A Grip on Sports: There are some somewhat athletic ways to celebrate the Fourth that don’t involve fireworks

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Happy Fourth of July. Enjoy yourself today. Be safe. Sane. Don’t do anything dumb. Like take a long walk in the woods.

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• When we were children, Kim and I enjoyed the Fourth in different ways. In the city she grew up in, fireworks were OK. Encouraged even. So her family imbibed. She has some stories, let me tell you. See, her dad was a firefighter so the stories were mostly about him taking charge of the festivities. Anyhow, the bottom line is she actually got to set some off.

My hometown was the opposite. Hard against the mountains that ring the Los Angeles basin, Sierra Madre banned fireworks long before it became fashionable. Forest fires were just not cool, even then. Sparklers may have been OK when I was real young, but by the time I was sentient enough to want to try to blow my thumb off, even those were illegal.

My idea of Fourth of July fireworks was climbing onto the roof to sit and watch the displays from all over the San Gabriel Valley. When there was little smog, you could actually see three or four professional ones from different parks.

When Spokane instituted its fireworks ban years ago, it really didn’t bother me. Sure, setting off a small one or two in the street had been something our kids enjoyed when they were young, but it wasn’t a tradition for me. Enjoying the day was.

Which leads me to the athletic activity Kim and I enjoy each Fourth these days. We pick a different short hike in the area and take off.

We’ve hiked to the ponds in the back of the Dishman Hills. We’ve hiked to a hill overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. We’ve viewed the Palouse from the Rocks of Sharon. We’ve seen deer and turkeys – they made me think of Ben Franklin – near the Little Spokane.

It seems a fittingly appropriate way to celebrate a day that commemorates this country’s founding. After all, it was a country founded on having the personal freedom to explore all aspects of life.

When the first Fourth happened, way back in 1776, I’m pretty sure none of the Founders knew about the Inland Northwest – let alone Lake Coeur d’Alene or the Little Spokane River. But one of them, Thomas Jefferson, would someday send a group out to see what was here and, some 180 years later, Kim and I would make our own journey of discovery – and never leave.

As far as we are concerned, it’s the best part of the best nation on earth.

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WSU: Around the Pac-12, Washington’s new Adidas football uniforms are being met with praise, though I will never understand the big deal about unis. Someday I want to coach a team that wears T-shirts with drawn-on numbers, mismatched shorts, off-the-rack shoes and then go kick every well dressed team’s behind. … Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson is riding a high after a year. … An Arizona backup quarterback wants to play. So he’s trying a different position.

Gonzaga: It was a busy day for former GU players – and current ones. Jim Meehan has this story on Zach Norvell’s nice night for the Lakers’ summer league team – he hit the game winner – and another on the U19 World Cup games in Greece.

Indians: Even though Spokane has played poorly recently, even after a 7-6 loss to Salem-Keizer last night, even after losing eight of its last nine games, the Indians are 10-10 and still tied for first in their division. Dave Nichols has that and more in this game coverage. … Around the Northwest League, Boise hammered Everett. … Eugene has a pitcher who had to make a tough decision out of high school.

Shock: Larry Weir went back in time yesterday, talking with former championship-winning coach Adam Shackleford in the latest Press Box pod.

Mariners: The M’s entered the ninth last night leading by two runs. Mike Leake had been magnificent, but it was up to the bullpen. Nope. The Cardinals scored five times and won 5-2. The M’s now have had 11 pitchers blow save opportunities. That’s hard to do. … But the future. That’s the ticket. … Tim Beckham’s future is probably not going be in Seattle. … No home run derby for Daniel Vogelbach. Maybe he could be part of a hot dog eating contest. … Gene Warnick has his usual Out of Right Field recap.

Sounders: Seattle was atrocious in the second half and lost 3-0 at New York FC.

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• Is binge-watching a TV show a competitive exercise? If so, my training is going well. Got through the rest of Season 2 of “Stranger Things” last night, and came this close to waiting up to watch some of Season 3. But my better nature overruled my wild side and here I am, bright and chipper. Check with me tomorrow. Until later …