Why Manhattan Beach is jock paradise

Tennis player Maria Sharapova (pictured) lives there. So do Dodger Nomar Garciaparra, Lakers Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and Jordan Farmar, Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera, and Kings defenseman Rob Blake. Former residents include baseball's Mike Piazza, Tiger Woods and Shaquille O'Neal.

So what's up with all the pro athletes living in Manhattan Beach, a city of just 35,000 people? From a fun story in yesterday's L.A. Times: "The draw? The same things that lure people who don't know a baseball bat from a hockey stick: clean beaches, a quiet and safe community, an ocean breeze that keeps the smog at bay, good public schools and a lifestyle where long pants are considered formal dress -- if they can afford it."

Other draws: The Kings and the Lakers practice in nearby El Segundo. MB is convenient to LAX, and athletes fly a lot.

Drawbacks: Yards are rare in Manhattan Beach, and tiny when you find them. Homes are built very close to each other, which cuts into your privacy. And if you're one of those athletes who likes to rumble around town in a big vehicle, parking is a hassle. Otherwise, life's a beach.

-- Peter Viles

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times
Your thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com

Comments

[CD]

A must read at Tanta from Calculated risk:
"Duelling discourses of debt." It is long and her comments are great and to the point and addressing the journalistic
BS of many papers, in this case the NYT.I cancelled 3 papers over the week-end.I have had it with the front page lies. Go Tanta !!!!

[KateNonymous]

Clean beaches? Maybe, but there was something nasty in the water during the Redondo Beach Triathlon last month--both the feel and the taste of the water (pretty much unavoidable, BTW) suggested that it wasn't all that clean. Does it improve all that much by the time you get to Manhattan Beach?

[MyLessThanPrimeBeef]

I rather have midget creatures like pudus, kodkods, pymgy hogs for neighbors than those celebrities.

In fact, I would live in the ocean abyss amongst gulper eels, vampire squids and dumbo octopuses before thinking about Manhanttan Beach.

[E]

It sucks living next to Celebrities. They are usually louder than the average neighbor. That has been my experience.

but anyhow...

don't care about MB

I want more on those flippers

[LongTimeResident]

Athletes? Don't really notice. City is not about athletes. It's about living in the best city in the South Bay and I would argue the world. There is a reason it is so expensive here. And this article just increased our property values.

[Westsider]

Well there goes the neighborhood!

What made Manhattan Beach such a nice city were the engineers who lived there and made it there home. Many older enginers I know live (or lived) in Manhattan Beach, same with many South Beach communities. My Aunt's first husband owned a small ranch in Palos Verdes, purchased in 1975 for 35k. And he had a salary of only 25k working as a engineer for Lockheed.

Now all the engineers are priced out of all the nice areas. No wonder LA is heading toward the same status as Mexico City.

Sad to see one of the greatest cities in the world end up this way...

[Anon]

"Best City In the World??" Nice to see the noveau riche soccer Mom vote is in. And let me guess, Mama D's has the best Italian in the WORLD too right? M.Beach is nice but it's not even the nicest beach city in California (Carmel, Monterey) or Socal for that matter (Laguna, La Jolla). Try getting past Sepulveda sometime and check out Sydney or Nice (that's in France). Might be difficult finding Linens 'n Things but there are still some nice sites to see.

[LongTImeResident]

Those are great cities to visit. Not to raise a family and live. Have travelled the world - from the slopes of the Matterhorn in Zermatt to the sandy beaches of Cancun. They are all great to visit.

The article is about why celebrities want to live in MB. And my point is that it is the same reason we like to live here. I am a third generation MB resident and could care less that our "little" city is growing in popularity. Oh no!!! Run for the hills! It's Lamar Odom!! And who is that with him?! Luke Walton?! Ahhhhh...If you want quiet, move to say... Nome Alaska... where there isn't this problem.