Grip on Sports: Clark’s temper turns up the heat on the Seahawks

A GRIP ON SPORTS • No surprise, because it is mid-August, but it’s going to be hot around here for the next week or so. In fact, the next five days are expected to be 95 degrees or above. That’s hot. And when you are wearing a dozen pounds of football gear, it’s even hotter. Read on.

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• I’m sure we all have stories of late summer football practices. How we lost 10 pounds that one time due to the two-a-days in the piercing sun. Or the continuing nightmares of the coach who didn’t want you to drink because it made you weak. Take these salt pills instead.

Times have changed. For the better.

Two-a-days are a thing of the past. So is dehydration, or at least it should be. Everyone understands the importance of keeping fluids up, of drinking before they get thirsty, of staying hydrated at all times.

One of my favorite memories of covering football at Washington State revolves around big old linemen walking around campus carrying a gallon milk jugs full of water. And drinking from them constantly. Those jugs always seemed so small in their hands.

Still, working at your craft in 95-plus-degree temperatures wears on a person, no matter what the craft is. So football practice, which oftentimes involves making physical contact with another like-sized human being, can be a place in which tempers flare.

Most football fights are not really anything more than a release valve going off. They happen quickly, no one is hurt and, after the steam dissipates, practice goes on.

Washington’s Chris Petersen deals with such incidents by making the combatants walk around the field holding hands. Cute. WSU’s Mike Leach usually ignores them, unless they begin to cut into, as Mr. Hand would say in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” his time. Then the culprits head off to another field to roll around – which isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds.

There are some fights, however, that have lasting repercussions. Like the one the other day at Seahawks camp. Defensive end Frank Clark punched offensive lineman Germain Ifedi hard enough that Ifedi has been held out of practice the past three days. He’s injured and when he will return, no one knows.

For a team that is weak up front, Ifedi’s injury is a blow. And it’s one that could have been avoided.

Which is why Clark hasn’t practiced either, presumably. He’s being punished for letting his famous temper get the best of him. At least that’s how it seems, but with the Hawks and disciplinary matters – or fights between teammates – you are never sure.

There have been some past conflicts in the locker room that haven’t surfaced until well after the season is over. And only on a national stage. The organization does a CIA-level job, at times, of keeping their secrets hidden.

It’s probably good for team chemistry, but it’s bad for those of us who want to know what’s really going on with our local professional football team.

One thing is for certain, though. Clark has a problem with his temper. It may be part of why he’s so effective on the field – he had 10 sacks last season. But it has to be controlled, channeled into something positive.

Losing it on the practice field and decking a teammate with a punch to the face isn’t good for anyone. And can’t be fixed with a little hand-holding or aerobic punishment. Only an attitude adjustment is enough.

The question the Hawks have to answer is simple: Can Clark learn to control himself? If so, he can contribute. If not, then he has to go.

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WSU: Tempers flared a bit Sunday and Theo Lawson asked Leach about it after practice. It’s all part of Theo’s notebook in today’s paper. … Stefanie Loh is in Lewiston and has her look at the battle to replace Parker Henry in the defensive lineup. She also has some practice notes. … Around the Pac-12, Washington’s offense played well enough at Sunday’s open practice that this guy might not be needed. … Who will be Oregon’s go-to receiver? … Oregon State picked a new starting quarterback this week. One of the old starters, Marcus McMaryion, took that as his cue to transfer. … UCLA may have to rely on a freshman on the defensive line. … Arizona State is done with its off-campus camp. … Arizona held an open practice. … California finished up its first week under new coach Justin Wilcox with some questions. … Stanford’s identity is changing a bit, but not much. … Colorado has welcomed back a player who can help the defense. … A Utah defensive lineman wants to make his own star shine bright. The offensive line is dealing with him every day.

Gonzaga: Another grad transfer decided Gonzaga is not the place he wanted to be. Jim Meehan has the story of Weber State’s Randy Onwuasor picking LSU.

Indians: Spokane won 3-2 yesterday at Avista, with the game ending on a play at the plate. No, the Indians didn’t score in the bottom of the ninth, but instead catcher Matt Whatley tagged out Eugene’s Jared Young to preserve the victory (pictured). Johnathan Curley has the game story and Whitney Ogden delves in a bit deeper. … In other Northwest League play, Salem-Keizer pounded Everett, 7-1.

Mariners: The M’s split a doubleheader with the Royals yesterday, though after the top of the first inning of the opening game, KC outscored them 16-2. Still, a split is a split, which might be Seattle’s motto this season. If the Mariners could have figured out a way to win the nightcap, they would have woken up this morning tied for the final wild-card spot. Instead they are 1 1/2 games out – just as they were when they started the four game series in Kansas City. That’s a big part of my column this morning. … Jerry Dipoto made a couple of waiver trades Sunday, but the one everyone will talk about involved All-Star first baseman Yonder Alonso from the A’s. … There was an injury yesterday. … The M’s have today off and begin a two-game series in Oakland on Tuesday.

Seahawks: Besides the Clark/Ifedi news, the news of the day seems to be the sleeker look sported by quarterback Russell Wilson. He also displayed his passing accuracy yesterday.

Sounders: Seattle is playing well. … Portland picked up a much-needed 3-1 win over Los Angeles.

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• Heat is so relative. We were in Las Vegas less than two weeks ago, so 97 degrees here is hot, sure, but not that hot. The van’s thermometer read as much as 120 after sitting in the Vegas sun, so the days here seem relatively cool. Until later …