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MORE SPORTS | Jan 10

How the LA Wildfires Are Affecting the Sports World

Several Athletes, Coaches, and Staff Have Been Affected By the Fires

How the LA Wildfires Are Affecting the Sports World
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department / Lokman Vural Elibol / Anadolu via AFP

Devastating Consequences

It’s been tough. My family’s fine; my mom’s in good hands, but her house is gone… – Steve Kerr

The wildfires in California that have raged mercilessly over the last several weeks have had a life-altering effect on communities throughout the Los Angeles area. Moreover, the devastation has also had significant repercussions on sports schedules and on those players who have homes and loved ones in the impacted region.

 

LA Ablaze

Imagine waking up to see your world surrounded by flames and your body bathed in smoke as you flee this hell on earth. Unfortunately, this is the reality for thousands of people in the LA and Pacific Palisades area whose homes have turned to ash and whose lives have been irretrievably altered by the California fires.

The inferno doesn’t discriminate either. All the fame and fortune in the world is no invisible shield for those who happen to lie in its fiery wake. Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick saw his rental home destroyed as he and his family were forced to evacuate. The same is true of Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, who rescued his 90-year-old mother from his childhood home in Pacific Palisades.

“It’s been tough. My family’s fine; my mom’s in good hands, but her house is gone,” a solemn Kerr said.

“The town looks like it’s just been completely wiped out—it’s surreal and devastating. But fortunately, almost everyone escaped,” he added. “It’s hard to even fathom how Pacific Palisades rebuilds and how it becomes a thriving community again. It’s just shocking.”

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard owns a $17 million home in the fire zone and has taken time away from the team to be with his family.

“You definitely have to take care of home… Totally had my support 100%,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters before the team’s Wednesday night game with the Nuggets. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”

Postponements & Relocations

Several sporting events have either been postponed or the venues shifted away from the LA area. It’s not every day we see tragic events force the hands of the scheduling gods in the world of sports. NBA news was made when the Los Angeles Lakers’ Thursday night game against the Charlotte Hornets was postponed with no new date announced.

“The entire NBA family sends its thoughts and support to the community of Los Angeles during this challenging time,” the league said in a statement.

“We’re heartbroken for Los Angeles,” the Lakers said in a statement on their website. “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation.”

The LA Kings postponed their game against the Calgary Flames while the West Coast Conference postponed basketball games at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.

And in one of the NFL’s playoff games this weekend, the Rams’ showdown with the Vikings has been moved to Glendale, Arizona, due to concerns regarding air quality.

How long the blaze will continue to rage is anyone’s guess, but 70,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, with billions of dollars in damage already mounting while 10 people have been confirmed killed in what has become an unimaginable tragedy.

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