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: July 05, 2025

tommybiden has posted 420 links and 4,401 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

White Sox fan learns fate after reducing Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte to tears by mocking his dead mother: The Chicago White Sox and Major League Baseball have banned a 22-year-old man indefinitely after he taunted Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte over the two-time All-Star’s late mother.

posted by tommybiden to baseball at 03:11 PM on June 25, 2025 - 3 comments

Why the jury was dismissed at the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial: A second jury has been dismissed and the case will be proceeding by judge alone at the sexual assault trial of five players from Canada’s championship-winning 2018 world junior hockey team.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 03:08 PM on May 16, 2025 - 1 comment

Utah Hockey Club has a new name. Here’s everything you need to know.: The mammoth is back roaming around Utah. This time, though, it is in the form of an NHL franchise. Smith Entertainment Group announced this week that “Utah Mammoth” is the official name of the team it acquired in April 2024. The group was called “Utah Hockey Club” for its inaugural season; that name will now be retired with the launch of the permanent branding.

posted by tommybiden to hockey at 10:20 PM on May 07, 2025 - 3 comments

Blue Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr. agree to record-breaking 14-year extension : Not only has Vlad Guerrero Jr. taken a step to be a Toronto Blue Jay for life -- a desire he has expressed frequently -- he is about to sign the richest contract in Canadian sports history. The 26-year-old first baseman has agreed to terms on a $500-million US, 14-year deal with the Jays, a ground-breaking contract both for the team and in context of sports in this country. The contract is pending a physical.

posted by tommybiden to baseball at 09:45 AM on April 07, 2025 - 5 comments

‘Our staff made a mistake’: Toronto Blue Jays fan tossed from Rogers Centre for sporting ‘Canada is not for sale’ hat: Etobicoke resident Dan Begley was supposed to be at the Rogers Centre on Thursday afternoon watching the Jays home opener with two of his buddies. Instead, the longtime fan said he was “escorted out of the stadium by two big security guards” just moments after the game began due to his choice of headwear. For today’s game, Begley, who is 70, wore a Blue Jays hoodie and a red ballcap with the slogan, “Canada is not for sale.”

posted by tommybiden to baseball at 09:25 PM on March 27, 2025 - 4 comments

Recent Comments

SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle

Liverpool & Portugal star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre killed in car accident in Spain

posted by tommybiden at 06:38 PM on July 03, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 5: Clearly Canadian

My picks:

Blue Bombers by 15 (lock)
Argonauts by 10 (lock)
Lions by 13 (lock)
Elks by 11 (lock)

Jerry, I stink! However, the Costanza already is looming in my future.

posted by tommybiden at 06:09 PM on July 03, 2025

SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle

The Brantford Bulldogs select 7-foot, 273-pound defenceman in CHL import draft

posted by tommybiden at 09:07 PM on July 02, 2025

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

I believe that we have only 10 Bobby Bonilla Days remaining.

It will always be Bobby Bonilla Day!

posted by tommybiden at 01:22 PM on July 02, 2025

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle

Happy Bobby Bonilla Day and Happy Canada Day to those who celebrate!

posted by tommybiden at 08:45 AM on July 01, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 4: Countless Screaming Argonauts

My picks:

Tiger-Cats by 6
Lions by 10 (lock)
Argonauts by 4

posted by tommybiden at 03:39 PM on June 27, 2025

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Masai Ujiri out as Toronto Raptors president

I said to friends earlier, the stench of Edward Rogers is all over this situation.

posted by tommybiden at 01:34 PM on June 27, 2025

White Sox fan learns fate after reducing Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte to tears by mocking his dead mother

It was difficult to watch, I saw the clip last night with no context.

You could see he was in pain.

Good on the White Sox, and now MLB to ban the guy from all parks.


I try not to be vindictive, but it'd be a real shame if the goof's name/photo leaked.

posted by tommybiden at 03:47 PM on June 25, 2025

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

$2 million base with, I believe, $5 million more in incentives.

Yes, some easily attainable (assuming good health, decent play), others team success dependent.

posted by tommybiden at 10:40 AM on June 21, 2025

SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle

Coming home: Jonathan Toews to make comeback with Winnipeg Jets

posted by tommybiden at 02:56 PM on June 20, 2025

CFL Pickem Week 3: It Should've Been the Elk

My picks:

Elks by 10
Argonauts by 7
Redblacks by 6
Lions by 9

posted by tommybiden at 05:24 PM on June 18, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Dr. Ron Taylor, ex-MLB pitcher and longtime Blue Jays doctor, dead at 87

In Taylor's 1st MLB game, he threw 11 scoreless innings, gave up a grand slam in the 12th.

posted by tommybiden at 08:09 PM on June 16, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

That was the 1st thought that crossed my mind, maybe Luka-Light.

Generally speaking, the team that acquires the best player wins the trade.

posted by tommybiden at 03:22 PM on June 16, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle

Giants trade for Red Sox star Rafael Devers in blockbuster move

posted by tommybiden at 09:21 AM on June 16, 2025

SportsFilter: The Saturday Huddle

That's great, NoMich

posted by tommybiden at 09:19 AM on June 16, 2025