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Punta Mita, best known as a perennial favorite among the celebrity clientele, has emerged as one of the most exclusive and alluring residential and resort communities in all of Mexico. A longtime haven for the stars, Punta Mita remains an unspoiled, blue-water paradise along the Riviera Nayarit, renowned for its sandy beaches, aquatic adventures, lush tropical landscape and distinctive, laid-back personality.

The Punta de Mita peninsula is located about 45-minutes northwest of Puerto Vallarta, a direct flight from Los Angeles. Though easy to get to, Punta Mita remains far removed from the popular tourist destination. Surrounded by tropical forest and the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains, Punta Mita’s 9.5 miles of varied coastline features some of Mexico’s best beaches, surfing and diving.

Just outside the gates of Punta Mita a charming, quaint town where casual restaurants dot the beachfront, people stroll along the pedestrian promenade and shop an eclectic blend of traditional markets and chic shops. The relatively young destination has evolved as one of Mexico’s most exclusive luxury communities without sacrificing its breathtaking natural beauty, culture or charm.

“Punta Mita is an incredibly unique destination. Its beauty and character remain timeless, though it offers every modern luxury amenity imaginable,” says Kofi Nartey, a Punta Mita enthusiast and Managing Director of The Agency’s Beach Cities Office.

“You have these multimillion dollar villas and luxurious resorts, like the Four Seasons and the St. Regis, yet the vibe is so relaxed and casual. You can surf all day, unwind on long, uncrowded beaches, golf, and then hit a tequila tasting or one of the waterfront restaurants at night. The lifestyle is unbeatable.”

Punta Mita offers a very limited collection of luxury properties available for homeownership, including a rare chance to own within the coveted Kupuri Estates enclave. Perched above the turquoise waters of Litibu Bay is one of only three remaining homesites available, a nearly one-acre, ocean-view property with direct beach access.

The 41,772-square-foot homesite features sweeping views of the crystal-clear Pacific Ocean. It comes with custom plans by renowned architects Ogarrio-Zapata for a 10,000-square-foot residence with private infinity-edge pool.

Homeowners at Kupuri enjoy an effortless lifestyle of casual elegance and access to Punta Mita’s exclusive amenities including two nearby beach clubs, kid’s club, two oceanfront Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, and a 10-court tennis center. Steps away are stunning white-sand beaches while just offshore, the Marieta national park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offers some of the world’s best snorkeling and stunning remote beaches a 15-minute boat ride away.

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In an interview with Southbay Magazine, the athletic stalwarts of the Beach Cities team, Michael Grady (Director of the Beach Cities Office) and Kofi Natei Nartey (Managing Director of the Beach Cities Office & Director of The Agency’s Sports and Entertainment Division), talk collaboration, the rise of ‘Silicon Beach’ and the utility of the sports metaphor for the publication’s February/March issue.

Offering a  candor and mutual affinity for the cities that hug our coastline, Michael and Kofi don’t simply discuss collaboration as real estate legalese but as a proper ethic: a principle that generates a constant spirit of innovation. The two brandish their own personal residential context as a point of immediate relevance to clients on both ends of the realty equation. “Michael is from Manhattan Beach, and Kofi lives in the South Bay and has children in area schools.” Michael states, “We represent buyers and sellers of homes in the South Bay as well as in Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Venice and up into Malibu.”

In a results-based industry, it’s this same spirit and savvy among the intertwining networks and relationships that make Michael and Kofi ideally suited to serve the influx of newer residents mired in the tech sector of ‘Silicon Beach.’

When asked what character traits clients prize most about the realtor/homeowner relationship, the two agents responded, “We focus on meeting and delivering on expectations. Time and time again our clients have thanked us for being honest and direct. We are creative in our deal-making, try to make the process as stress-free as possible and even manage to have fun during the process.”

In Southbay magazine’s feature on the influential realtors in the region, Michael, Kofi and The Agency are set apart by the same tenets that redefining real estate was founded: collaboration, innovation and results.

