not afraid to shoot his shot. As I said before, this is a story that I so badly needed to hear at this point in my life. I connected with this in ways I never expected. I was instantly hooked.
I will now be joining the horde of people Steve calls his fans.
February 14, 2020
THE NOSTALGIA
How were the 2010 Olympics 10 YEARS AGO?! Nik Antropov, my old favourite. OPTIMUS REIM!
Steve retells life as a Leafs fan in his own way, as he navigated the world of sports broadcasting (again, in his own way). It was a super fun, super enjoyable read, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed it.
It did do that really, really annoying thing of cutting around in time that biographies seem fond of doing. Can we not go chronologically for once? Please?!
Great for sports fans of all kinds. Though Leafs fans probably will get the most out of it.
How were the 2010 Olympics 10 YEARS AGO?! Nik Antropov, my old favourite. OPTIMUS REIM!
Steve retells life as a Leafs fan in his own way, as he navigated the world of sports broadcasting (again, in his own way). It was a super fun, super enjoyable read, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed it.
It did do that really, really annoying thing of cutting around in time that biographies seem fond of doing. Can we not go chronologically for once? Please?!
Great for sports fans of all kinds. Though Leafs fans probably will get the most out of it.
January 30, 2022
I listen to The Steve Dangle Podcast everyday, and Steve, Adam, and Jesse are the reason I now know so much about hockey. They are the only people I can listen to for two hours, three times a week. So, I knew Steve’s book would be incredibly funny and entertaining. Not only did it exceed my expectations, but it was incredibly heart-warming and inspiring. His wit and charm that I hear on the podcast also jumps off the page. Amazing read, and an amazing book to start the year with.
John Tavares is a Leaf.
John Tavares is a Leaf.
March 11, 2020
I picked up This Team is Ruining My Life (But I Love Them): How I Became a Professional Hockey Fan by Steve "Dangle" Glynn because it was a new book and the title as well as the cover photo looked interesting. I could certainly identify with the author, a devoted Toronto Maple Leafs fan whose hope for another Stanley Cup victory remains undying. The lengthy title sums up the contents, which start with Glynn's ventures into making his own YouTube videos following every Leafs game. From an audience of dozens, Glynn used his YouTube credentials and Leaf-loving perseverance to find a variety of jobs at sports networks and websites, He was able to go from nothing to "working at the toy store".
The book reads like a plumped-up resume, listing every job--no matter how short--in Glynn's professional life. This format may not appeal to some readers, yet I could not put this book down. Glynn told his life story with the candour usually seen in diary entries. Insecurities are revealed and dealt with, and many chapters end with a life lesson learned, such as:
"No matter what your specialty is, it's worthwhile to know the intricacies of the other roles around you. It'll make you better at what you do and a better coworker."
"So when you speak your mind, speak the truth. Think before you speak, have purpose and evidence to support what you say, and be confident in your words, even if somebody gets in your face."
"You're in charge of what you can do. If you have a strength, you need to know how to best use that strength. If you have a weakness, identify it, acknowledge it, and figure out what you can do to make it better."
Glynn is upfront about his battles with anxiety and the value of therapy. This Team is Ruining My Life does serve at times as a personal diary in which he chronicles his bouts with unexpected tears and crying fits. I wondered if he would explain these bouts, as they happened frequently, but he did address them in the second half of the book.
There were a number of poignant moments that struck me as I read. The most memorable was that I was reading it on the tenth anniversary of Sidney Crosby's gold medal-winning goal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Glynn wrote about watching the overtime game between Canada and the US on February 28, 2010 and here I was reading all about that glorious event exactly ten years later. Two other moments were profound. After we just lost Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash, Glynn shared a story about sports personality Cabbie Richards, which began with:
"In 2009, Cabbie famously got to ride around with Kobe Bryant in his helicopter."
And he had a certain remark about Don Cherry:
"The essay I wrote was called 'Sour Grapes,' and it was about how Don Cherry could get away with saying literally anything on-air."
Up to November 9, 2019 he could.
As a YouTuber Glynn forged his own personality and style, and Leafs fans could identify with him as he expressed his honest opinions about the state of the team. He let it all hang out in his book, with exasperated rants that read as well as they probably seemed when expressed live. I particularly liked this one defeated sad rant:
"The Leafs crashed back to reality and totally sucked, yet again, missing the 2011 playoffs."
