Matthew Stafford, Kawhi Leonard, Steve Kerr.
Getty Images (3)The tragic wildfires that have engulfed large parts of Southern California have greatly affected the world of sports and prominent members of the sports community.
Of first the fire sparked in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, more than 17,000 hectares were burned. The ensuing fires in the region burned a total of more than 40,000 hectares, leaving at least 24 dead.
After the fire, 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 entirely, moving their Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Glendale, Arizona.
On Monday, January 13, all 12 major professional sports teams in Los Angeles – including the MLB Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels, NHL Anaheim Ducks, WNBA Los Angeles Sparks and MLS Los Angeles Galaxy – pledged a donation of more than $8 million to “help victims in need, as well as those fighting fires.
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Many reality TV personalities evacuated Los Angeles amid the ongoing wildfires that broke out in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, January 7th. “My heart goes out to those affected by the wildfires here in LA County,” former Bachelorette Katie Thurston wrote via Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 8. “Wake up this (…)
For more on 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 of the playoffs, originally scheduled to take place 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 clinch a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL’s divisional round on Sunday, January 19.
The crowd was packed with Rams fans, many of whom had traveled from Los Angeles. Kelly Staffordwife of the Rams quarterback Matthew Staffordwas responsible for renting several buses from LA to make sure Diehard Rams fans can attend.
“We knew we weren’t just playing for us,” Matthew, 36, told reporters after the game. “We played for people at home who needed to watch something and enjoy it.”
Lakers, Clippers and Kings. All matches have been postponed
The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings were forced to postpone games during the fire’s destruction.
The Lakers’ home games scheduled for Thursday, January 9 and Saturday, January 11 against the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs have both been postponed. In the meantime, the home game of the Clippers, which was scheduled for January 11 against the Charlotte Hornets, was also postponed. The make-up dates for the matches have not been announced.
The Los Angeles Kings have also postponed their home game scheduled for Wednesday, January 8 against the Calgary Flames. The makeup date has not been announced.
As the wildfires continue to spread through the Los Angeles area, several celebrities have taken to social media to share how they have been affected by the fires. “Evacuated and safe with children, dogs and cats. We are praying and grateful for the first responders,” Mandy Moore wrote on Wednesday, January 8, in an Instagram Story statement. In the next post, she (…)
On Monday, January 13, the Lakers and Clippers returned to their home floors – the Lakers at downtown LA’s Crypto.com Arena and the Clippers at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome – for games against the Spurs and Heat.
“Sports work really 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 some eternal circle of that. The Lakers have it with the city of Los Angeles. Having played and lived here before, I am well aware of that relationship. And part of the reason I wanted to coach here was to be a part of that.”
Following a 2-1 overtime win on the road against Winnipeg on Saturday, January 11th, the Los Angeles Kings announced via X, “Za LA 🤍.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has lost his home
Los Angeles Lakers head coach, JJ Redickhe lost his home in the fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades.
“I went through most of the village and everything was gone, and I don’t think you can ever prepare for something like that,” the 40-year-old Redick told reporters on Friday, Jan. 10. “Our home 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 owned and that was important to us, almost 20 years of married life together and 10 years of parenthood, was in that house. There are certain things that you cannot replace, that will never be replaced.”
The first-year NBA coach shared a home with his wife, Chelsea Redickand their two sons: Knox10 i Kai8.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr lost his childhood home
Head coach of the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr he lost his childhood home in Pacific Palisades, which was still the residence of his 90-year-old mother, Ann.
“My mom is in good hands, but her house is gone,” Kerr, 59, told reporters Thursday, Jan. 9.
Hollywood productions and industry events have been halted amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. “The past two days have brought unprecedented danger to life and property from multiple wildfires, while also placing extreme demands on public safety personnel,” the nonprofit Film LA wrote in a production alert Wednesday, Jan. 8. “With the deepest respect for (…)
Kerr added: “It’s my hometown. All my friends who are from there mostly lost their homes — their family homes, their childhood homes. Our high school is gone. The city looks like it has just been completely wiped out. It’s surreal and devastating. Fortunately, almost everyone escaped. But it’s hard to even imagine Pacific Palisades rebuilding itself and becoming 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 own a home in Pacific Palisades.
“You definitely have to take care of home,” Clippers coach, Tyronn Luehe announced.
Lue added: “He had my support 100 percent. She goes back, checks on his family and children, 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’ 126-103 loss against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night after making his season debut on Saturday, Jan. 4 after being sidelined with a knee injury.
According to an NBA insider Chris HynesLeonardo’s girlfriend, Kishelle Shipleyand the couple’s two children were forced to evacuate the home.
Per TMJLeonard’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.