Matthew Stafford, Kawhi Leonard, Steve Kerr.
Getty Images(3)The catastrophic wildfires that swept through large parts of Southern California have greatly impacted the sports world and prominent members of the sports community.
since A fire broke out for the first time In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, more than 17,000 acres were burned. Subsequent fires in the area burned more than 40,000 acres, killing at least 24 people.
In the wake of the fires, professional sports teams in the area, including the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, were forced to postpone games. The NFL's Los Angeles Rams have moved the game entirely, moving their Wild Card game against the Minnesota Vikings to Glendale, Arizona.
On Monday, January 13, all 12 major professional sports teams in the Los Angeles area — including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels of Major League Baseball, the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League, and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA — pledged. , and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer – donated more than $8 million to “Support victims in need, as well as those fighting the fires.”
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic; John Kobaloff/Getty Images Several reality TV personalities evacuated Los Angeles amid ongoing wildfires that started in the Pacific Palisades area on Tuesday, January 7. “My heart goes out to those affected by the fires here in Los Angeles County,” former Bachelorette Katie Thurston wrote. via Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 8. “Wake up this (…)
To learn more about how wildfires are impacting the world of professional sports, read on.
Los Angeles Rams move playoff game to Arizona
The Los Angeles Rams were forced to move their Wild Card round-robin game, originally scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, to Glendale, Arizona.
In a game that was as emotional as it was comfortable, the Rams defeated the Vikings 27-9, earning a date with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL divisional round on Sunday, January 19.
The crowd was packed with Rams fans, many of whom had made the trip from Los Angeles. Kelly StaffordRams quarterback's wife Matthew Staffordwas responsible for Rent multiple buses from Los Angeles to make sure die-hard Rams fans are in attendance.
Matthew (36 years old) told reporters after the match: “We knew that we were not playing just for ourselves.” “We were playing for people back home who needed something to watch and enjoy.”
All Lakers, Clippers and Kings games rescheduled
The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and NHL's Los Angeles Kings have all been forced to reschedule games during the ongoing destruction of fires.
The Lakers' home games scheduled for Thursday, January 9 and Saturday, January 11 against the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs, respectively, have been postponed. Meanwhile, the Clippers' home game scheduled for January 11 against the Charlotte Hornets has been postponed. Game makeup dates have not been announced.
The Los Angeles Kings also postponed their home game, which was scheduled for Wednesday, January 8, against the Calgary Flames. No makeup date has been announced.
As wildfires continue to spread throughout the Los Angeles area, many celebrities are taking to social media to share how they are being affected. “He was evacuated and safe with children, dogs and cats. “Prayers and gratitude for our first responders,” Mandy Moore wrote in a statement Wednesday, January 8, on her Instagram Story. In a subsequent post, she said (…)
On Monday, January 13, both the Lakers and Clippers return to home games — the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, and the Clippers at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood — for games against the Spurs and Heat, respectively.
“Sports work really well when the team, or the organization, has a connection to the city and the fans feel connected to the team,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before their 126-102 loss to the Spurs. “And then it flows in kind of an eternal cycle of that. The Lakers have that with the city of Los Angeles. Having played here before and lived here, I'm very aware of that relationship. And part of the reason I wanted to coach here is to be involved in that.”
Following a 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg on Saturday, January 11, the Los Angeles Kings posted via X, “For LA 🤍.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick loses his home
los angeles lakers coach, JJ ReddickHe lost his home in the fire that devastated the Pacific Ocean.
“I've been through most of the village, and everything is gone, and I don't think you can ever prepare yourself for something like this,” Riddick, 40, told reporters on Friday, January 10. “Our house is gone.”
“We were renting this year to try to figure out where we wanted to be long-term. Everything we owned that had any significance to us, almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting, was in that house,” Reddick continued. There are certain things you can't replace, and never will be replaced.”
The first-year NBA coach was sharing a house with his wife, Chelsea ReddickAnd their two sons: Knox10 , and Kay,8.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr loses his childhood home
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr He lost his childhood home in Pacific Palisades, which was still home to his 90-year-old mother, Anne.
“My mother is in good hands, but her house is gone,” Kerr, 59, told reporters on Thursday, January 9.
Hollywood productions and industry events have been halted amid ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. “The past two days have brought unprecedented risks to life and property from multiple wildfires in the area, while placing severe demands on public safety personnel,” the nonprofit Film LA wrote in a production alert on Wednesday, January 8. “With sincere appreciation (…)
“This is my hometown,” Kerr added. “Almost all of my friends who came from there lost their homes — their family homes, their childhood homes. Our high school is gone. The city looks like it's been completely wiped out. It's surreal and devastating. Fortunately, almost everyone survived. But it's “It's just shocking to even understand how Pacific Palisades rebuilds and becomes a thriving community again.”
Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard is leaving the team
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard He left the team on Wednesday, January 8, to be with his family, who own a home in Pacific Palisades.
Clippers coach: “You definitely have to take care of the house.” Tyrone LawAnnounce.
“She had my support 100%,” Lu added. He comes back and checks on his family and children and makes sure they are okay. “And he's back, and they're fine, so I'm happy and grateful for that.”
Leonard missed the Clippers' game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, a 126-103 loss, after making his first appearance this season on Saturday, January 4, after a knee injury that sidelined him.
According to NBA Insider Chris Haynesleonard's girlfriend, Keshel ShipleyThe couple's two children had to evacuate the house.
per TMZLeonard's home survived the fire and he returned to the Clippers to appear in the team's 109-98 win over the Miami Heat on Monday, January 13.
