A matter of life and notes …
“Yes … yes.”
That was Todd Helton’s response when asked during spring training if he would hit 30 home runs. You know the rest of the story. The mysterious illness, the weight loss, the demotion from the No. 3 spot in the lineup. … Add it all up and what you have is the most trying year – not season, year – of Helton’s life.
Know this about Helton: If he doesn’t bounce back, it won’t be for a lack of resolve. His status within the game has taken a hit, but Helton’s pride remains unscathed. In the end, that’s what will carry him through the winter as he picks up the pieces from a season gone bad.
Said Helton: “I guess I can look in the mirror and know that I battled as hard as I could with everything that was going on. It’s one of those things. I’ve got to put it behind me and go back to work.” …
Don’t look now, but the Broncos’ offense isn’t the only one in a state of flux. With David Givens and Deion Branch gone, the Patriots are relying more on their tight ends in the passing game. Interesting stat from ESPN’s Ron Jaworski: The Pats used two tight ends for 25 of their 69 snaps last week. …
Saw it, still don’t believe it. The Giants walked 11 Rockies at Coors Lite and won the game. If that had happened in the Blake Street Bombers era, they’d have laid three touchdowns and a field goal on ’em. …
True, but strange: Unless Johan Santana wins his final two starts, there won’t be a single 20-game winner in the big leagues. …
Cheer up, Raiders fans. You can always look back to the halcyon days of August and rejoice in that stellar 4-0 record during the exhibition season. Not only that, you might get the top pick in the NFL draft, which would be a first. …
Talk about your ironies. I had to spellcheck MIT and here I am sitting in a hotel room on the Harvard campus. Which reminds me. My man Charles Emerson Winchester III says, “Hi.” …
The Broncos are getting seven points at New England. The most recent time a Mike Shanahan squad was disrespected that much by the boys in Vegas? Not in this century. It was in 1999, when the Bronx opened with four straight losses. They were seven-point dogs the next week at Oakland and won the game 16-13. …
Call it a hunch, but here goes: Broncos 23, Pats 20. …
Happy trails to Tie Domi, my all-time favorite NHL enforcer, who is hanging up his brass knuckles. How tough was my man Tie? He’d have fought all three Hanson brothers at once. Blindfolded. With one meat hook tied behind his back. …
The Performer Formerly Known as Brett Favre in his past four games vs. the NFC North: no touchdown tosses, nine interceptions. …
Dan Hawkins, when asked what was more difficult, a winless start at CU or dodging great white sharks: “They’re both fun.” …
Hawk on the potential for disaster in Boulder: “There’s always potential. When you get in your car and get out on the freeway, there’s potential for disaster. I knew when I left Boise State there was potential for disaster. That doesn’t scare me. … There’s also the potential for greatness. So you can hide in the shadow if you want, but that’s not living.” …
How out of sorts are coaches when it comes to dealing with the NCAA’s new clock rules? Hawkins thought about using all of his timeouts with more than eight minutes remaining in the Arizona State game. …
Just wondering: Does U of Oklahoma president David Boren paint his face red to match his tie? Hey, look at the bright side, Sooner Nation. Oregon still has to wear those pajamas they call uniforms. …
Speaking of which, memo to Melo & La La: You might want to think twice before you let Nike dress your baby. …
Is it just me? Or would you, too, consider the world to be a better place if Sterling Sharpe weren’t on TV? For a guy who never says anything, he sure does a lot of screaming. …
Maybe he ought to try it left-handed, a la Jake the Snake: Kerry Collins, he of the 1.3 passer rating vs. the Chargers. …
U of Memphis coach John Calipari and former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian among the headliners for the Gold Crown Foundation’s annual Comcast Coaching Clinic on Oct. 6-7 at the foundation’s Lakewood field house. Info: www.GoldCrownFoundation.com. …
And finally, happy 42nd birthday to Rafael Palmeiro. What to get for the man who has everything? A ticket to see the Hall of Fame, because he’s going to need one.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
