Olympic gold medalist Gary Hall Jr. was among the thousands of California residents displaced by the wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area this week, and like many, he lost all of his priceless possessions – including all 10 of his Olympic medals. 

However, for Hall, he is grateful to have walked away with his life. 

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Hall recalled the moment he first saw a "plume of smoke" coming from his backyard. He was on the phone with his daughter when disaster struck. 

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"I saw the flames erupt and houses start popping. There were explosions. I didn’t have a lot of time," he recalled in the interview. "Sunset Boulevard was a complete logjam. People abandoned cars and were running for their lives. Police were telling them to do that. My girlfriend was trapped in her car around smoke." 

The wildfires spread quickly. Hall only had time to grab the essentials – his dog and a few personal items.

The home in Pacific Palisades that he was renting was burnt down, and with it all of his Olympic medals, including five gold, three silver and two bronze. He thought about them at the moment, but the seriousness of the situation did not allow him to grab them. 

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"I did think about the medals. I did not have time to get them," Hall told the outlet. "Everyone wants to know did the medals burn? Yeah, everything burnt. It’s something I can live without. I guess everything is just stuff. It’ll take some hard work to start over. What can you do?" 

Hall described the scene as "worse than any apocalypse movie you’ve ever seen and 1000 times worse." More than losing his medals, Hall’s home, where he ran a business teaching kids to swim, is now completely gone.  

"It’ll be a range of emotions, particularly when it’s time to go back to where the house stood. I’ll shift through the ash and see if the medals melted together. Will I be able to find anything worth saving? Probably not. I don’t know." 

Thousands of California residents were evacuated as fierce wildfires fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds tore through Southern California this week. At least five people are dead as the fires continued to burn more than 27,000 acres on Thursday. 

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The Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday was postponed as wildfires in the Los Angeles area continue to rage on. 

The team confirmed the multiple reports about the postponement, as the Lakers released a statement on X telling fans to "please hold onto your tickets. They will be honored for the rescheduled date."

The California wildfires have devastated Los Angeles County, with at least five dead and burning more than 27,000 acres, officials say. Thousands of homes have also been burned down. 

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An ESPN report added that Lakers head coach JJ Redick lost his home like so many others who live in the area.

"We’re heartbroken for Los Angeles," the Lakers said in a statement on Thursday night. "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation. And our gratitude is with the first responders and all of you who come together when we need each other the most. 

"Tonight’s game will be rescheduled to focus on what matters most today. We’re with you, LA."

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The purple and gold are not the only Los Angeles professional sports teams that are being affected by the fires. 

The Los Angeles Rams could potentially play their wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, if the fires continue to affect the Inglewood area, where their home, SoFi Stadium, resides. 

The NFL released their contingency plan on Wednesday night shortly after saying it was monitoring the situation in Los Angeles. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, the air quality index read over 280, with 150 and above considered unhealthy. 

The Los Angeles Chargers, though not playing at SoFi Stadium for their own NFL playoff game, limited players’ time outside during Wednesday’s practice due to air quality. They play the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon to kick off Wild Card Weekend. 

The Chargers released a statement on Wednesday night, pledging $200,000 in targeted funding to wildfire relief efforts in the area. 

LA County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone announced Thursday that the Eaton Fire, which claimed at least five lives, has seen growth "significantly stopped."

LA City Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley also told reporters that the Palisades Fire, which remains 0% contained, is "one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles."

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The Las Vegas Raiders have fired general manager Tom Telesco after one season, the team announced Thursday.

Moyes was previously in charge at Goodison Park between 2002 and 2013

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The late Frank Wycheck, who is remembered for the pass that started the iconic "Music City Miracle" play, suffered from an advanced stage of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), researchers said.

Wycheck died in December 2023 after he sustained a fall at his Tennessee home. He had made clear that he wished to work with experts on CTE research and related brain injuries. 

A study of Wycheck's brain conducted by researchers at Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center confirmed the former Tennessee Titans star tight end also suffered from the degenerative brain disease during the final years of his life. 

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Wycheck was diagnosed with CTE stage III. Stage IV is the most severe form of the disease and can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression. CTE can occur after repeated head injuries, such as concussions or blows to the head, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

A 2017 study conducted by the Boston University CTE Center concluded that the brains of 99% of former NFL players had at least trace amounts of the neurodegenerative disease. Researchers studied the brains of 202 former football players.

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Wycheck, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end, played in the NFL from 1993 and 2003, starting with Washington and finishing his career with the Houston Oilers organization, which moved to Tennessee and became the Titans.

Wycheck’s family said in a statement they are grateful for this diagnosis, which they believe further highlights the concerns around CTE in contact sports like football. They want to honor his legacy with a stronger commitment to player safety and support for those affected by head injuries.

His daughters said their family had challenges understanding both the physical and mental changes Wycheck was experiencing, thinking he was just missing the spotlight of his career.

"We witnessed our father becoming increasingly isolated and experiencing drastic mood swings. He became more impulsive, and often inconsistent and undependable," Deanna Wycheck Szabo said in a statement. "Now in hindsight, I understand that he was suffering from the symptoms of CTE due to the repeated trauma his brain and body endured over 11 seasons in the NFL."

