tommybiden's profile

tommybiden
7631
Name: Thomas
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Social Media Account: thowden@rogers.com (AIM)
Member since: January 30, 2006
Last visit: June 04, 2023

tommybiden has posted 397 links and 4,092 comments to SportsFilter and 0 links and 278 comments to the Locker Room.

Sports Bio

I have two favourite sporting events. One as an adult and the other as a child. The most entertaining sporting event I ever saw as an adult was January 9, 1986. Toronto Maple Leafs at home versus the Edmonton Oilers, 99, Mess, Coffey, and the rest of the boys. At this point in my life I had seasons tickets for the Leafs, I lived in London Ontario, about 2 hrs west of Toronto and as a result sold most of my seats to friends who lived closer to Toronto. I kept tickets for 5 or six games that year and thankfully that was one of them. The Leafs led 5-1 at the end of the first period. The Oilers tied the game at 6, and early in the 3rd, Edmonton led 8-7. Final score 11-9 Toronto! We almost blew the roof off the Carlton Street Cashbox that night. When I was only 7 years old, living near Toronto, my mother and father threw us kids into the car, drove us to Malton (now Pearson) International Airport. From there, we flew to Montreal, Mom, Dad, my 3 sisters, my brother and I. We watched the Expos play the Astros in a double header. We picniced in the park outside Jarry Park before the games, went for a swim in the pool just beyond the right field fence, and most importantly got Rusty Staub's autograph. I still have it! We flew back to Toronto the same night, we even got to go sit in the cockpit of the Air Canada jet. That's something that wouldn't happen today! It was the first time any of us, my parents included, had been on a plane. Way too cool. I've seen the Leafs 4 times at the Air Canada Centre, each time as the guest of friends in their private box. It's the only way to fly, if you can afford it. I've seen plenty of NFL games in Detroit and Buffalo, C.F.L. games in Olympic Stadium, Frank Clair Stadium, C.N.E. Stadium and Skydome(Rogers Centre). My family had seasons seats for the Blue Jays for the first 8 years of their existence. I could only guess at how many games I attended, maybe 350? I go to Rogers Centre a couple of times a year for Jays games now, and Comerica Park to see the Tigers at least once a season. I've been to a Toronto Rock lacrosse game, entirely too much fun and entertainment. I've seen 2 N.B.A. games live, the Raptors home opener in MoPete's rookie season, and at The Palace of Auburn Hills, against the 76'ers, on the night the Pistons honoured Chuck Daly. My two sports loves are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the late, lamented Montreal Expos. May The 'Spo's rest in peace. Damn you Jeffrey Loria, Bud Selig, and the rest of you baseball bastards.

Recent Links

Harvard women’s hockey team facing allegations of hazing that included ‘naked skates’: For the 2nd time in 3 months, the Harvard women’s hockey team & head coach Katey Stone are facing allegations of hazing & abusive behavior. The latest report, from The Athletic, alleges that the program conducted annual “Naked Skates” & pressured underclassmen to mimic sex acts & drink alcohol at “Freshmen Fun Night,” among other instances that players within the program considered to be hazing. At “Freshmen Fun Night,” first-year players were pressured to “put condoms on bananas, fake orgasms & act out skills that referenced their sexual orientation” in some instances, according to the report from Katie Strang & Hailey Salvian

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 05:09 PM on March 10, 2023 - 1 comment

Maple Leafs legend Borje Salming dies at age 71: It was Harry Neale who once said every Swede in the NHL should send Borje Salming a piece of their pay cheque. Brendan Shanahan, who arranged a tribute night for Salming earlier this month, recognized the defenceman as “a pioneer of the game and an icon with an unbreakable spirit and unquestioned toughness.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 11:33 PM on November 24, 2022 - 0 comments

Police open investigations into 2003 and 2018 Canadian world junior teams: Another Canadian world junior team is under a cloud of suspicion. Hockey Canada released a statement Friday regarding an alleged group sexual assault involving members of the 2002-03 national junior team. “We believe the alleged incident from 2003 should be investigated by the authorities, and we urge the police to open an investigation into this disturbing situation,” Hockey Canada said. “Hockey Canada will co-operate with and support the authorities in every way we can, and we once again urge anyone who may have relevant information about this alleged incident to contact Halifax police immediately.”