Some sports broadcasters are known to be opinionated on a wide variety of topics (remember Don Cherry) and Glynn got it right about his interactions with some Americans:
"Americans have a lot of nerve goofing on Canadian accents. Whatever they speak in Pittsburgh, it's not English."
How true. I finished this book while on holiday in Florida and an American resident of the sunshine state, upon hearing me speak, treated me like a freak show. It was insulting and annoying for me to defend my Canadian accent with a smile as I struggled through her own Bronx accent, which I never even referred to in my defensive retaliation. I guess Canadians are too nice.
Three errors struck my attention. Steve, if you reprint this book, please fix the following gaffes (italics are mine):
"I took that as a queue to sit my ass down..." (p. 181). Should be cue.
"The most encouraging feedback came from Justin Bourne, a former professional and college hockey player, who had wrote about the punk test for TheScore.com." (p. 235). Should be who had written or just who wrote.
"Each team got to pick one NHL alumni to play on their team with them." (p. 311). Alumni is plural. Should be one NHL alumnus.
I must confess that even though I had never heard of Steve Glynn before I picked up his book, I had no desire while reading it to check out his videos on-line. And now that I have finished reading this book and written its review, I have still not bothered to look for him on YouTube. So I suppose I can call myself a fan of Dangle without ever seeing any of the work he is famous for. I also don't spend my spare time surfing through YouTube so if I'm going to encounter Steve Glynn on camera it will likely be in the context of a hockey broadcast I am already watching. So Dangle--you've got a fan who's never even seen (or heard) you in action. Keep up the good work.
The book reads like a plumped-up resume, listing every job--no matter how short--in Glynn's professional life. This format may not appeal to some readers, yet I could not put this book down. Glynn told his life story with the candour usually seen in diary entries. Insecurities are revealed and dealt with, and many chapters end with a life lesson learned, such as:
"No matter what your specialty is, it's worthwhile to know the intricacies of the other roles around you. It'll make you better at what you do and a better coworker."
"So when you speak your mind, speak the truth. Think before you speak, have purpose and evidence to support what you say, and be confident in your words, even if somebody gets in your face."
"You're in charge of what you can do. If you have a strength, you need to know how to best use that strength. If you have a weakness, identify it, acknowledge it, and figure out what you can do to make it better."
Glynn is upfront about his battles with anxiety and the value of therapy. This Team is Ruining My Life does serve at times as a personal diary in which he chronicles his bouts with unexpected tears and crying fits. I wondered if he would explain these bouts, as they happened frequently, but he did address them in the second half of the book.
There were a number of poignant moments that struck me as I read. The most memorable was that I was reading it on the tenth anniversary of Sidney Crosby's gold medal-winning goal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Glynn wrote about watching the overtime game between Canada and the US on February 28, 2010 and here I was reading all about that glorious event exactly ten years later. Two other moments were profound. After we just lost Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash, Glynn shared a story about sports personality Cabbie Richards, which began with:
"In 2009, Cabbie famously got to ride around with Kobe Bryant in his helicopter."
And he had a certain remark about Don Cherry:
"The essay I wrote was called 'Sour Grapes,' and it was about how Don Cherry could get away with saying literally anything on-air."
Up to November 9, 2019 he could.
As a YouTuber Glynn forged his own personality and style, and Leafs fans could identify with him as he expressed his honest opinions about the state of the team. He let it all hang out in his book, with exasperated rants that read as well as they probably seemed when expressed live. I particularly liked this one defeated sad rant:
"The Leafs crashed back to reality and totally sucked, yet again, missing the 2011 playoffs."
Some sports broadcasters are known to be opinionated on a wide variety of topics (remember Don Cherry) and Glynn got it right about his interactions with some Americans:
"Americans have a lot of nerve goofing on Canadian accents. Whatever they speak in Pittsburgh, it's not English."
How true. I finished this book while on holiday in Florida and an American resident of the sunshine state, upon hearing me speak, treated me like a freak show. It was insulting and annoying for me to defend my Canadian accent with a smile as I struggled through her own Bronx accent, which I never even referred to in my defensive retaliation. I guess Canadians are too nice.