 How do you distinguish yourself from the competition?

“The Agency is built on collaboration. As former athletes and coaches, you understand that a team is more powerful than any individual. The Agency embodies this belief by creating a collaborative environment, which is rare in this industry. Sharing with our colleagues in an innovative environment gives us an edge in being able to offer best practices and inside market knowledge. Also, our exposure in multiple media platforms and on numerous real-estate related television shows enables us to give our clients’ properties unprecedented exposure.”

What trends do you foresee for the 2015 real estate market in Southern California?

“With the South Bay being one of the most in-demand markets in the country, the renaissance LA is undergoing, and the rise of ‘Silicon Beach’—attracting interest from buyers in technology, finance, digital and other creative industries from around the world—there’s never been a better time for real estate in Southern California. We have the best climate, cuisine and beaches helping drive demand.”

What makes your firm and you unique?

“The world of real estate is so much more global these days. The Agency has a unique partnership with Savills, a renowned international real estate advisor with more than 500 offices worldwide and an unrivaled network in Europe and Asia. Being able to expose our listings globally through this partnership is priceless. On a local level, we drive higher sales through our innovative, lifestyle-driven marketing. We don’t know of any other real estate office with a 15-person marketing and PR team behind every listing and development project.”

What areas do you primarily specialize in?

“Michael is from Manhattan Beach, and Kofi lives in the South Bay and has children in area schools. We represent buyers and sellers of homes in the South Bay as well as in Playa Vista, Marina del Rey, Venice and up into Malibu. We also specialize in servicing athletes, entertainers and the homes that appeal to this niche.”

What character traits do your clients enjoy about you?

“We focus on meeting and delivering on expectations. Time and time again our clients have thanked us for being honest and direct. We are creative in our deal-making, try to make the process as stress-free as possible and even manage to have fun during the process. Ultimately the client makes the decisions, but we empower them with our industry experience and market knowledge.”

Fast Facts: Before becoming a Realtor, Michael coached with his father, Steve Grady, former 30-year head football coach of Loyola High School. Kofi was a wide receiver at the University of California, Berkeley, was drafted as a free agent by the Oakland Raiders and later completed his MBA at Pepperdine University.

What does it take to be the best in the business?

“The motto at The Agency is to never stop innovating. Be collaborative. Have integrity. With technology, this industry is constantly changing, and we are at the forefront of that. This is what has enabled The Agency to grow its market share so rapidly. It’s a combination of having great agents and innovative and creative tools to create and close business.”

How important is integrity when working in the real estate industry?

“It’s essential. No one person is greater than the group. In a relationship business, if you don’t have integrity, you are not going to make it too far. This applies to relationships with other agents as well. Clients and other industry professionals appreciate working with honest and ethical people. Integrity is one of the core values for us here at The Agency.”

What’s most rewarding about your work?

“Delivering results is the most rewarding part of what we do. We get to know our clients very well during the process of buying or selling a home, so we know what is important to them. We are then able to use our experience, professionalism and all of the resources of The Agency to deliver results.”

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“Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris has inked an overall deal with ABC Studios, Variety has confirmed.

Under the new, three-year pact, Barris will continue to serve as exec producer and co-showrunner on “Black-ish,” in addition to which she will develop new TV projects for the network, cable and streaming services.

“We’re excited about being in business with Kenya for many years to come. His unique and hilarious point of view fits perfectly into the studio and network brand of smart, heartfelt storytelling,” commented ABC entertainment group president Paul Lee on Friday.

“I’m psyched to be able to call ABC Studios, the place that made my dreams (and my show) come true, my home for the next few years, and hopefully many more,” Barris said in a statement to Deadline. “I can’t wait for Paul Lee to bring me my diamond-encrusted ABC medallion’d gold chain so I can proudly wear it to the Emmys…or one the 17 ‘Straight out of Compton’ screenings I plan on attending.”

