When we were kids, we thought athletes can play forever. We find out that’s not the case as we get older. Like us, athletes become old and they don’t produce at the level we are used to seeing. Retirement is part of sports. And it will be tough for Rockies legend Todd Helton.
Helton thought he was immune to father time, but his performance in recent years suggested that’s not the case. He had no choice but to announce his retirement over the weekend. He knew the end is here for him, and there was no way the Rockies were going to bring him back next year.
Helton struggled to come to grips with retirement in his presser Monday afternoon. If he had his way, he could still play.
He was emotional in talking about how his time has come and gone. He was in tears. Understandably so considering baseball has been his life for a long time. Moving on is the hardest part any athlete can go through.
Professional athletes like the camaraderie that takes place in the dugout, locker room and flights. They like the routine of going to work each day. They have that adrenaline rush of competing in every game. That doesn’t happen again once an athlete moves on.
Don’t feel sorry for Helton, though. He had an excellent career. Not many athletes can say they played sports when they were 40. Not many baseball players can say they played in the World Series. Not many players can say they played for one franchise only when one realizes that players change teams in professional sports. Not many players can say they were productive playing in pain.
Helton is no different than us. We all have to move on to different things once our productivity ends.
Be happy for Helton that he will get to spend his time with his two daughters. He gets to be around them while they are at a young age. Not many athletes can say the same when they have kids during their prime. He can be part of the growth of his daughters.
Be happy for Helton that he can get out of the game with good health.
Be happy for Helton that he leaves the Rockies with dignity and class.
Be happy for Helton that everything ended well for him.
There’s going to be a Todd Helton day at Coors Field. There’s going to be his jersey retired at Coors Field, and rightfully so. He will be around the organization for sure. After all, it seems the Rockies like to have their former players in the front office.
Still, Helton would trade all that to play for another 10 years if he had his way.
He would love to be around the game and be a mentor to guys like Nolan Arenado, Corey Dickerson, D.J. LeMahieu, Charlie Culberson and other young hitters that play for the Rockies.
He would love to be a difference maker like he was in the prime of his career until back problems hindered him from being the player he used to be.
He would love to win a championship with the Rockies.
He would love to be part of a turnaround for the struggling Rockies.
Unfortunately, that can’t happen for Helton. We don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a world where harsh reality is part of life.
This final homestand of the season is about the celebration of Helton’s career more than anything. It is about what he accomplished in Major League Baseball. It is about how he represented the Rockies the right way. It is about what he meant to the game of baseball.
There’s no question fans are going to be sad that the end is near for a popular Rockie. They grew up watching Helton all their lives. In a way, the Rockies first baseman has been the face of the franchise forever. It’s going to be different watching Rockies baseball without him next year and beyond.
Helton has received a long standing ovation in his at-bats since the homestand. The fans want to savor every moment of it. There’s no question the Rockies first baseman is enjoying it.
Still, this is not easy for him. Retiring is never fun. Think about being in his position when it’s time to retire after working all these years. It’s depressing. This is the harsh reality of playing sports. Knowing when it’s time to go. Helton is no different than any athlete.
Father time stops for anyone, not even for Helton.
Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