Three errors struck my attention. Steve, if you reprint this book, please fix the following gaffes (italics are mine):
"I took that as a queue to sit my ass down..." (p. 181). Should be cue.
"The most encouraging feedback came from Justin Bourne, a former professional and college hockey player, who had wrote about the punk test for TheScore.com." (p. 235). Should be who had written or just who wrote.
"Each team got to pick one NHL alumni to play on their team with them." (p. 311). Alumni is plural. Should be one NHL alumnus.
I must confess that even though I had never heard of Steve Glynn before I picked up his book, I had no desire while reading it to check out his videos on-line. And now that I have finished reading this book and written its review, I have still not bothered to look for him on YouTube. So I suppose I can call myself a fan of Dangle without ever seeing any of the work he is famous for. I also don't spend my spare time surfing through YouTube so if I'm going to encounter Steve Glynn on camera it will likely be in the context of a hockey broadcast I am already watching. So Dangle--you've got a fan who's never even seen (or heard) you in action. Keep up the good work.
March 21, 2019
This book is NOT about the Leafs! It takes you through Steve's life - through all his successes and failures, the best moments and the anxious ones, to where he is today: an established media professional. Recommended for anyone looking to understand the media landscape today (in particular, sports media).
March 27, 2020
Very candid telling of Steve's life and upbringing. As a leafs fan myself, it was cool to hear Steve's perspectives of events I witnessed myself.
Very genuine in style. As a fan of Steve's podcast, I can say that it was easy to read the story in Steve's voice. I found a lot of his advice applicable to my own situation as an individual looking to build his business and career, even though Steve specialized in sports and I in music therapy.
A fun and enjoyable read!
Very genuine in style. As a fan of Steve's podcast, I can say that it was easy to read the story in Steve's voice. I found a lot of his advice applicable to my own situation as an individual looking to build his business and career, even though Steve specialized in sports and I in music therapy.
A fun and enjoyable read!
August 21, 2023
It’s such an inspirational book, I love Steve and this feels like watching one long video by him, or even like having a conversation with him. Definitely would recommend for anyone that loves the leafs, you can feel the passion through his experiences.
April 1, 2019
The one and only book my brother read. This is his review. 4/5
May 6, 2024
How fitting is it that I finish this book on the day the Leafs fuck us over one more time? Yeah, Game 7, assholes; this looks familiar, eh? And yet, here I am the day after, still wearing my Leafs cap on my head to show my loyalty and my black hoodie on to symbolize the necessary mourning. I have not taken down our Leafs sign in the window. Why? Well, first off, I'm categorically insane. Gotta be to survive this franchise, folks. Second, the title from Dangle says it all. I still love 'em and still believe, and still hope that when the Leafs do win this thing it'll be while I'm still sucking in air.
Anyway, onto the book. Dangle is great. I knew that from years of following him. I loved that he got to read his own audiobook because I'm so used to hearing his voice it would've been weird as hell hearing it from someone else. It was great learning more about his life and how he got to where he is. I also knew the basics about his sister, but learning about Rachel really gave me a better understanding not only of what fuels his love of making people laugh, but also gave a greater depth to how much he truly loves and understands the benefit of his charity work. Me being me, I also enjoyed the constant references to Scarborough, downtown Toronto, the GO train, and the GTA/Canada in general. I keep forgetting that this guy grew up a 25 minute bus ride from my house. Absolutely wild.
Steve is a storyteller. This is something I also knew already, but he spend a lot of time in this book NOT talking about hockey and I didn't even care because it's fun to listen to him go off. He's got some amazing yarns to tell, too, along with some absolutely cringe-worthy decisions that he 100% owns.
Also, I've gotta say that I respect his honesty in regards to the anxiety and crying he's dealt with. It's hard for anyone to admit things, but for a man whose life and face is broadcast internationally, I think it's a different kind of courage to say "yeah, I want that out there forever for anyone to ask me about or take shots at". Absolutely shatter that stigma. Good for him.
This is one of those pleasant reads where you learn more about someone you thought you liked and walk away liking them even more. If you already watch Steve Dangle, absolutely pick this up. If you're a Leafs fan or hockey fan in general, you'll probably enjoy this too. At the end of the day, it's a story of a guy being able to live out his childhood dreams and never taking it for granted. I hope we've got decades more rants to come because I will be listening. Really though, I think we all just wanna watch the aftereffects when the Leafs finally hoist that shiny hunk of metal and Steve gets to finally cross the big one off his Bucket List. It's on mine too, man. Mine too.