Patrick Moran, head of ABC Studios, added, “Kenya brought us a breakout hit last fall in ‘Black-ish,’ a show that drew raves from critics and viewers alike. We’re excited that he’ll continue to be at the helm of that show, and about the projects he’ll be developing for us in the future.”

“Black-ish” was the No. 1-rated new comedy series of last season in adults 18-49, averaging a 3.3 rating in Nielsen’s live plus-7 estimates while drawing nearly 9.5 million viewers overall per episode. Those are the best numbers any new ABC comedy has done airing behind anchor “Modern Family” on Wednesday.

Barris, one of Variety‘s honorees on this year’s Showrunners Impact Report, co-created and developed “America’s Next Top Model” and worked as a writer on “Are We There Yet?” and “The Game.” Also coming up, Barris will pen the script for Sony’s feature adaptation of “Good Time,” being produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush.

The Agency was proud to partner this week with one of the world’s most innovative companies paving the way for the future of sustainability—Tesla Motors. As part of our first annual “Green Week” initiative, The Agency hosted a very special carpool event on Tuesday featuring six Tesla Model S sedans, the world’s first premium electric sedan.

Our real estate agents traveled by caravan to different open houses showcasing luxury properties for sale across the L.A. area. The Agency then invited our clients to drop by our Beverly Hills headquarters to test drive a Tesla Model S P85D. The model offers “supercar acceleration”, also known as  “Insane Mode,” which is 50 percent more powerful than Sport mode. That translates to 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

The Agency is committed to environmental sustainability and devoted this week to sharing green-themed news, partnerships and events. Learn more about our efforts by following #TheAgencyGoesGreen on Instagram and Twitter.

In celebration of the HollyShorts Film Festival’s 11th year, The Agency’s Sports & Entertainment Division is proud to sponsor the Opening Night Celebration and 10-day festival.

The HollyShorts Film Festival showcases the best and brightest short films from around the world and helps advance the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panels. The festival features the top short films produced in 40-minutes or less.

“An event like this is a great opportunity to show our support for the filmmakers and the entertainment industry, one part of our division,” said Kofi Nartey, Director of the Sports & Entertainment Division at The Agency. “We are constantly searching for ways to bring people together to enjoy the rich experiences this city has to offer.”

The 11th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, which runs from August 13 through August 20, will screen 400 short films at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Opening night festivities will take places at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and OHM Nightclub at Hollywood and Highland on August 13. Enter for a chance to win one of two VIP tickets to the Opening Night.

For more info about the HollyShorts Film Festival, including how to secure tickets, click here.

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It seems that everyday, homes of the rich and famous make headlines for their lavish amenities, far-reaching views and sprawling acreage—yet the most extraordinary estates are the ones offering lifestyle in addition to square footage. What are the 10 most exceptional properties for sale in the U.S. at this very moment? From lakeside in Minnesota to Beverly Hills, from Martha’s Vineyard to The Ritz-Carlton in New York, these ten properties highlight the ultimate luxury lifestyle in some of the country’s most coveted zip codes.

1. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Estate  2700 High Point Lane, Highland Park, IL – $14,855,000

A private gated entrance emblazoned with Jordan’s signature number 23 is the first thing you encounter when arriving at the former NBA star’s personal Chicago estate. Purchasing this 56,000 sq. ft. property, which touts every conceivable luxury available including a basketball court, is like owning a piece of sports history—the perfect place to share his legacy for generations to come.

2. Palazzo Di Amore  9505 Lania Lane, Beverly Hills, CA – $195,000,000

Harnessing the lush beauty of the Mediterranean, along with all the cosmopolitan grandeur and convenience of a Beverly Hills address, Palazzo Di Amore is a real estate jewel. Outstanding amenities throughout the property’s 25 acres include a state-of-the-art theater, discotheque, bowling alley, wine cellar and wine producing vineyard, pool, spa, formal gardens, a tennis court and spectacular city to ocean vistas.

