glovehearts - Tumblr blog

[glovehearts]

I'm not even a Leafs fan (or a Marner girlie! I like him fine but he isn't one of my main little guys!) but I've noticed how he's been treated by the fanbase, the media, the coaches (looking at you Babcock) for years and been absolutely appalled by it. I do think there's a strong element of misogyny underlying it all (and probably some homophobia), you're right and you should say it and I want to read that essay.

it's honestly ridiculous, and it's the same criticism that gets aimed at any hockey player who is smaller than average, except it's magnified due to it being the leafs and being toronto. he's always been treated this way, like people try to rewrite history and say they were fine with him before the contract but it's not true. babcock didn't even WANT HIM DRAFTED, but thankfully he wasn't the one making those decisions.

it got worse after the contract, but my thing is always that people don't realise where he was at at that time. he was still a rookie, under team control, and facing down years of being coached by babcock. babcock's contract only expired at the start of THIS SEASON. which means a young mitch was facing seeing a large portion of his career being coached by a man who didn't like him, wouldn't put him and auston on the same line, would take any opportunity to humiliate players he thought weren't good enough, like... I would've held out for the money as well.

the language people use for mitch is absolutely coached in homophobia as well, which comes all the way back to misogyny, because the worst thing these men who hate him can think of is being perceived as feminine. as weak. as less than a man in all the stereotypical ways. they'll throw homophobic comments at auston and willy as well, but they don't go full tilt misogyny because those two dudes are bigger, not as smiley, and they don't see them as being weak in the same way they see mitch. (which is wild because auston is the softest man in the world (affectionate))

these men see mitch as being weak, small, and too soft. they don't see the kid who fought his way to playing professional hockey despite being told at every turn he was too small. they don't see the kid with the lifelong passion for the leafs. the kid who always wanted to wear the logo on his chest and still wants that more than anything DESPITE all the criticism and hatred he faces. they don't see the kid who had to tell his dad to stop talking to him about hockey because he knew he'd never be good enough for him. they don't see that mitch is, actually, one of the strongest hockey players in the nhl for all he's been through to get to where he is.

they like to blame the contract and how much he's being paid, but that's an excuse. they hate him for not playing into the stereotype of a hockey player, despite being an ontario boy through and through. they hate him for being him, and staying faithful to who he is despite everything that has been thrown at him.

it would've been so easy for mitch to give in and become the person they all want him to be, but he didn't. he stayed true to himself and his kind and loving nature, and the fact that so many people don't appreciate that and would rather smear him, says more about them than it does about him.

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cancelled my athletic subscription because quite frankly if i want to read a bunch of people talk about how the core are ruining the leafs i can get that for free

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like this game and the whole leafs playoffs since 4-1 comeback has been pathetic and embarrassing (3 wins in 11 games. scored more than two goals once) but you have to sit and remember that contending windows are often way longer than you think. auston matthews was drafted in 2016. if he timed his cup with natemac, he'd win it in 2025. if he timed it with stamkos, he'd win in 2028 and 2029. ovi would take him till 2030. hell, sidney crosby won his first cup early but he wouldn't have won his second and third until 2027 and '28! steve yzerman didn't win his first of three until 2030, either! these things take time! these things take luck! these things take pain and suffering!

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anyway love to be worried about auston because do u know how bad it has to be for someone as competitive as him to not return for a playoff game

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one day i will write the essay about the way the virulent hatred of mitch very much ties into the misogyny of hockey culture but tonight is not that night because mostly what i need is a knife

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“here you have matthews and marner coming together”

uh huh

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↳ MAT BARZAL AT INTERMISSION | NYI v. CAR (ROUND 1) | 4.27.24

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Mitch Marner shot by Auston Matthews

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@ am34 i’d better see felix in this

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blinch, obviously

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struttin’

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between the misogynistic wag jacket discourse, the unbearable mitch discourse, and now the EF posting medical info and people not understanding how horrible migraines are discourse I’m like okay giving sports fans the internet was a mistake

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another behind the back high five for 1634 after tyler bertuzzi's hatty

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if you do more than one just pick the one you do most often! (for instance i'm a sound off girl except for occasionally when i'm a game off refreshing the app nonstop girl)

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Matthews breaking the glass off a pass from Marner.

2016 Leafs Training Camp | 09.28.16

[glovehearts]

still gotta think of a fun 34 tattoo because he got the rocket like my brain needs to work because I’m not just getting his number, I need more

[glovehearts]

yappin'