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: October 09, 2025

tommybiden has posted 427 links and 4,471 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

'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

Ottawa Senators, NCC complete sale agreement for 11 acres at LeBreton Flats.: Cyril Leeder (Senators C.E.O.): “There are still many more hurdles to clear, and we look forward to working with the NCC and other stakeholders to achieve our shared vision of creating an event centre at LeBreton Flats that can be enjoyed by our Ottawa-Gatineau community.”

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 03:14 PM on August 11, 2025 - 5 comments

Recent Comments

CFL Pickem Week 18: Happy Early Thanksgiving

My picks:

Roughriders by 21 (lock)
Stampeders by 10 (lock)
Blue Bombers by 11 (lock)
Alouettes by 21 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 03:09 AM on October 09, 2025

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

Rogers!

I'm off to the wilderness of northeastern Ontario for Thanksgiving weekend shortly.

Not really, to Almonte, in the Ottawa Valley (birthplace of one Dr. James Naismith)

My picks for the CFL & NFL pools are as follows:
Lock everything up! All of 'em!!

Saskatchewan by 21

Calgary by 10

Winnipeg by 11

Montreal by 21

Philadelphia by 21

Denver by 10

Arizona by 7

Pittsburgh by 11

Dallas by 14

L.A. Chargers by 12

L.A. Rams by 13

New England by 9

Seattle by 6

Las Vegas by 7

Green Bay by 22

San Francisco by 5

Kansas City by 2

Buffalo by 15

Washington by 8

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good pumpkin!

posted by tommybiden at 11:17 AM on October 08, 2025

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Franklin should be asked to leave, preferably at the business end of a well-aimed foot

Read in The Athletic this morning that Mr. Franklin's buyout right now is ~$50,000,000

posted by tommybiden at 04:41 PM on October 05, 2025

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

Who had a worse Saturday, Belichick & North Carolina or Franklin & Penn State?

posted by tommybiden at 11:26 AM on October 05, 2025

SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle

Mark Sanchez has had a weekend.

posted by tommybiden at 09:37 AM on October 05, 2025

Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society and sports

I've noticed the same thing, rumple.

It is incessant, I agree with you about the alcohol/cigarette ads reference.

Would not bother me in the least if it were banned.

posted by tommybiden at 10:42 AM on October 04, 2025

40 minutes of highlights from the 1962 Giants-Yankees World Series

Very cool. Thanks for this, rumple.

posted by tommybiden at 10:40 AM on October 04, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 18: The City That Fun Forgot

My picks:

Roughriders by 19 (lock)
Tiger-Cats by 10 (lock)
Lions by 17 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 02:37 PM on October 03, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 5: Keep My Name Out of Your Mouth

My picks:

Rams by 13 (lock)
Vikings by 9 (lock)
Colts by 7 (lock)
Giants by 1
Cowboys by 5
Eagles by 12 (lock)
Panthers by 2
Texans by 3
Cardinals by 10 (lock)
Buccaneers by 5
Lions by 19 (lock)
Chargers by 6
Bills by 20 (lock)
Chiefs by 16 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 10:56 AM on October 02, 2025

Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to richest contract in NHL history

McJesus and agent must be drooling; this is an extreme overpay.

On the plus side for Minnesota, they only have four seasons left on the Parise/Suter buyouts.

posted by tommybiden at 01:39 PM on October 01, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

What in heavens name was THAT?

Canada toasts our European friends on their victory.

There is minor chatter about joining the E.U., after all, Canada and France are separated by only ~20km of water (a 1.5 hour boat ride).

posted by tommybiden at 04:23 PM on September 29, 2025

CFL announces changes to playing surface, modified rouge

Why hasn't the CFLPA weighed in on this?

CFL players have complained that they weren't consulted by Johnston on recent rule changes for the future. Clearly, these folks don't pay much attention to the NHL or MLB or other leagues where players are also not consulted on rule changes of any kind. The general managers in hockey suggest rule changes and the matter is then voted on by the Board of Governors. A long-time NHL player once told me that the only decision hockey players should ever make is "window or aisle." ...

The above comment from a rather polarizing columnist with the Toronto Sun, Steve Simmons

posted by tommybiden at 04:39 PM on September 28, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 17: Everybody Rae Dawn Chong Tonight

My picks:

Alouettes by 10 (lock)
Lions by 17 (lock)
Tiger-Cats by 8 (lock)
Roughriders by 13 (lock)

My Costanza is looking slightly less embarrassing.

posted by tommybiden at 05:22 PM on September 25, 2025

CFL announces changes to playing surface, modified rouge

I love the differences in the game from the NFL version.

Social media reaction is extremely negative towards these actions.

Apparently this is a 'commissioner only' project, players, team management were not consulted.

posted by tommybiden at 04:35 PM on September 24, 2025

NFL Pickem Week 4: Out Like a Lamb

My picks:

Cardinals by 2
Steelers by 3
Chargers by 21 (lock)
Texans by 7 (lock)
Commanders by 5
Bills by 21 (lock)
Eagles by 6
Lions by 21 (lock)
Patriots by 8
Rams by 5
49ers by 11 (lock)
Ravens by 6
Raiders by 1
Packers by 9 (lock)
Dolphins by 2
Broncos by 8 (lock)

posted by tommybiden at 04:31 PM on September 24, 2025