3. Ritz-Carlton New York Penthouse Trio  10 W. Street, Battery Park, NY – $118,500,000

Never before has New York City seen a steeper price tag—$118.5 million to be exact, which surpasses the previous record of $114 million for a townhouse on the Upper East Side. Once combined, the three units on the top two floors at the The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park, will create 15,434 sq.ft. of interior living space with an additional 2,193 sq. ft. of terrace space, making the asking price work out to about $7,600 per sq. ft.

4. Chilmark House Martha’s Vineyard  8 Snail Road, Martha’s Vineyard, MA – $22,500,000

Having acquired the expertise of a notable builder, architect and landscape designer, this unbelievable home situated on a woodsy 9.5 acre hillside was in good hands from the very beginning. Luxurious bells and whistles throughout include a chef’s kitchen, marble baths, custom casework, multiple fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, heated infinity pool, half-basketball court, a screened porch, terraces and a two-bedroom guest cottage. Additionally, the property comes with “three private Atlantic Ocean beach lots accessed by boat across Chilmark Pond from your private dock”.

5. Neverland Ranch  5225 Figueora Mountain Road, Los Olivos, CA – $100,000,000

Now dubbed Sycamore Valley Ranch, this 2,700-acre spread previously owned by the late pop superstar Michael Jackson retains the original floral clock, railroad tracks and train station.

6. The Pillsbury Estate  1400 Bracketts Point Road, Orono, MN  – $24,000,000

“Good things come to those who wait”—is what this historic mansion would say if given the chance. On the market now for eight years, the historic 32,000-square-foot estate, referred to as “Southways”, is situated on 13 acres on Lake Minnetonka, boasting seven bedrooms, 13 baths, tea house and a European wine cellar.

7. Nixon’s Western White House  San Clemente, CA – $75,000,000

For Gavin Herbert, the retired founder and CEO of Allergan—a pharmaceutical company worth nearly $70 billion—it was a lifelong love of gardening that led to his ownership of one of Southern California’s most storied and valuable coastal properties: President Richard Nixon’s so-called Western White House. Touting 5.5 acres and 450 feet of ocean frontage, the previous owner of La Casa Pacifica is looking for a buyer who will continue to care for the home and surrounding land.

8. Maison Du Soleil  10250 W. Sunset Boulevard, Holmby Hills, CA – $85,000,000

Originally designed by early architect-to-the-stars Paul Williams, this traditional-style mansion has served as the home to fashion designer Max Azria and boasts 30,000 sq. ft. of artfully updated interiors, including a whopping 60 rooms.

9. Homer’s Pond Estate on Martha’s Vineyard  West Tisbury, MA – $92,000,000

This award-winning, 5,600 sq. ft. home overlooking Little Homer’s Pond is Martha’s Vineyard real estate at its loveliest—and most private. With five wood-burning fireplaces, expansive decks, and a charming one-bedroom beach house steps from the beach, it’s the perfect venue for relaxation during any season.

10. Waterfront Estate in Palm Beach  1744 S. Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach, FL – $99,000,000

This newly-built, waterfront estate located in sunny Palm Beach, Florida blends a Mediterranean style with contemporary living spaces. Features found throughout the 23,512 sq. ft, of indoor/outdoor areas include a grand staircase leading to a 2-story great room, gourmet kitchen, home theater, swimming pool, tennis court and boat dock.

This list of the 10 Most Noteworthy was prepared by Kofi Natei Nartey, Director of The Agency’s Sports & Entertainment Division, established to meet the unique real estate needs of professional athletes and entertainment personalities.

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For many professional athletes, the glory of winning and the agony of defeat aren’t limited to the field. The initial thrill of a multimillion-dollar salary can quickly turn into financial ruin if athletes are unprepared and inexperienced about managing their money.

“It doesn’t take many wrong financial decisions to lose a fortune,” said Jay Liberman, a financial advisor with RBC Wealth Management. For many athletes, the issue is often compounded by extreme youth. “Some of them come into money at the age of 18,” Liberman added. “It’s almost inconceivable that anyone that age would have a good set of financial skills.”

