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 02, 2025

tommybiden has posted 428 links and 4,487 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

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

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

I'm sure there's got to be a "actively looking for a new coaching job and when you do get a new coaching job, our payments to you cease" clause in these contracts?

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll...

From ESPN

$168M in buyouts owed to fired FBS head football coaches

posted by tommybiden at 12:15 PM on October 28, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 21: Mostly Seeded

My picks:

Tiger-Cats by 18 (lock)
Stampeders by 16 (lock)
Blue Bombers by 14 (lock)
Lions by 12 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 02:24 PM on October 24, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 8: Miami Blues

My picks:

Chargers by 7 (lock)
Falcons by 14 (lock)
Bengals by 15 (lock)
Patriots by 10 (lock)
Eagles by 17 (lock)
Bills by 27 (lock)
Ravens by 6
49ers by 3
Buccaneers by 8 (lock)
Cowboys by 5
Colts by 16 (lock)
Packers by 9 (lock)
Chiefs by 19 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 01:40 PM on October 23, 2025

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups charged in illegal poker operation tied to Mafia

The degree of stupid for anyone employed in the NBA to risk careers by gambling is mindboggling to say the least.

posted by tommybiden at 01:14 PM on October 23, 2025

O(htani vs) Canada!

Although if it had been Dodgers - Mariners, there was a guarantee that either team having a victory parade would cause ICE and federalized troops an untold amount of well deserved anxiety.

In Canada we have NICE agents.

posted by tommybiden at 09:53 AM on October 22, 2025

O(htani vs) Canada!

As a Day 1 Blue Jays fan, wow, just, wow.

Seattle are 'our' expansion cousins. I don't think there's any serious animosity between the fanbases, with the possible exception of when Toronto visits every year and Blue Jays fans flood into T-Mobile Park. It was a whale of a series, could easily have gone the other way. Watching Sportsnet this morning, Los Angeles is -210 to win the series, Toronto +175

posted by tommybiden at 11:09 AM on October 21, 2025

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Thinking of firing the coach - Billy Napier's gruesome Gators beat Miss. State, making it a bit tougher to pull the plug

He gone.

posted by tommybiden at 02:36 PM on October 19, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 6: Get Up, Trevor, Get Up

My picks:

Eagles by 21 (lock)
Broncos by 10 (lock)
Cardinals by 7 (lock)
Chargers by 12 (lock)
Patriots by 9 (lock)
Steelers by 11 (lock)
Cowboys by 14 (lock)
Seahawks by 6 (lock)
Rams by 13 (lock)
Raiders by 7 (lock)
Packers by 22 (lock)
49ers by 5 (lock)
Chiefs by 2 (lock)
Bills by 15 (lock)
Commanders by 8 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 03:13 PM on October 17, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 20: Playoffs Approacheth

My picks:

Blue Bombers by 11 (lock)
Lions by 14 (lock)
Alouettes by 22 (lock)
Stampeders by 17 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 12:01 PM on October 17, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 7: Don't Sleep on Seattle

My picks:

Steelers by 7 (lock)
Rams by 4 (lock)
Bears by 14 (lock)
Browns by 1
Patriots by 7 (lock)
Chiefs by 20 (lock)
Eagles by 6
Panthers by 2
Broncos by 9 (lock)
Chargers by 5
Commanders by 3
Packers by 8 (lock)
Falcons by 5
Lions by 7
Seahawks by 12 (lock)

rogers, I entered my picks for last week in The Huddle, if you can add them in?
Thanks!!

posted by tommybiden at 10:46 AM on October 16, 2025

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

James Franklin fired at Penn State; Terry Smith to take over program for rest of 2025

posted by tommybiden at 06:57 PM on October 15, 2025