Pro teams to the rescue

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA—The San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors have banded with five other professional sports teams in the Bay Area to chip in $450,000 to support relief efforts for victims of catastrophic fires raging in half a dozen nearby counties.

The daily San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 49ers, Warriors, Oakland Raiders and Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and the San Jose Sharks and Earthquakes also urged their fans to donate to a private relief fund and to the American Red Cross.

As I write this, fires with no signs of letting up raced through wine-producing Napa and Sonoma, destroying more than 2,000 structures and searing 70,000 acres.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that 22 major fires have consumed 170,000 acres since Sunday night. CalFire confirmed that the death toll has risen to 23.

The Warriors are fresh from a weeklong trip to China capped by a 142-110 romp over the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA preseason game.

Coach Steve Kerr said the defending NBA champions are out of sync because of jetlag and hope to be in game form before the regular season starts in a week.

Before leaving for China, the Warriors decided to forego a visit to the White House for the traditional champions’ visit after their star, Stephen Curry, said he will have to pass because of President Donald Trump’s disturbing views on race.

The 49ers left Indianapolis last Sunday after a 26-23 loss to the Colts in an NFL game marked by absurd political theater starring Trump’s vice president Mike Pence.

Pence manipulated the game like it was his own personal puppet show. He traveled to Indianapolis from Las Vegas on taxpayers’ expense for the sole purpose of walking away.

Knowing for certain that there would be many 49ers players who would kneel instead of stand in protest during the national anthem, Pence made his move.

In full view of a national TV audience, the Veep dramatically left the stadium with a false sense of patriotism meant to shore up the Trump-Pence conservative base.

Philippine Sports Commission Chair William Ramirez does not think a recent meeting of 18 national sports association (NSA) representatives will lead to reforms in Philippine sports.

He also says two progressive blocks of NSA leaders have become passive and silent to initiate changes, especially in the leadership of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Ramirez clarified that the government plans to build a new training center to prepare athletes for international competitions but is unsure if there’s money available for that purpose.