How the Los Angeles Wildfires Affected the Sports World
Matthew Stafford, Kawhi Leonard, Steve Kerr.
Getty Images (3)The tragic wildfires that have engulfed much of southern California have had a profound effect on the sports world and prominent members of the sports community.
Since fire broke out for the first time more than 17,000 acres burned in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7. Subsequent fires in the region burned a total of more than 40,000 hectares, killing at least 24 people.
After the fires, professional sports teams in the area — including the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings — were forced to postpone games. The NFL’s Los Angeles Rams have moved the game completely, moving their wildcard playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Glendale, Arizona.
On Monday, Jan. 13, all 12 major professional sports teams in Los Angeles — including the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels, the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and the Los Angeles Galaxy” of MLS — have pledged to donate more than $8 million to “support victims in need, as well as those who fights fires.
Roden Eckenroth/FilmMagic; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Many of the reality TV stars evacuated Los Angeles amid the ongoing wildfires that broke out in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, January 7. via Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 8. “The awakening of this (…)
To learn more about how wildfires have affected the world of professional sports, keep reading.
The Los Angeles Rams are moving their playoff game to Arizona
The Los Angeles Rams were forced to move their Wild Card round playoff game, originally scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, to Glendale, Arizona.
In a game that was as emotional as it was cathartic, the Rams defeated the Vikings 27-9 to earn a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Divisional Round on Sunday, January 19.
The crowd was packed with Rams fans, many of whom had flown in from Los Angeles. Kelly Staffordthe wife of the Rams quarterback Matthew Staffordwas responsible for chartering multiple buses from Los Angeles to make sure die-hard Rams fans can attend.
“We knew we weren’t playing just for us,” Matthew, 36, told reporters after the game. “We were playing for people at home who needed something to watch and enjoy.”
Lakers, Clippers and Kings. All games have been moved
The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings were forced to postpone games while the fires were cleaned up.
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 against the Charlotte Hornets was rescheduled for January 11. Build dates for the games have not been announced.
The Los Angeles Kings also postponed their home game scheduled for Wednesday, January 8 against the Calgary Flames. No makeup date has been announced.
As the wildfires continue to spread through the Los Angeles area, several celebrities are taking to social media to share how they’ve been affected. “Evacuated and safe with children, dogs and cats. Praying and thankful for the first responders,” Mandy Moore wrote on Wednesday, Jan. 8, in an Instagram Story statement. In the following message, she (…)
On Monday, Jan. 13, the Lakers and Clippers returned to their home courts, 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 “Hit” respectively.
“Sports really work well when the team, the organization has a connection to the city and the fans feel a connection to the team,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said before the game, a 126-102 loss to the Spurs. “And then it just flows in a kind of perpetual cycle of that. The Lakers have something going for them with the city of Los Angeles. Having played here before and living here, I know the relationship well. And one of the reasons I wanted to coach here is to be a part of it.”
Following their 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg on Saturday, January 11th, the Los Angeles Kings posted “For LA 🤍” via X.
Lakers head coach JJ Reddick has lost his home
Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Jay Jay Reddicklost his home in the fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades.
“I walked most of the village and everything was gone, and I don’t think you can ever prepare for something like that,” Reddick, 40, told reporters on Friday, Jan. 10. “Our house is gone.”
Redick continued, “We’ve been renting for a year to try to figure out where we want to be long term. Everything we had that was important to us, almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting, was in this house. There are some things you can’t replace that will never be replaced.”
The first-year NBA coach shared a home with his wife, Chelsea Reddickand their two sons: Knox10 and Kai8.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has lost his childhood home
Head coach of the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr lost his childhood home in Pacific Palisades, where his 90-year-old mother Ann still lived.
“My mom is in good hands, but she’s not home anymore,” Kerr, 59, told reporters on Thursday, January 9.
Hollywood productions and industry events were halted amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. “The past two days have brought unprecedented danger to life and property due to multiple wildfires in the area, and have placed extraordinary demands on public safety personnel,” the nonprofit Film LA wrote in a Wednesday, Jan. 8, production alert. “With deep gratitude for (…)
Kerr added: “This is my hometown. All my friends who are from there, almost all lost their homes – their family homes, their childhood homes. Our gymnasium has disappeared. The city looks as if it has just been completely destroyed. It’s surreal and devastating. Fortunately, almost everyone was saved. But it’s hard to even imagine how Pacific Palisades rebuilds itself and becomes a thriving community again. It’s just shocking.”
Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers is leaving the team
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard left the team on Wednesday, Jan. 8 to be with his family, who have a home in Pacific Palisades.
‘You definitely have to take care of the house,’ Clippers coach Tyrone Lueannounced.
Liu added: “My support was 100 percent. Returning, checking on his family and children, making sure they were healthy. And he’s back and they’re doing well, so just happy and grateful for that.”
Leonard missed the Clippers’ 126-103 loss against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night after making his season debut on Saturday, Jan. 4, with a knee injury that kept him out of the game.
According to an NBA insider Chris Hinesleonardo’s girlfriend Kishele Shipleyand the couple’s two children were forced to evacuate their home.
trans TMZLeonard’s home survived the fire and he returned to the Clippers, appearing in the team’s 109-98 win over the Miami Heat on Monday, January 13.
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