LOS ANGELES — In the aftermath of devastating fires that swept through the Los Angeles area, the sports community is beginning to face the repercussions now that the fierce winds have calmed. Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed on Friday that his family’s rental house in Pacific Palisades was lost to the flames earlier this week.
“I can’t recall the last time I’ve expressed such deep sorrow,” Redick shared after a practice session. The Lakers are set to play against San Antonio on Saturday, and the LA Clippers are scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets, although neither team has confirmed the status of their games in light of recent events.
The house where Redick’s family lived was consumed by fire on Tuesday while the team was away. Fortunately, his wife Chelsea and their two sons were not present in the area at the time.
In the world of horse racing, Santa Anita Park remains unaffected in terms of direct threats, but the air quality has suffered due to the Eaton fire. Nevertheless, members of the racing community have experienced losses. Notably, jockey Mario Gutierrez lost his home due to the fire, according to agent Mike Ciani.
Additionally, several trainers faced evacuations and continue to deal with power outages. Trainer Tim Yakteen emphasized that although their struggles are significant, they pale in comparison to those faced by families who have lost everything.
The 10 races initially scheduled for Friday have been postponed until next Thursday, and track officials are expected to update attendees on the status of races planned for Saturday.
In college basketball, the top-ranked UCLA Bruins will not be competing this Sunday after Northwestern opted not to travel to Los Angeles due to the ongoing wildfires. This will also affect the Wildcats’ game on Wednesday against USC.
Although specific justifications were not given for the cancellations, the Big Ten is exploring options to rearrange the matches. Meanwhile, USC is still expected to host Penn State on Sunday, while also welcoming the Nittany Lions for a game on Wednesday.
Both UCLA head coach Cori Close and assistant Tony Newnan have homes that are on the edge of the evacuation zone caused by the Palisades fire. “We’ve been very fortunate that the winds shifted away from us,” she commented on Friday.
The anxiety among the Bruins players is palpable, especially for those hailing from other states or countries. Close acknowledged, “There’s definitely some anxiety, without a doubt.”
In other college sports, Pepperdine is adjusting game times for a doubleheader against Loyola Marymount on Saturday, with the women’s game starting at 1 p.m. PDT and the men’s at 4:30 p.m. The campus in Malibu has limited access from the north, with the Pacific Coast Highway shut down due to the fires.
Switching to professional football, the Arizona Cardinals’ staff has been tirelessly preparing for an NFL playoff game on short notice. The LA Rams versus Minnesota Vikings wild-card game was relocated from Inglewood due to the wildfires impacting the area.
Significant challenges include filling 3,500 positions for game day, involving roles from food service to parking management, while also managing the logistics of transforming State Farm Stadium in Glendale into a semblance of the Rams’ SoFi Stadium. Mark Dalton, the Cardinals’ vice president of media relations, highlighted the collaborative effort involved in making the event possible.
The NFL is stepping up to contribute $5 million to aid communities grappling with the effects of the wildfires. Donations from various teams and ownership groups, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Rams, and Vikings, will support local organizations in need.
Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed deep sorrow over the destruction in LA and commended the bravery of first responders and community members assisting each other during this crisis.
The Rams are directly supporting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, assisting both the city’s and LA County Fire with a donation of $1 million from the Kroenke family. The Chargers are similarly collaborating with the Red Cross and other organizations.
Players from both teams are set to wear special hats and shirts featuring LAFD branding this Saturday and Monday. The items will be available for purchase, with proceeds earmarked for the LAFD Foundation and the Red Cross.
To aid recovery efforts, the Minnesota Vikings, along with the Wilf Family Foundations, are contributing a matching donation of $1 million, with the Houston Texans also pledging the same amount, including a matching contribution from the NFL Foundation.
In soccer, U.S. Soccer has decided to relocate its January training camp for the U.S. women’s team and a future camp for prospects to Florida, as the LA fires continue to impact air quality and safety in the area. The camps will occur from January 17-23 at the Inter Miami CF training center.
Finally, the Los Angeles Kings postponed their home game against Calgary on Wednesday due to the fires, marking the first major sporting event impacted. Kings forward Trevor Moore expressed concern over his friends and communities back home that have suffered devastating losses.
“It’s quite challenging,” Moore remarked before their trip to Winnipeg. “I see many people from my hometown who have lost their homes, and it weighs heavily on my thoughts.”
The Kings will honor the LAFD with special helmet stickers during games.
Meanwhile, USC has canceled its outdoor swimming meet against UC San Diego scheduled for Saturday, prioritizing the safety of participants due to potential air quality issues.