Though sports contracts can be highly lucrative, many pro athletes have shockingly brief careers. A 2013 study by Sports Interaction found that in most major sports, the average career length is less than six years. That heightens the need for specialized wealth planning that will take an athlete from initial contract-signing through a potentially lengthy retirement.

It can be overwhelming to be on the receiving end of a financial windfall, said Liberman. Signing that first contract may be intoxicating but all too often, many athletes don’t realize the importance of seeking professional guidance to help manage their finances.

Part of the problem is that there’s no time to adjust to the dramatic change in income. “It’s not isolated to pro athletes,” Liberman noted. “We tend to find it in situations where people come into wealth suddenly, whether they won the lottery or had a liquidity event from the sale of a business.”

Recipients of sudden wealth don’t have years of money-management experience on their side. “If people grow wealth slowly over time, by the time they are ready for distributions, they’ve developed some of the skills to manage it,” he added.

Pro athletes also discover that their fame often affords entry into the rarefied lifestyle of celebrities, said Susan Bradley, founder of Sudden Money Institute and member of the Financial Education Advisory Board for the NFL Players Association.

“There are a lot of concierge services built into their life because of who they are,” Bradley said. When athletes are getting VIP treatment, they can become insulated from the real world of day-to-day finances and end up overspending as they get accustomed to a richer lifestyle.

Spending Big Without A Spending Plan

Youth, peer pressure and an unfathomable sum of money can easily lead to overspending. Athletes who refuse to acknowledge that their future income is dependent on the next contract typically ramp up spending to a level that’s not sustainable over a lifetime.

Liberman said many athletes who sign a seven-figure contract at a young age often don’t see the consequences of spending because they’ve just come into an amount of money that could make any purchases seem reasonable. “It doesn’t even have to be dramatic spending,” he said. “It could be buying a home or two, but those first contracts can be spent pretty quickly.”

He counsels athletes to think of each contract as their last. “I tell them to build a lifestyle around the current situation and one that can be sustained. We figure out a distribution that is reasonable,” he added.

“Their initial earning power can support a big lifestyle, but if they let the lifestyle continue to grow to match what they are earning, they won’t be able to sustain it once their career ends. It’s very hard to go backward in lifestyle once they’ve become used to a higher one.”

Developing New Attitudes About Money

Fiscal education is typically not enough to put athletes on the right path to a solid financial future. “In reality, the culture they live in is pretty tough to crack,” said Bradley.

But increasingly public tales of athletes making regrettable financial decisions that left them bankrupt have helped reinforce the importance of fiscal responsibility, Bradley noted. “They hear it and they know it. Some say, ‘that’s not me,’ or ‘it won’t happen to me,’ but others try not to be a cliché.”

Counteracting the celebrity-athlete culture that encourages a lavish lifestyle requires more than just teaching money management skills. “The best way I’ve found to make a difference is to help them understand what we call their ‘money story,’ which is basically the hardwiring they learned as a kid,” Bradley said.

Whether they recognize it or not, everyone has absorbed money lessons in childhood and their behavior as an adult reflects these habits. Athletes are in a better position to reject bad habits in favor of developing good ones after they’ve exposed the roots of their attitude and behavior around money, Bradley said.

The upside of working with athletes on a fiscally-responsible approach to wealth is they are very focused on goals, Bradley added. “I go right to their strengths: They’re disciplined and easily coached.”

She teaches them to practice good habits early while they’re still earning big paychecks. “I tell them if they save 30 percent, or even 50 percent of their income now, they won’t even feel it.” With good spending habits, they can keep some of their luxuries during the years they earn less.

A New Investment Playbook

Wealth planning for pro athletes can seem counterintuitive to the average person. A career arc in more traditional professions can span 50 years with employees usually realizing their highest earning power the closer they are to retirement. But for athletes, the high-earning years usually come sooner, followed by many years of little or no income. Investment rules are different in this scenario, Liberman said.

