Former Boston Red Sox stars attend Los Angeles Rams playoff game

Former Red Sox stars were spotted at the LA Rams playoff game

The stars were out in Los Angeles for Monday Night Football. There were many familiar faces in the crowd at SoFi Stadium as the Rams pounded the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, including two former members of the Boston Red Sox.

Nomar Garciaparra was spotted in the crowd alongside his wife, two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion Mia Hamm.

Garciaparra spent parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox to begin his career. He made five All-Star appearances during his tenure in Boston, won a pair of batting titles, was named the Rookie of the Year award in 1997 and was a runner-up in the MVP race the following year.

There was a time in the late-90s when Nomar was one of the most iconic figures in Boston sports. The fan favorite was well on his way to a Hall of Fame career until injuries began to take a toll. The shocking trade that sent him to the Chicago Cubs midway through the 2004 season was a turning point that ultimately led to the Red Sox breaking an 86-year title drought. While the trade was necessary for a team that desperately needed a defensive upgrade in the infield, Garciaparra’s departure was bittersweet.

Garciaparra spent three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers late in his career. He’s been part of the Dodgers’ TV broadcasting team since 2014 and is a minority investor in Los Angeles F.C. While he was a key figure in the Boston sports scene for nearly a decade, Nomar has now been in LA for even longer and is deeply rooted in the SoCal region.

Nomar wasn’t the only one with ties to the Red Sox in attendance. Former Red Sox star and current Dodger Mookie Betts was also shown cheering on the Rams.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1483282031895326720

ESPN’s cameras panned over to Los Angeles Clippers stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, who were catching the game from a luxury box in SoFi Stadium. PG-13 was waving a yellow flag that said “Champs” on it, which he realized halfway through the clip was upside-down. Kawhi was sitting beside him looking completely disinterested, which is pretty much the default setting for his expression.

Meanwhile, Betts is behind the Clippers duo sporting a custom made Rams jersey with his No. 50 on the front. Mookie is clearly having a great time as he dances in the background.

Betts spent the first six seasons of his career in Boston, making four All-Star appearances, winning four Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers and an MVP. He was the best player on the historic 2018 Red Sox team that set a franchise record for regular season wins on their way to a World Series title.

When the Red Sox were unwilling to meet his sky-high asking price for an extension, Betts was traded to the Dodgers in a controversial deal prior to the 2020 season. The Dodgers locked him up with a massive 12-year, $365 million extension and he led his new team to a World Series championship in his first season in LA.

Apparently Mookie is now a Rams fan? Or he may have simply been vibing on the electric atmosphere of a capacity crowd at an NFL playoff game.

The Rams gave the fans plenty to cheer about, dominating the Cardinals in a 34-11 victory. They will head to Tampa Bay for the Divisional Round to take on the Buccaneers. Fans in New England might have some interest in spotting former players with ties to this region but they won’t need to search in the stands to find them. Brady and Gronk will be center stage on the field for that game.