Why Manhattan Beach is jock paradise

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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
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