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: November 20, 2025

tommybiden has posted 428 links and 4,498 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

Blue Jays fall to L.A. Dodgers in 18 innings after dramatic Freddie Freeman walkoff homer: A stunning afternoon gave way to early evening here in Southern California and finally ended just before midnight local time, giving the reigning champion Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven 121st edition of the Fall Classic.

posted by tommybiden to baseball at 03:07 PM on October 28, 2025 - 5 comments

'What a legend': Hockey world reacts as McDavid signs astonishing contract with Oilers: Connor McDavid has signed an astonishing two-year contract at his current rate of $12.5 million with the Edmonton Oilers, multiple sources now report. The contract is way, way lower than any fan or pundit predicted and represents a massive statement about McDavid’s desire to win a Cup in the next three years in Edmonton.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 02:50 PM on October 06, 2025 - 3 comments

Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to richest contract in NHL history: Kaprizov will count $17 million against the salary cap beginning next season. It's the highest annual average salary of any player since the league’s cap era began in 2005, surpassing Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million with Toronto. Alex Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124 million contract signed with Washington in 2008 was previously the highest total value.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 11:12 AM on September 30, 2025 - 3 comments

CFL announces changes to playing surface, modified rouge: Commissioner Stewart Johnston announced that the changes will be instituted over the next two seasons through a phased approach, with the goalposts being moved and the end zones shortened from 20 to 15 yards in 2027. The field will also be shortened from 110 yards to 100, while retaining its 65-yard width. Other changes are scheduled to begin in 2026

posted by tommybiden to football at 03:35 PM on September 23, 2025 - 5 comments

Ken Dryden was a towering figure in the crease and a principled gentleman off the ice: Great athletes are uncommon. Great athletes who are also great people are rare as that rarest of birds, the Stresemann’s Bristlefront of Brazil. The Canadiens and the fans of Montreal are fortunate to have had two such men, Dryden and Jean Béliveau. Dryden was in the net in Moscow when Paul Henderson scored to give Canada the victory over Red Army in the greatest hockey series ever played.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 05:47 PM on September 06, 2025 - 3 comments

Recent Comments

NFL Pickem Week 12: War of Attrition

My picks:

Bills by 15 (lock)
Bears by 7
Bengals by 3
Giants by 14 (lock)
Packers by 10 (lock)
Seahawks by 12 (lock)
Chiefs by 6 (lock)
Ravens by 13 (lock)
Raiders by 4
Jaguars by 8
Eagles by 5
Falcons by 8 (lock)
49ers by 11 (lock)


.....and what bender said

Rams by 7 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 04:27 PM on November 20, 2025

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Texas trooper sent home after confronting South Carolina player during game

posted by tommybiden at 03:11 PM on November 16, 2025

CFL Pickem: Grey Cup Sunday

My picks:

Roughriders by 5 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 02:27 PM on November 16, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 11: Mighty Minnows

My picks:

Patriots by 21 (lock)
Commanders by 7
Falcons by 6
Bills by 8 (lock)
Texans by 9 (lock)
Bears by 3
Packers by 13 (lock)
Bengals by 1
Chargers by 4
Seahawks by 5
49ers by 7 (lock)
Ravens by 22 (lock)
Chiefs by 8 (lock)
Lions by 3
Cowboys by 10 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 02:14 PM on November 13, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

I see they've named Mike Kafka to replace him.

Observing from the outside, the Giants situation has seemed rather Kafkaesque for quite some time.

posted by tommybiden at 02:05 PM on November 10, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Giants fire Brian Daboll after another awful meltdown

posted by tommybiden at 01:50 PM on November 10, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Mexico's David Rodriguez scores OT goal in snowstorm to give Atletico Ottawa historic CPL title

posted by tommybiden at 11:54 AM on November 10, 2025

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Tough weekend, Mel Bridgman (70), Paul Tagliabue (84) and Lenny Wilkins (88) all pass away.

posted by tommybiden at 08:14 PM on November 09, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 23: And Then There Were 4

My picks:

Tiger-Cats by 9 (lock)
Lions by 10 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 09:41 AM on November 08, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 10: War of Attrition

The form now locks after kickoff again. I'm thinking about adding an Honor System checkbox that lets players pick after the time for the situations where you miss the deadline but haven't seen the score yet.

I'm good with that, maybe a time limit of .... 15 minutes after kickoff (likely to be 5-7 minutes of play).

posted by tommybiden at 11:36 AM on November 06, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 10: War of Attrition

My picks:

Broncos by 12 (lock)
Colts by 9 (lock)
Bears by 7 (lock)
Bills by 26 (lock)
Ravens by 10 (lock)
Browns by 5
Buccaneers by 6 (lock)
Panthers by 18 (lock)
Jaguars by 4
Seahawks by 13 (lock)
Rams by 4
Lions by 11 (lock)
Chargers by 5
Eagles by 6 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 11:28 AM on November 06, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 22: Hello Playoffs

Working now, thanks!!

My picks:

Alouettes by 11 (lock)
Lions by 11 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 10:47 AM on November 01, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 22: Hello Playoffs

Rogers, the link just shows a blank page for me

For now:
Montreal by 11 (lock)

British Columbia by 11 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 06:47 PM on October 31, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 9: Torn Labrum Fractured Shoulder Socket

My picks:

Ravens by 10 (lock)
Bengals by 2
Lions by 11 (lock)
Packers by 17 (lock)
Chargers by 13 (lock)
Falcons by 2
49ers by 4
Colts by 6
Broncos by 2
Raiders by 1
Rams by 21 (lock)
Bills by 3
Seahawks by 3
Cowboys by 4

posted by tommybiden at 10:27 AM on October 30, 2025

Blue Jays fall to L.A. Dodgers in 18 innings after dramatic Freddie Freeman walkoff homer

I made it to the 15th inning before calling it a night. What a series!

I thought about bed after 11th, 13th, 16th, but dug deep and got the complete game.

For those interested in such matters, Game 4 was 3 hours & 45 minutes shorter (9 innings fewer, as well).

posted by tommybiden at 01:17 PM on October 29, 2025