Second Thoughts

Rams lineman donates check to aid healing

Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (right) is donating his game check from Sunday to the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Conejo Valley Victims Fund, set up to provide relief to the families of the 12 victims who were killed by a gunman last week.
Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (right) is donating his game check from Sunday to the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Conejo Valley Victims Fund, set up to provide relief to the families of the 12 victims who were killed by a gunman last week.

Andrew Whitworth wasn't sure what action to take, but the Los Angeles Rams left tackle knew in the aftermath of the shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill that he wanted to provide support for the Thousand Oaks, Calif., community.

Whitworth is donating his game check from Sunday to the Ventura County Community Foundation's Conejo Valley Victims Fund, set up to provide relief to the families of the 12 victims who were killed by a gunman last week.

The Rams' practice facility is less than 5 miles from Borderline Bar and Grill, and the team's business headquarters is 7 miles away in Agoura Hills.

"You're looking for any answer, you're looking for what can we do to solve this or what can we do to help people that are going through this, in the tragedy, in the moment, there is no perfect way," Whitworth said last week. "I just don't -- the way that I believe and operate, I just don't believe that sitting there wondering is the best way. I believe in finding a way to put your feet on the ground."

Whitworth encouraged his teammates to also find a way to support the community after the tragedy.

Before Sunday's kickoff against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the shooting and support for the victims of the wildfires that have swept across portions of Ventura and Los Angeles counties in Southern California.

Select players -- including Whitworth, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Michael Brockers -- will auction off their game-worn jerseys on NFL Auction. All proceeds will benefit the Conejo Valley Victims Fund and American Red Cross Southern California Wildfire Relief.

Not smoked out

The Los Angeles Lakers managed to get to .500 for the first time this season with a 101-86 victory in Sacramento on Saturday night, but they had to contend with more than just the Kings.

Smoke from the nearby Camp Fire, which has killed 23 people since starting Thursday, poured into downtown Sacramento and was visible in the Golden 1 Center before and during the game.

LeBron James scored 25 points for the Lakers, but he said the smoke had a noticeable impact.

"I had a slight headache before the game," James said. "I can't pinpoint any other reason why it was going on besides the smoke. But it went away after the game started."

Teammate JaVale McGee said he also was affected.

"My stomach was hurtin' like I was hungry or something," said McGee, who suffers from asthma. "But it was from the smoke for sure ... but we still won, though, so it's all good."

The Lakers returned home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

The Woolsey Fire has been raging just north of Los Angeles and has destroyed more than 70,000 acres.

'A' game

Some names are tougher to spell than others. That's not news.

But Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara seems to get his misspelled more than most.

The Bears hosted the Detroit Lions on Sunday, and as Amukamara pulled on his jersey for the 22nd time as part of the Chicago roster, he probably noticed something wasn't right: the name on the back was "Amukmara."

(The second of what's supposed to be four A's is missing.)

Making matters worse, this wasn't the first time his own team's equipment staff erred. In 2016, when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars (and funny enough, playing the Bears), it was spelled "Amuakmara," so all of the proper letters are there, just not in the correct order.

Sports on 11/12/2018

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