tommybiden's profile

tommybiden
7631
Member since: January 30, 2006
Last visit: July 14, 2026
Name: Thomas
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Social Media Account: thowden@rogers.com (AIM)

tommybiden has posted 433 links and 4,561 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

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players: A total of 53 names have been engraved onto the Stanley Cup to represent the 2026 champions. At the very top of the list is team owner Tom Dundon ... and his wife and their five children, whose ages are believed to range from single digits to mid-20s. Tom is the only family member who holds a position with the club.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 08:36 PM on July 11, 2026 - 4 comments

Claude Lemieux, former Canadien and 4-time Stanley Cup champion, dead at 60: Lemieux carried ceremonial torch at Montreal's Bell Centre on Monday. He was known for stepping up his game in the playoffs and for playing close to the edge — and sometimes crossing it.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 03:49 PM on May 28, 2026 - 5 comments

He's BAAAACK....John Tortorella, new Golden Knights coach: Hockey world gobsmacked as Oilers' arch-rival VGK makes bombshell move

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 12:25 PM on March 30, 2026 - 1 comment

Stink, stank, stunk: Oshawa Generals admit ‘shower before game’ email was an ‘overstep’ in apology to fans: The Oshawa Generals are admitting they pulled a stinker. No, it wasn’t on the ice — though there have been more than a few of those this year for the last-place club. It was with the now notorious “take a shower before the game” email sent out Tuesday to season-ticket holders by director of ticket sales Jason Hickman.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 08:57 PM on February 12, 2026 - 3 comments

Wayne Gretzky statue in Brantford vandalized with MAGA hat, plaque: Vandals criticized the Great One's connection to U.S. President Donald Trump while praising father Walter Gretzky

posted by tommybiden to culture at 01:32 PM on December 11, 2025 - 4 comments

Recent Comments

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players

I recall when Peter Pocklington had his father's name put on the Cup when the Oilers won.
Basil Pocklington had no connection to the club.
The NHL had his dad's name X'd out.
Chicago's strength coach Brad Aldrich had his name X'd out as well.

That Bobby Gorman's name, among others was not listed is deplorable, at best.
Joel Nystrom's name is not there, he played 38 games with the team this season.
Players are automatic inclusions at 41 games (or 1 game in the Final).

Other staff who should be there rather than his progeny would include Jesper Fast (conditioning coach) and Kristin Pirigyi (team nutritionist).

I would like to see those names X'd out a few years down the line.

It would not surprise me if rules are put in place to have teams submit proposed names to the NHL prior to the playoffs should they happen to win the Cup.

posted by tommybiden at 05:55 PM on July 13, 2026

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Care to wager on Joey Chestnut to win the hot dog eating contest?

You'll need to risk $25 to win $1

posted by tommybiden at 01:31 PM on July 04, 2026

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

The Mavericks have one of the best in Masai, and I think he's made a good choice here.

posted by tommybiden at 09:50 AM on June 23, 2026

New York Knicks Are NBA Champions

And.........lots of fires, destroyed vehicles, upon checking the interwebs.

posted by tommybiden at 02:19 PM on June 14, 2026

New York Knicks Are NBA Champions

I only saw one quick video, a bus was having its hood peeled off.

Idiots, idiots everywhere.

posted by tommybiden at 01:59 PM on June 14, 2026

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Hands up, everyone having a better week than Phil Michelson.

posted by tommybiden at 09:15 AM on June 12, 2026

Randy Moss is cancer-free and angling for the next big catch in pursuit of his bass fishing passion

Great news.

posted by tommybiden at 09:15 AM on June 12, 2026

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Now, THAT was a collapse.

love a Maple Leafs (it was 4-1) and Falcons (28-3) fan

posted by tommybiden at 09:56 AM on June 11, 2026

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Kitchener overpowers Everett in Memorial Cup Final to cap off undefeated run

posted by tommybiden at 02:30 PM on June 01, 2026

Enter the SportsFilter CFL Pickem

You know, rcade, since this is the CFL Pickem, that should be 'honour' and 'favourites' ;-)

That said, here are my picks

Hamilton by 4

Winnipeg by 6

Edmonton by 5

posted by tommybiden at 02:21 PM on May 31, 2026

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Hell of a game for Freddie, playing with a very heavy heart.

I would have loved to see Montreal in the final but Carolina was the much better squad.

Tom swallows hard,

Go 'Canes!

posted by tommybiden at 11:52 AM on May 30, 2026

Claude Lemieux, former Canadien and 4-time Stanley Cup champion, dead at 60

Heartbreaking.

Watching pregame Monday night, I thought he looked terrific, happy.

Another reminder than not one of us knows what battles others are facing.

Rest in peace.

posted by tommybiden at 07:10 PM on May 28, 2026

NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch Dies of Illness at 41

Way too young, just awful.

posted by tommybiden at 09:34 AM on May 23, 2026

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Hamilton was announced last night, I'm thinking a western Canadian city (logically) would be the 4th club. I don't know if Las Vegas will work for PWHL, but there are cities clamouring for a franchise if it fails in Nevada.

I made it to a game in Ottawa last month, huge raucous crowd, lot of fun.

posted by tommybiden at 09:06 AM on May 13, 2026

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

The PWHL is going to Detroit and Las Vegas with its ninth and tenth teams.

Two more cities are expected to join them in the newly expanded league next season.

posted by tommybiden at 04:22 PM on May 12, 2026