tommybiden's profile

tommybiden
7631
Member since: January 30, 2006
Last visit: February 15, 2026
Name: Thomas
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Social Media Account: thowden@rogers.com (AIM)

tommybiden has posted 430 links and 4,530 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

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 - 2 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

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

Recent Comments

NFL Playoff Pickem: Super Bowl 0x3C

My picks:

Seahawks by -14 (lock)
Passer: Sam Darnold
Rusher: Walker
Receiver: Smith-Njigba
Player with interception: Jones
Player with sack: Nwosu
Player with first turnover: Maye
Super Bowl MVP: Darnold
Tiebreaker: 47

posted by tommybiden at 04:17 PM on February 07, 2026

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

'68 was the 1st year I started really paying attention to baseball (6-7 years old).
Two of my favourite uniforms ever since, I rooted for the Tigers in the series that year.
I liked Mickey, and since my dad and mom were huge Bob Gibson fans, made for fun viewing!

Good long life, may he rest easy.

BTW, the song has a nice beat, I can dance to it.

posted by tommybiden at 01:07 PM on February 05, 2026

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

If you subscribe to The Athletic, cool story about the Columbus Blue Jackets' cannon.

posted by tommybiden at 09:04 AM on February 02, 2026

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Boxer loses hairpiece in the ring and blames mother's shampoo

posted by tommybiden at 12:54 PM on February 01, 2026

CFL Pickem Champion: rcade

Congrats, rcade!!

posted by tommybiden at 02:04 PM on January 28, 2026

NFL Playoff Pickem Week 3: Conference Championships

My picks:

Broncos by 5 (lock)
Seahawks by 17 (lock)
Passer: Darnold
Rusher: Walker
Receiver: Kupp
Player with interception: Jones

posted by tommybiden at 05:27 PM on January 24, 2026

Tim Kurkjian predicts MLB work stoppage is coming

My money says a work stoppage, possibly the entire 2027 season.

It's like MLB cannot handle success.

posted by tommybiden at 01:11 PM on January 23, 2026

NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round

Question: It's 'Player with a Sack', correct, not Interception?

posted by tommybiden at 02:12 PM on January 16, 2026

NFL Playoff Pickem Week 2: Divisional Round

My picks:

Bills by 8 (lock)
Seahawks by 9 (lock)
Texans by 10 (lock)
Rams by 11 (lock)
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: Cook III
Receiver: Nacua
Sacker: Williams (Seattle)

posted by tommybiden at 01:28 PM on January 16, 2026

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Mike Tomlin steps down as Steelers head coach.

posted by tommybiden at 02:47 PM on January 13, 2026

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem

Can I not pick players who have not yet played

I'd say yes (for whatever that's worth), and you lose any tiebreaker.

posted by tommybiden at 01:14 PM on January 11, 2026

Enter the SportsFilter NFL Playoff Pickem

My picks:

Rams by 14 (lock)
Bears by 5
Bills by 10 (lock)
Eagles by 9 (lock)
Chargers by 4
Texans by 7 (lock)
Passer: Stafford
Rusher: Cook III
Receiver: Nacua
Player with interception: Byard III

posted by tommybiden at 09:40 AM on January 10, 2026

NFL Firings: Pete Carroll, Kevin Stefanski, Raheem Morris

Matt Eberflus fired by the Cowboys.

Would the better firing in Dallas not be relieving the general manager of his duties?

posted by tommybiden at 10:38 AM on January 06, 2026

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Former OHL commissioner, CHL president David Branch dead at 77

posted by tommybiden at 05:01 PM on January 05, 2026

NFL Pickem Week 18: All the Marbles

My picks:

Panthers by 5 (lock)
Seahawks by 5 (lock)
Falcons by 12 (lock)
Bengals by 17 (lock)
Vikings by 5 (lock)
Jaguars by 16 (lock)
Texans by 13 (lock)
Bills by 10 (lock)
Lions by 4 (lock)
Broncos by 8 (lock)
Chiefs by 5 (lock)
Rams by 19 (lock)
Patriots by 15 (lock)
Eagles by 9 (lock)
Ravens by 8 (lock)

Rogers, you missed my picks from last week

posted by tommybiden at 09:03 PM on January 02, 2026