August 19
Denver Post
columnist Patrick Saunders
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I've heard the murmur growing from some of you Rockies fans. It goes something like this: "Of course I love Todd Helton. But he's 35 years old, has a bad back, can't hit for power anymore and his $16.6 million contract is dead weight. Can't we find a way to get rid of him? But in a nice way?" With Helton almost certainly lost for the season, and possibly facing back surgery, those sentiments seem, on the surface, to make some sense. But the truth is, I miss Helton. Few pro athletes are as much fun to be around. In spring training, I introduced Todd to my wife, Nancy. He enveloped her in a bearhug, making her feel special. Then he looked me up and down, and said to Nancy, "You've got to go ..."