Back in the old days, talk of the grandest Independence Day fireworks display in Denver began and ended at Mile High Stadium.
Back then — way back in 1993 — the Rockies hosted the biggest, brightest show at their former digs off Federal Boulevard.
But things changed. The Rockies moved to Coors Field in 1995 and began hosting their fireworks display on Blake Street. Then, after the Colorado Rapids moved into Mile High and hosted their fireworks display there, and later at Invesco Field, the two shows started to battle.
Things got even busier in 2007 after the Rapids moved their Major League Soccer team to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. When the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse started paying rent at Invesco Field, there were three fireworks shows in competition.
Egads.
This week, those three fireworks shows — and throw in a fourth option in Colorado Springs at the Sky Sox’s Security Service Field — will fill the state’s sky with the light of burning sulfur.
A rundown of your sporting fireworks options:
• The Florida Marlins arrive in Denver on Thursday to begin a four-game series against the Rockies, including a Saturday game that doubles as “Matt Holliday Bobblehead Day.” But the Thursday and Friday games at Coors Field promise to be the biggest draws. The Rockies’ two-day fireworks show, starting after the 6 p.m. game Thursday and continuing after the 6 p.m. Friday game, will light up LoDo.
• The New York Red Bulls take on the Rapids in a 7:30 p.m. game Friday in Commerce City in what the Rapids proudly call the biggest fireworks show in the state. But the party at Dick’s starts before that game, at 5 p.m., with bands and food and beer and games.
• The Outlaws host the San Francisco Dragons at Invesco Field on Friday at 7 p.m. The fireworks that follow could celebrate Major League Lacrosse’s best team. Even after losing 16-13 at Chicago on Sunday, the Outlaws are 5-2. No other team in the league has a better record.
• And in Colorado Springs, the Pacific Coast League’s Sky Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies, will host the Las Vegas 51s for fireworks games on Friday and Saturday.
Nick Groke can be reached at 303-915-1015 or ngroke@denverpost.com
FOURTH OF JULY FUN
No reason to rest.
For many athletic types in Colorado, holidays mean extra running events. That will certainly be the case Friday, with a plethora of events scattered across the state. Among those to choose from:
• Freedom Run 5K; at Evergreen Middle School in Evergreen; fundraiser for Mount Evans Home Health Care and Mount Evans Hospice; annual event started in 1982, participants last year totaled nearly 1,200; registration fees $12 to $30; 8 a.m. (mtevans.org/freedomRun.htm)
• Liberty Run 4-miler; also a 1-mile walk; at Washington Park in Denver (near South High School); 8 a.m. (aclu-co.org/events/2007LR.htm)
• Independence Day 5K; at Dorchester Street in Highlands Ranch (near Lansdowne Arms); fundraiser for Developmental Pathways, a nonprofit agency created to serve people with developmental disabilities and their families; $25 to $35, 8:30 a.m. (bkbltd.com or )
• Boogie’s Diner Buddy 5-mile race; also 1-mile family walk; in Aspen; benefits The Buddy Program, which pairs adult mentors with children in the Roaring Fork Valley; $30, 8 a.m. (buddyprogram.org)
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
Doggone good viewing.
Our nation’s Independence Day is for grilling and games and using fireworks to scare away the mosquitoes.
But at some point during the day, you will have to be inside — to marinate some barbecue and prep the potato salad. At that point, you might as well turn on the television for some prime sports action. Your choices:
• The 2008 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, N.Y., promises some nausea-inducing coverage of face-stuffing madness. American Joey Chestnut broke his own world record to win last year, knocking off six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan.
Kobayashi, who was hampered in 2007 by a wisdom tooth that had just been removed, vowed to return this year. The contest airs at 10 a.m. on ESPN.
• The Wimbledon men’s semifinals from The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club should have whittled the field down to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and two others.
But with all the upsets so far — last Thursday, Andy Roddick was knocked from the men’s field and Maria Shara- pova from the women’s side — it’s anyone’s guess who will still be around by Friday.
Coverage starts on ESPN2 with the first match at 5 a.m. The second match airs on NBC (KUSA-9) at noon.
MARKET SET TO OPEN FOR NHL FREE AGENTS
Salary cap can prove to be costly.
The NHL’s salary cap era — and how teams maneuver within it — still is sorting itself out. But one thing is clear: Well-managed teams that are run with foresight are rewarded.
Good player moves beget success, even more than during the noncap era.
Compare, for instance, Detroit and Edmonton. The Red Wings are a balanced team with little wasted salary. They just won the Stanley Cup.
But the Oilers have not fared well in recent years, as evidenced by general manager Kevin Lowe’s too-big contract for winger Dustin Penner.
Where does the Avalanche fit in? Find out this week, because the NHL free agency period begins Tuesday.