Szabo said Wycheck loved football and his teammates. She said he fought for years after retiring to bring attention to the symptoms and struggles he knew stemmed from CTE, feeling too often ignored and helpless. Szabo also said she wishes her family had been educated on CTE symptoms to know what to look for and now hope for increased intervention, education and support for NFL alumni and their families.

"Instead of believing that something was inherently wrong with him, we now know he was doing the best he could as a father and friend under circumstances beyond his control," Szabo said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The NBA has postponed Thursday's game between the Hornets and Lakers in Los Angeles because of the ongoing wildfires in the metropolitan area.

This week's debut of the TGL indoor golf league drew nearly a million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen.

Satou Sabally's time with the Wings is done.

A second NFL team is set to interview the former Jets coach for their head coaching vacancy.

The Ravens will be without No. 1 receiver Zay Flowers for Saturday night's wild-card playoff game against the Steelers, coach John Harbaugh said Thursday.

Some things should stay in the locker room.

With new owners and a state-of-the-art stadium on the way, Dyche’s tenure had reached a natural end

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The 24-time grand slam champion spent time in quarantine after admitting to making a false statement on a travel document in 2022

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A federal judge in Kentucky blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine sex in Title IX as "gender identity," striking down the change nationwide.

The U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky Northern Division made the ruling in Cardona v. Tennessee on Thursday.

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"Another massive win for TN and the country!" Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a post on X. "This morning, a federal court ruled in our favor and vacated the Biden admin's radical new Title IX rule nationwide.

"The court's order is resounding victory for the protection of girls' privacy in locker rooms and showers, and for the freedom to speak biologically-accurate pronouns."

The ruling came months after the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to enforce portions of a new rule that would have included protections from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX.

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The sweeping rule was issued in April and clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions."

The rule took effect Aug. 1, and, for the first time, the law stated that discrimination based on sex includes conduct related to a person’s gender identity.

It led to more than two dozen attorneys general suing over the rule, arguing it would conflict with some of their state laws that block transgender students from participating in women’s sports.

"When Title IX is viewed in its entirety, it is abundantly clear that discrimination on the basis of sex means discrimination on the basis of being a male or female," the court’s opinion read. "As this Court and others have explained, expanding the meaning of ‘on the basis of sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ turns Title IX on its head.

"While Title IX sought to level the playing field between men and women, it is rife with exceptions that allow males and females to be separated based on the enduring physical differences between the sexes."

The decision came as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is set to push the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to the Senate Floor.

A procedural vote on it will happen on Friday.

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

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One sports reporter got caught with his pants down when an image of a lingerie-clad Rihanna splashed across his computer screen stole the show during a live hit on Tuesday.

The ECB has been urged to make a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights.

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The young forward has been a bright spot in a difficult campaign for the Old Trafford club

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It’s safe to say Josh Allen doesn’t want his offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, to go anywhere this offseason with teams requesting to interview him for their head coaching vacancies.

A reporter asked Allen what Brady meant to him during a press conference on Wednesday.

"Nothing. He hasn’t done anything for us, teams should stay away from him," Allen said with a smile on his face. 

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Then Allen took a more serious tone, praising his coach.

"He’s been fantastic, you know, coming into a situation last year, it’s not easy to switch play-callers’ mid-year, and he came in and from that day on, if you look at our splits, our success that we’ve had as a team, it’s noticeable. He’s one of the most positive guys in the building, he’s always got juice and energy for the guys. I think that’s something we love and appreciate about him, and he’s as real as they come," Allen said.

With the Buffalo Bills' success this season, offensive coordinator Brady is getting asked for head coaching interviews.

The Chicago Bears, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars have requested Brady in interview for their vacant head coaching positions, per numerous reports. 

The Bills fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey after the Bills dropped to 5-5 last season, and Brady took over play-calling duties. 

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After Brady took over, the Bills went 6-1 down the stretch and won the AFC East.

With last season’s success, Brady remained as offensive coordinator, and his explosive offense, led by Allen, had the Bills at 13-4 going into the playoffs with Allen a favorite for the MVP award.

The Bills average 30.9 points per game, which is second in the NFL to only the Detroit Lions, who average 33.2 points per game.

Under Brady this season, Allen has played some of the best football of his career. The Bills star has completed 63.6% of his passes for 3,731 yards with 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions. 

Allen has also been dynamic with his legs, rushing for 531 yards with 12 touchdowns on the ground, averaging over five yards per attempt. 

Brady will have an opportunity to further entice teams when the Bills take on the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card Round at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, 

The Broncos pose a good test for the Bills, as they give up the third-fewest points per game in the NFL, giving up just 18.3 points per game. 

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The Falcons are comfortable moving forward with Kirk Cousins as their backup quarterback behind Michael Penix Jr. next season, general manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday.

Former kicker Doug Brien had a chance to send the Jets toward a Super Bowl, but fate, and two missed kicks, changed the course of his NFL career and set him on a very different path.