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 03:17 PM on July 22, 2022 - 1 comment

The untold story of the most dangerous player in college football history: Before Jerry Sandusky, there was Todd Hodne. Before the serial sexual predator who ended Paterno's career, there was the serial sexual predator who left his career untouched. WARNING: Extremely disturbing content.

posted by tommybiden to football at 07:47 PM on April 11, 2022 - 3 comments

Blackhawks’ Stan Bowman resigns in overhaul over sexual assault cover-up: Stan Bowman’s 12-year reign as the Blackhawks’ general manager and hockey operations president is over. Bowman and right-hand man Al MacIsaac, formerly the two most powerful people in the 'Hawks’ hockey operations, were forced out Tuesday. Their departures headline an organizational overhaul enacted after releasing the results of an investigation into the handling of allegations that former video coach Bradley Aldrich sexually assaulted two players shortly before the 2010 Stanley Cup championship.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 04:04 PM on October 26, 2021 - 6 comments

Recent Comments

NHL Playoff Pickem: Stanley Cup Finals

Revised picks:

Top penalty minutes: Gudas

posted by tommybiden at 08:45 AM on June 03, 2023

NHL Playoff Pickem: Stanley Cup Finals

My picks:

Panthers in 6
Top goals: Tkachuk
Top goalie (save %): Bobrovsky
Team scoring 6 goals: Panthers
Game 1 winner: Panthers
Top assists: Barkov
Conn Smythe: Tkachuk
Top penalty minutes: Burns
Tiebreaker: 35

posted by tommybiden at 10:03 PM on June 02, 2023

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Thank you for that link, Howard.

Gord Downie, lead singer, one of the songwriters of The Tragically Hip.
Gone far, far too soon.
The Hip's final concert (Gord with brain cancer at the time) was broadcast on CBC, no commercial interruptions,, roughly a third of Canadians watched the show.
Huge hockey fan (Bruins), was very good friends with Joe Thornton.
Still admired, adored in this country.
The Hip's had a lot of hockey related songs, my favourite, 50 Mission Cap
They played their final show at the arena in Kingston Ontario (where the band was from).
Still a regret that I didn't go to the London show, had tickets available to me, but I cheaped out.
My brother, working in Kingston in mid-late '80's, became a regular at their bar/club shows.
Couldn't stop talking about them, that's who introduced me to the band's music.

posted by tommybiden at 02:06 PM on May 24, 2023

Tempe Voters Reject New Arena for Arizona Coyotes

....there's nothing wrong with hauling it off to Quebec City or the Maritimes if there's feasible support and prospects of an adequate facility there. Heck, they'd about double their current seating capacity if they just moved to the arena in Halifax.

Centre Videotron is an almost new (opened 2015) facility in Quebec City, designed to be NHL ready. The Remparts have the best facility of any major junior hockey club.

posted by tommybiden at 04:20 PM on May 17, 2023

Tempe Voters Reject New Arena for Arizona Coyotes

I feel sorry for the Coyotes fans too.
I would think ideally the NHL wants the team somewhere in the west.
Houston, Kansas City, a real dark horse, Saskatoon?

posted by tommybiden at 11:37 AM on May 17, 2023

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Arizona Coyotes again at a crossroads after arena plans voted down by Tempe residents

posted by tommybiden at 08:52 AM on May 17, 2023

NHL Playoff Pickem: Conference Finals

My picks:

Panthers in 6
Stars in 6
Top goals: Pavelski
Top goalie (save %): Oettinger
Team scoring 6 goals: Stars
Shutout: Panthers

posted by tommybiden at 06:25 PM on May 16, 2023

The WNBA is Kind of a Big Deal

Chicago & Minnesota played an exhibition game at Scotiabank Arena (Toronto), sold out.

posted by tommybiden at 01:53 PM on May 14, 2023

Major Leaguers Pfear the Pfister

Don't the Yankees stay at a Ramada in Milwaukee?

posted by tommybiden at 05:40 PM on May 11, 2023

Joe Kapp, former quarterback and head coach, dies at 85

And a damn fine skirmish with Angie Mosca!

posted by tommybiden at 03:27 PM on May 09, 2023

Sports Illustrated Scribe John Underwood Dies

.

posted by tommybiden at 07:56 AM on May 06, 2023

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Niagara IceDogs players banned, GM handed two-year suspension for violating OHL policies

posted by tommybiden at 10:57 AM on May 05, 2023

NHL Playoff Pickem Round 2: Kraken Released

My picks:

Maple Leafs in 6
Stars in 6
Oilers in 6
Devils in 6
Top goals: McJesus
Top goalie (save %): Oettinger
Team scoring 6 goals: Oilers
Shutout: Stars

posted by tommybiden at 03:43 PM on May 02, 2023

Bruins in Ruins: Fantastic Season Followed by First-Round Flop

Some might describe the ending of the Boston season as 'Hindenburg-like'.

In fact, Bruins broadcaster jack edwards did describe it like that.

posted by tommybiden at 09:08 AM on May 02, 2023

Browns to Rebuild Stadium, Play Somewhere Else 2-3 Years

The Toronto Blue Jays are in the middle of an approximately $300,000,000 renovation to Rogers Centre (Skydome). They are doing it over 3 off-seasons. What am I missing in the Cleveland renovations that that wasn't an option?

posted by tommybiden at 05:52 PM on April 17, 2023