Anyway, onto the book. Dangle is great. I knew that from years of following him. I loved that he got to read his own audiobook because I'm so used to hearing his voice it would've been weird as hell hearing it from someone else. It was great learning more about his life and how he got to where he is. I also knew the basics about his sister, but learning about Rachel really gave me a better understanding not only of what fuels his love of making people laugh, but also gave a greater depth to how much he truly loves and understands the benefit of his charity work. Me being me, I also enjoyed the constant references to Scarborough, downtown Toronto, the GO train, and the GTA/Canada in general. I keep forgetting that this guy grew up a 25 minute bus ride from my house. Absolutely wild.
Steve is a storyteller. This is something I also knew already, but he spend a lot of time in this book NOT talking about hockey and I didn't even care because it's fun to listen to him go off. He's got some amazing yarns to tell, too, along with some absolutely cringe-worthy decisions that he 100% owns.
Also, I've gotta say that I respect his honesty in regards to the anxiety and crying he's dealt with. It's hard for anyone to admit things, but for a man whose life and face is broadcast internationally, I think it's a different kind of courage to say "yeah, I want that out there forever for anyone to ask me about or take shots at". Absolutely shatter that stigma. Good for him.
This is one of those pleasant reads where you learn more about someone you thought you liked and walk away liking them even more. If you already watch Steve Dangle, absolutely pick this up. If you're a Leafs fan or hockey fan in general, you'll probably enjoy this too. At the end of the day, it's a story of a guy being able to live out his childhood dreams and never taking it for granted. I hope we've got decades more rants to come because I will be listening. Really though, I think we all just wanna watch the aftereffects when the Leafs finally hoist that shiny hunk of metal and Steve gets to finally cross the big one off his Bucket List. It's on mine too, man. Mine too.
February 9, 2019
I received this as an e-book from ECW Press as a part of the ECW Insiders program.
First things first, I've been a longtime fan of Steve "Dangle" Glynn, having watched his earliest videos on youtube where he would yell about the Leafs, so when I heard about this book, I knew I was very interested in reading it! Those videos from over a decade ago were often brief and messy, but what came through for me and kept me watching were a shared love - perhaps more of a ridiculous obsession if you want to be more accurate about it - for the same team. It's been such a ride to see him build this career for himself and making his unconventional way up while he still 'bleeds blue and white.' He's gotten me through some very difficult years as a fan!
This book was an enjoyable read because it came off as very authentically 'Dangle.' I could hear Steve's voice throughout as he told stories from his childhood and his mishaps in his career and all the highlights he's got to experience that came to be because of his decision to make reactions after every single Leafs game. He's very much himself, someone a fan of either his videos and/or podcast would recognize, with his blunders and honesty and self-deprecation. His humour totally shines through too.
The main issue with this book that may not be much of an issue is that is isn't quite for people who aren't fans of Dangle. He tries his best with sharing tips and advice from what he's learned along the way, which I've always appreciated in general, even if I don't plan to ever step into a broadcasting or any career related to hockey or sports, but it's a lot about his life and of course, his love for the Leafs, that may be tedious or uninteresting to a general hockey audience. He's still very young, and although it's been a quite the journey so far, naturally there just hasn't been enough life that he's lived to write a more substantial book. That's not his fault, but it's something you can't help but notice. And maybe I'm just being difficult but I feel like the stories he left out of the book (as told on the podcast) were better ones than some of the ones here, which is a bit disappointing.
All in all though, I had a wonderful time with this book! The anticipation is worth it for those of us who have heard about Dangle writing it on the podcast, grinding through it day in and day out. It's a breezy read, and it feels like it's Dangle himself talking to you. It's a fun one for the fans, and that's the audience I would recommend this too, even if they need no reminder to pick it up!
First things first, I've been a longtime fan of Steve "Dangle" Glynn, having watched his earliest videos on youtube where he would yell about the Leafs, so when I heard about this book, I knew I was very interested in reading it! Those videos from over a decade ago were often brief and messy, but what came through for me and kept me watching were a shared love - perhaps more of a ridiculous obsession if you want to be more accurate about it - for the same team. It's been such a ride to see him build this career for himself and making his unconventional way up while he still 'bleeds blue and white.' He's gotten me through some very difficult years as a fan!
