Mira Costa falls in tourney finals as Kim is hampered by injury and Brentwood’s Kupchak shines
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak came to Mira Costa Saturday and left with reason to be proud of his son, Maxwell.
Redondo Union, powered by Billy Preston’s 25 points and 15 boards, eeks out win over St. John Bosco
Sophomore Billy Preston shows why he’s already being pursued by Division 1 colleges.
Tough love and good groundstrokes
When Robert Lansdorp’s daughter Stephanie threw a surprise 75 th birthday party for her dad at the West End Racquet & Health Club last November 15, it quickly morphed into something much more than just a party. “It became a celebration of his life and the positive influence he’s had on so many people,” recalled […]
Manhattan Tennis Open director gets no love from Manhattan
Why? That was the question hanging like a too-short lob this week after Manhattan Beach Open Tournament Director Bennet Slusarz was notified his contract would not be renewed for next year’s tournament. Over the past three years Slusarz took the Open from moribund to marquee status as the South Bay’s premier tennis event. His dismissal […]
Cook, Manasse capture Manhattan Beach Open tennis titles
For Maegan Manasse and Lester Cook, the winners of the top women’s and men’s divisions of the Manhattan Beach Open, tennis greatness was so near – just one court away – and yet so far away Sunday afternoon. As the two newly-crowned champions earned their straight-set victories on the show court in a sunken bowl […]
The Wolf of Wall Street: Manhattan Beach author’s rise and fall will be portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio
When the topic turned from hard core finance to hard court tennis the Wolf of Wall Street suddenly sounded like John McEnroe after winning Wimbledon. “I’ve got the best forehand in Manhattan Beach,” Jordan Belfort proclaimed. “Definitely not the best backhand… but the best forehand? Yeah.” Manhattan Beach is home to Maria Sharapova and Jeff […]
A legend remembered: Bill Sharman, the man who began the Lakers championship tradition [VIDEO]
It was a day of effusive affection, bittersweet reflections and surprising confessions. Kobe Bryant admitted he can be temperamental, stand-offish and impatient with his teammates. Pat Riley admitted that early in his NBA career he worried he wasn’t going to have an NBA career much longer. And Jerry West admitted he can be really […]
NBA great, Laker coach, Celtic player, jump shot inventor, South Bay native Bill Sharman, R.I.P.
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that Bill Sharman died today at his Redondo Beach home. He was 87. The following originally appeared June 12, 2008, prior to the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals. Bill Sharman coached the LA Lakers to their first NBA championship, helped lead the Boston Celtics to four NBA championships as a player, invented […]
Miracle at Live Oak: Underdogs take classic Manhattan Beach hoops tourney
Call it the Miracle of Live Oak, destined to be right up there with the Miracle of the First Night when it comes to Jewish legends. Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews, began Friday night. So it was only fitting that two hours before sunset Friday three Jewish ballers who call […]
Costa star wins Manhattan Beach Open
The Manhattan Beach Open was a three-course feast: four days of great tennis, a local star won the women’s championship and rock star Redfoo was in the middle of it all. But celebrity sightings and a great field, alas, does not ensure great final matches. That was starkly illustrated Sunday afternoon at Live Oak Park […]
Manasse, Peralta win Manhattan Beach Open; Redfoo omnipresent
The Manhattan Beach Open was a three-course feast: four days of great tennis, a local star won the women’s championship and rock star Redfoo was in the middle of it all. But celebrity sightings and a great field, alas, does not ensure great final matches. That was starkly illustrated Sunday afternoon at Live Oak Park […]
Manhattan Beach Open tennis tourney ups prize money
The Manhattan Beach Open, which begins play next month, now offers more prize money than any other tennis tournament in the Los Angeles area. That distinction came by default when the men’s pro tennis event held every summer at UCLA moved to the Middle East last year. Los Angeles had already lost its women’s pro […]
Maria Sharapova touches down in her adopted hometown, Manhattan Beach
The buzz started with two words that spread through the crowd faster than a teenager’s tweet: “She’s here.” Dozens of squealing fans surged forward and a swarm of photographers started flashing away. The only things missing from the suddenly glamorous sidewalk scene were a purple velvet rope and a muscular doorman with a bad attitude. […]
Power serve nets Vardhan men’s open title at Manhattan Beach Open
Riding his big serve and laser-guided down-the-line backhand, Indian Olympian Vishnu Vardhan capped off four days of great tennis by winning the Men’s Open Singles Division at the Manhattan Beach Open Sunday afternoon. Playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 200 fans, the top-seeded Vardhan finished his Olympic preparations by wearing down second-seeded Lester […]
Hermosa resident wins top coach job
Please forgive Chris Palisin if you happen to hear him singing an off-key version of the old Etta James classic: “At last.” Palisin, the former boys Junior Varsity basketball coach at Palos Verdes High School, was recently named the Varsity Head Coach at La Quinta High School in Garden Grove. But the job offer came […]
Manhattan Beach Open tennis tourney gets makeover
The buzz is back this year at the 45th annual Manhattan Beach Open, one of the South Bay’s oldest tennis tournaments. An older tennis tournament is like an accomplished person with a distinct personality, a winning playing style and a proud past. But like many people approaching their 45th birthday, the Manhattan Beach Open was […]