By Bill Powers
Special to Stampeders.com

Money can always enter into a career move. Greed can, too.

But in the case of John Helton, maybe the greatest defensive lineman ever to play, not only with Calgary’s Stampeders, but in the Canadian Football League, the decision came down to weather. Yes, weather. Well, weather in part.

John (Biggie) Helton was drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League in 1969, 157th overall, but tells the story that in growing up in Pennsylvania, they had no screens on the windows and it was common for mosquitoes to have a feast while they slept. It was also very uncomfortable in summer with the heat and humidity. In his own words, he thought the 40 below of Calgary winters was better than the weather in Buffalo. Another fact was money and back then the Canadian dollar was higher than the American buck.

However, Biggie will also admit that two Stampeders of that time, Herm Harrison and Bob Lueck, convinced him our city was the place to be and he says today it was the best decision of his life.

Helton had a brilliant 11-year career with the Stamps — as evidence, he was named a West Division all-star nine times. In 1976, he was the only Stampeder to be picked and that was from a club that won only two games that season. In addition, he was a CFL all-star no fewer than seven times and in three of those seasons he was the lone Stampeders pick from less-than-stellar clubs.

Helton also was named the CFL’s top defensive player twice and the league’s top lineman twice. His lone Grey Cup ring was secured when he anchored the defensive line in the win over Toronto in 1971.

If there is a bad side to this story is that John Helton did not finish his career in the city that he would make his home. And that provides a most tragic story. Well, tragic might be a bit melodramatic.

Even after a brilliant career here, the Arizona State University graduate was still considered one of the strongest players in the league and with lots of football left to play. But the general manager of the time didn’t think along those lines and offered a contract that some might call embarrassing. Biggie says it was basically the GM saying, “My way or the highway” and, being a stubborn sort, he chose the highway, ending up in Winnipeg where he played four more seasons and won CFL all-star recognition in both 1979 and 1982 while proving he was far from over the hill.

The tragedy, though, is that Helton could have stayed here but for a few bucks. He had his price, the GM of the time had his price and neither would move. In those days, the club was publicly owned and run by a board of directors, a board that was totally committed to the team. And a director of the club at that time, the late Harry Cohen, offered to make up the difference but was rejected. I happen to know that the amount involved was only $5,000. Helton told me the other day that what Mr. Cohen did at that time was the greatest support anyone had offered in his career.  But John had made his decision and today says he regrets nothing in part because he was able to come home again.

And he was welcomed with open arms by a city he should never have left. Today, Biggie is spending his time between Calgary and Kelowna helping his granddaughter in business.

There was none better than John Helton, who did return to the Stampeders as an assistant coach in l988 and I can tell you true, almost 20 years after he signed here he looked like he could still play. And, if the truth were known, looks that way today.