This book was an enjoyable read because it came off as very authentically 'Dangle.' I could hear Steve's voice throughout as he told stories from his childhood and his mishaps in his career and all the highlights he's got to experience that came to be because of his decision to make reactions after every single Leafs game. He's very much himself, someone a fan of either his videos and/or podcast would recognize, with his blunders and honesty and self-deprecation. His humour totally shines through too.
The main issue with this book that may not be much of an issue is that is isn't quite for people who aren't fans of Dangle. He tries his best with sharing tips and advice from what he's learned along the way, which I've always appreciated in general, even if I don't plan to ever step into a broadcasting or any career related to hockey or sports, but it's a lot about his life and of course, his love for the Leafs, that may be tedious or uninteresting to a general hockey audience. He's still very young, and although it's been a quite the journey so far, naturally there just hasn't been enough life that he's lived to write a more substantial book. That's not his fault, but it's something you can't help but notice. And maybe I'm just being difficult but I feel like the stories he left out of the book (as told on the podcast) were better ones than some of the ones here, which is a bit disappointing.
All in all though, I had a wonderful time with this book! The anticipation is worth it for those of us who have heard about Dangle writing it on the podcast, grinding through it day in and day out. It's a breezy read, and it feels like it's Dangle himself talking to you. It's a fun one for the fans, and that's the audience I would recommend this too, even if they need no reminder to pick it up!
June 21, 2023
This book is great. My partner is a hockey guy and follows Steve Dangle, so when I saw a friend recommend his book, and this friend has (as far as I know) no connection to hockey (unlike the tiny thread of a connection I have in my partner) I knew I had to check it out. Glynn (or should I say Dangle...?) writes very honestly; it is very refreshing to read a man write about crying and mental health. I was able to enjoy this book completely without knowing anything about the people, teams and events he references, although I bet knowing them would add to the enjoyment. Glynn does a good job explaining the need-to-know details for the layperson like me, but being more familiar with the references seems like it would be a good Easter egg for the reader. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends, especially those who like hockey or sports media!
April 29, 2023
Honest and hilarious (Canada has an East? LOL). I’ve been a fan of Steve Dangle since I found his YouTube reactions online after many disappointing Leafs games. I then once met him at a college event and was legit the person you expect him to be. Hearing him struggle despite how popular he is just goes to show how difficult this industry is to break into. Glad he has found the success he deserves. Maybe finally reading this means a playoff win?
July 29, 2020
I’m actually so glad that I chose to listen to this book (narrated by Steve himself) rather than read it. It is oh so much better with his voice telling it.
A really interesting and insightful look into how Steve got to where he is today, a must read for anyone interested in sports journalism especially. Also a great read if you’re a fan of Steve and his YouTube channel.
A really interesting and insightful look into how Steve got to where he is today, a must read for anyone interested in sports journalism especially. Also a great read if you’re a fan of Steve and his YouTube channel.
December 25, 2023
Cleverly disguised as a hockey book. I expected it to be more about Glynn’s clearly lifelong and unfortunately-tortured experience as a Maple Leafs fan. It’s really about his rise through a shifting media world to being the joy that he is today. Good story, but not as Leafs-heavy as I expected and the title seemed to imply.
March 20, 2019
I've been a fan of Steve's for about 5 years now, and I've always thought he was funny and insightful. As I read I could hear him speaking the words and just like his videos and the podcast, I laughed hysterically and cried like a baby.
March 14, 2023
It was really fun reading this book about a pretty normal guy after all his success and he remains so humble. I also know his wife and she is a really funny and cool person which inspired me to read this.
December 17, 2024
Went into this thinking it would be more about the Leafs but it’s just really about Steve Dangles career in media, still enjoyed it though and got through it pretty quick for someone in a reading slump 3.5/5
May 7, 2019
Steve writes like he talks on his shows. Funny,smart and a easy read.
June 2, 2020
Funny, insightful and genuine. Very readable book about how a fan can be a success in media even of his team of choice is the leafs 😂
July 22, 2022
But Sid is Sid.
December 24, 2018
I was provided this book by the publisher.
