In soccer: This year a large portion of Colorado’s Fourth of July celebrations were canceled due to the eminent fire dangers and the breakout of one of the state’s worst fire seasons. Despite the restrictions and bans many sports fans enjoyed the holiday in a different way — by watching the Colorado Rapids host Vancouver at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on the Fourth and moved forward with their annual fireworks display immediately following the game. Unfortunately for the Rapids those were the only fireworks to speak of as they fell to Vancouver 0-1.

In baseball: The Colorado Rockies have taken a break for the All-Star week and for many a sigh of relief after watching the Rockies fall further and further into the NL West abyss. The “Year of the Fan” season should be dubbed “The Year of the Disappointed Fan” with the Colorado Rockies opening up the month of July much like it opened each month since April — on the losing end. The Rockies are a dismal 33-52 and 5-3 for the start of July before heading into the All-Star break. But wait … a shining star in a starless sky appears.

Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez was selected to play for the NL in this season’s All-Star game and is sitting in the number one batters’ slot after leading the league in almost every category. Gonzalez is headed in a direction few players have accomplished, that is leading the running for MVP all while doing so by playing on a losing squad. Gonzalez was also selected to star in this year’s Home Run Derby; however, the perennial All-Star came up short getting knocked out of the first-round with only four homers.

In boxing: Former heavy-weight boxer, Jimmy Bivins, who boxed during 1940-1950, died last week at the age of 92. During his glory days Bivins fought Joe Louis. Bivins was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.