A GRIP ON SPORTS • If you’ve been around Spokane for any length of time, you can remember when the dog days of August were interrupted by Seahawks training camp in Cheney. That’s no longer the case, sure, but we will use the Hawks again today to interrupt the dog days of June. Read on.

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• It’s been hot out there this week. Hot enough, in fact, to keep the dogs from staying outside too long. They are tired of sitting in the shade, panting. I get it. Hot weather does mean baseball, sure. But it also means the Seahawks are getting ready for next season. I’ve been trying to keep up with all things football-related coming out of their OTAs the past couple weeks – and by that I mean all the stuff not related to Russell Wilson’s contract. I’m especially interested in the disposition of the offensive line, where the Hawks seem to be using the shotgun approach – throw a bunch of guys into spots and see who sticks. I’m not sure we will know who is protecting Wilson and opening holes for Marshawn Lynch – the newest star of “Call of Duty” – until just before the opening game. Not optimal, sure, but what the Hawks have to do considering how much money they spend on defense. One of those defensive guys who have cashed in, Richard Sherman, spoke yesterday about his injured arm and what he said – or maybe it was the way he said it – has me a little concerned. Sherman didn’t have surgery after hurting his elbow in the NFC championship, opting instead to rehabilitate the injury. He’s healing but it’s still not 100 percent yet. That hasn’t stopped him, and the rest of the Legion of Boom that is available, from woofing with Jimmy Graham during practice. There seems to be a bit of a rivalry there, which can be a good thing as long as it remains a rivalry and not a chasm. We’ve all seen football teams split between offense and defense when one side of the ball is performing well and the other is struggling. That’s never happened here as far as we can tell, but if the offense doesn’t perform up to expectations, the defense may grow tired of Graham’s act if it continues without game-day production. Of course, if the past is any indication, Graham will perform and the Hawks will continue to give each other pretend grief. The latter half of that formula has worked well for Pete Carroll’s team the past couple years.

• People are focusing on LeBron James’ offense. Rightfully so, as he’s averaging more than 40 points a game in the NBA Finals. But the reason the Cavaliers are leading 2-1 is their defense, of which James is just another piece, albeit the biggest, baddest piece they have. Everyone, from Matthew Dellavedova to J.R. Smith, is chipping in on that end and frustrating the best offensive team in the league. Will it last? If the Cavs want to win this series, it better, at least through Thursday. Whoever wins that game will win the series.

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• WSU: Staying in Cleveland, the Browns seem really happy with Xavier Cooper. ... When we think about college track in this area, we think Washington State. So that’s where we slot this Jim Allen story on a local guy competing for Nebraska in this week’s NCAA championship.

• Preps: The Spokane Youth Sports Awards were handed out last night and Jim was there. He has this story.

• Seahawks: The Hawks did some work on the field yesterday, leading to a lot of quick thoughts on what happened, and did some work off the field as well, leading to the signing of a backup quarterback. You may know him. It is, once again, going to be Tarvaris Jackson.

• Mariners: The good yesterday? Robinson Cano’s bat came alive and the M’s defeated Cleveland, 3-2. The bad? Nelson Cruz left the game in the fifth inning (pictured) with back spasms and is day-to-day. ... The draft continued yesterday with the Mariners taking a UW speedster early. ... The closer role might look different when Fernando Rodney returns to it.

• Sounders: The walking wounded are slowly returning to practice.

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• Another great day is on tap. Enjoy it. You have to bank memories for next January. Until later ...

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