If you are looking for a book that has funny career stories and hysterical family stories, this is it. What I thought was a book about the Leafs was actually a history of Steve Glynn's life; and what a life it is! Some of my favorite parts are where he works at the zoo. I expected more hockey stories but honestly, it was a pleasure reading his climb to where he is now.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
If you are looking for a book that has funny career stories and hysterical family stories, this is it. What I thought was a book about the Leafs was actually a history of Steve Glynn's life; and what a life it is! Some of my favorite parts are where he works at the zoo. I expected more hockey stories but honestly, it was a pleasure reading his climb to where he is now.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
April 17, 2025
Absolutely phenomenal book with fantastic writing! Enjoyed all of the anecdotes and the overall messaging. Even as a non-Leafs fan it's very hard not to root for Steve!
December 23, 2019
Starting the audiobook for This Team is Ruining My Life, I can say that I didn’t quite know what to expect. I have had some exposure to Steve’s LFR videos as my husband is a huge fan, but I don’t really follow them. From the beginning I was hooked in by Steve’s personality and his conversational tone. He is brutally honest when going over his missteps and the lessons he has learned. As someone who can follow a hockey game, but is by no means an expert I still found the subject matter to be accessible. Being a similar age to Steve I can appreciate how the job market has changed and it is refreshing to hear about someone’s journey their industry when they are still going through it instead of at the end of their career. Overall an interesting read (or listen) that will keep you entertained.
June 30, 2019
If you don't know who Steve Dangle is, the best explanation I can offer is the Nashville 9-2 video.
July 30, 2022
Лирическое от/вступление. На майских я сидела на кухне у подруги, листала за завтраком Реддит и не придумала ничего лучше, чем прочитать вслух один из постов в r/hockey: «А ты в курсе, что «Торонто Мейпл Лифс» последний раз выигрывали Кубок Стэнли в 1967 году?».
Никогда, слышите меня, никогда не напоминайте фану «Торонто Мейпл Лифс», когда его любимая команда последний раз выигрывала Кубок Стэнли. Поверьте, он/а и так прекрасно это помнит — такое забудешь! Хоккейный аналитик и влогер Стив «Дэнгл» Глинн даже книгу написал, которая так и называется: «This Team Is Ruining My Life (But I Love Them)».
Честно говоря, когда я взялась за автобиографию Стива Дэнгла, мое представление о нем сводилось к «А, это тот ютубер, который кричит про Мейпл Лифс» (и да, про кричит я не преувеличиваю). На самом деле YouTube-канал Стива Leafs Fan Reaction — это скорее хобби и лишь малая доля того хоккейного контента, что он создает.
Его автобиография — это не история влогера, который в один прекрасный день проснулся знаменитым, потому что его видео стало вирусным. Это история человека, который задался целью сделать карьеру в спортивных медиа, делая контент о том, что любит и знает — о хоккее и своей любимой команде, будь она неладна (ну, не повезло парню родиться в Торонто, что тут поделаешь), и планомерно к этой цели шел.
Секрет успеха Стива — это огромное трудолюбие и удачное стечение обстоятельств (в чем он сам признается), а путь к нему был вовсе не прямым. Это как в хоккее: в одном сезоне команда может играть в финале Кубка Стэнли, а в следующем — даже не выйти в плей-офф. В 2010 году Стив освещает Олимпийские игры в Ванкувере для Nike, а в 2012 — остается вообще без работы, потому что в НХЛ происходит локаут.
Чему можно поучиться у Стива? Работать. Работать еще больше. Не бояться делать ошибки. Не бояться проявлять инициативу (самое страшное, что может произойти, — тебе скажут «нет»). Не удалять из телефона контакты — никогда не знаешь, когда может оказаться полезным то или иное знакомство. Не стесняться принимать помощь родных и близких. И ни в коем случае не увольняться из зоопарка, пока на 100% не будешь уверен, что можешь прокормиться, работая в медиа.
Хоккейные байки в книге тоже есть, но в целом она все-таки больше про карьеру Стива, чем непосредственно про хоккей. И мне было очень интересно ее читать, даже несмотря на то, что видео Стива я смотрю редко (я уже упоминала, что он в них КРИЧИТ, и это не преувеличение?), потому что всегда приятно почитать человека, который горит своим делом и при этом еще и не обделен чувством юмора.
А еще — доказывает, что можно любить хоккей, прекрасно в нем разбираться, но при этом совершенно не уметь в него играть, даже если ты родился и вырос в Канаде))))
Никогда, слышите меня, никогда не напоминайте фану «Торонто Мейпл Лифс», когда его любимая команда последний раз выигрывала Кубок Стэнли. Поверьте, он/а и так прекрасно это помнит — такое забудешь! Хоккейный аналитик и влогер Стив «Дэнгл» Глинн даже книгу написал, которая так и называется: «This Team Is Ruining My Life (But I Love Them)».
Честно говоря, когда я взялась за автобиографию Стива Дэнгла, мое представление о нем сводилось к «А, это тот ютубер, который кричит про Мейпл Лифс» (и да, про кричит я не преувеличиваю). На самом деле YouTube-канал Стива Leafs Fan Reaction — это скорее хобби и лишь малая доля того хоккейного контента, что он создает.
Его автобиография — это не история влогера, который в один прекрасный день проснулся знаменитым, потому что его видео стало вирусным. Это история человека, который задался целью сделать карьеру в спортивных медиа, делая контент о том, что любит и знает — о хоккее и своей любимой команде, будь она неладна (ну, не повезло парню родиться в Торонто, что тут поделаешь), и планомерно к этой цели шел.
Секрет успеха Стива — это огромное трудолюбие и удачное стечение обстоятельств (в чем он сам признается), а путь к нему был вовсе не прямым. Это как в хоккее: в одном сезоне команда может играть в финале Кубка Стэнли, а в следующем — даже не выйти в плей-офф. В 2010 году Стив освещает Олимпийские игры в Ванкувере для Nike, а в 2012 — остается вообще без работы, потому что в НХЛ происходит локаут.
Чему можно поучиться у Стива? Работать. Работать еще больше. Не бояться делать ошибки. Не бояться проявлять инициативу (самое страшное, что может произойти, — тебе скажут «нет»). Не удалять из телефона контакты — никогда не знаешь, когда может оказаться полезным то или иное знакомство. Не стесняться принимать помощь родных и близких. И ни в коем случае не увольняться из зоопарка, пока на 100% не будешь уверен, что можешь прокормиться, работая в медиа.
Хоккейные байки в книге тоже есть, но в целом она все-таки больше про карьеру Стива, чем непосредственно про хоккей. И мне было очень интересно ее читать, даже несмотря на то, что видео Стива я смотрю редко (я уже упоминала, что он в них КРИЧИТ, и это не преувеличение?), потому что всегда приятно почитать человека, который горит своим делом и при этом еще и не обделен чувством юмора.
А еще — доказывает, что можно любить хоккей, прекрасно в нем разбираться, но при этом совершенно не уметь в него играть, даже если ты родился и вырос в Канаде))))
June 29, 2019
When I say Steve Dangle made me a hockey fan, I’m not lying. I’m British, I’d never come across Ice Hockey until the 2014-5 season, and even then it was hard to catch streams to watch games until 3am. LFRs became a religion to me along with highlight packs, and later podcasts. Steve’s book made me really appreciate all the work he put in to churn out the content that made me into a die hard leafs fan. His stories are a fantastic rollercoaster of a read, and I just wish I had the audiobook to listen to him tell it himself. I’d also like to just thank the publishers, because my copy got lost for months shipping from Canada to the UK, so I was able to get an ePub copy for FREE. While I started it as soon as I got it and only got 100 pages in, rereading it and completing it today was a fantastic experience and I would recommend this book to any hockey fan and any struggling university student as well.
December 8, 2024
I met Steve yesterday at the Pinecrest Indigo for the signing of his second book. Coincidentally I was in line in front of Steve’s agent and his agent’s brother who were pretty good company for the two plus hours’ wait, even though I did have to withstand plenty of Leafs fan abuse in the process.
Attending this event made me think back to what I liked most about this book. Of course, all the hockey anecdotes, but what I really appreciated was reading about Steve’s family and his sister. I listened to the audio while reading, so it felt like Steve was talking to me personally and that was the best.
Attending this event made me think back to what I liked most about this book. Of course, all the hockey anecdotes, but what I really appreciated was reading about Steve’s family and his sister. I listened to the audio while reading, so it felt like Steve was talking to me personally and that was the best.
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