“Typically, people can take investment risk at younger ages because they have a better idea of their time horizon [for accumulation] and can ride out the market cycles,” Liberman said, pointing out that many people plan to take distributions from their portfolio after they’ve allowed it to grow for 30 or 40 years.

Liberman noted there is very little time for athletes to transition from saving for retirement to spending in retirement. “The time horizon for when they need the money is potentially short.” The possibility of early distributions and the volatility of an athlete’s salary should be carefully considered in a portfolio that initially errs toward safety rather than risk.

“It could be very dangerous to have a significant loss during the early earning years,” he said.

Liberman said as athletes accumulate more money, their portfolios can be allocated more aggressively toward growth. But this is not true for rookies with just one contract under their belt. “We have to be honest and tell them we can build a portfolio that can give them assistance, but probably won’t support them for the rest of their life.

“If they are fortunate enough to have their career extended and higher contracts, we can reposition the portfolio to be more aggressive,” he added. “We’re constantly pushing the goalposts back, so to speak.”

Risky Ventures

With a large paycheck in hand, pro athletes can be attracted to risky business ventures. The temptation to put your name on a restaurant is hard to resist, said Bradley. “It’s kind of the cool thing, but there have to be policies around tangible investments.”

Bradley added that one of the biggest surprises she’s found when working with athletes on an investment approach is what she calls the “predatory activity” among players. “A lot of times, the craziest schemes come from other players.”

Some of these investments sound interesting and sexy, she noted, but they have many layers to them with outsized performance numbers attached. “Let’s just say these are not mutual funds,” she said.

Bradley advises athletes to work only with highly-credentialed financial advisors who will do due diligence on investments and help them set up a manageable budget.

“Don’t make it complicated,” she added. “Adopt a disciplined saving program, pay off credit card debt in full every month, and only work with legitimate financial advisors. Even those three policies will make a big difference in their success.”

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LOS ANGELES – We’re adrift in the doldrums of the sports world. Soccer’s over, basketball’s over, no football for another two months, and baseball is in its All-Star break. So For The Win headed to the red carpet to cover the 2015 ESPYs.

It’s ESPN’s crossover award show that awkwardly mixes professional sports and Hollywood.

At its best, the award show offers up heartwarming celebrations of those in the sports world who made a difference, like Leah Still and Lauren Hill.

At its worst, it has terribly unfunny presenters telling us a subjective conclusion about who’s the best at what, after we’ve already covered it, you know, objectively with scoreboards and championships and stuff.

But first, the red carpet. It was hot. Very hot.

And sure there were plenty of people dressed like sideshow attractions. But for every Raiders punter that showed up in a Superman costumethere was at least at least one Alex Morgan, looking regal. (No, she didn’t talk to me.)

So now that all the awards have been handed out and everyone has lit off to the after party, let’s get into some of the high notes from this year’s show, in no particular order.

1. JOEL MCHALE PULLING EXACTLY ZERO PUNCHES IN THE OPENING MONOLOGUE

The ESPYs opening monologue is like any other cold open– chuck a bunch of jokes at the wall and pray that some of them stick. It’s easy to trip up, but that usually only happens when you don’t fully commit.

And Joel McHale committed. He was absolutely ruthless.

He started by roasting Russell Wilson for throwing that fateful interception in the Super Bowl (reminder: you STILL have Marshawn Lynch), and followed up by jabbing LeBron James for being out-coached by Steve Kerr in the NBA Finals.

He called Jordan Spieth the next Tiger Woods which would usually a complement, but to be Tiger Woods then, you have to be Tiger Woods now, and that doesn’t bode too well for the future Mrs. Jordan Spieth.

Oh, and he got Jason Pierre-Paul too. Big time.

2. ALEX RODRIGUEZ APOLOGIZING…FOR EVERYTHING

Early on, baseball’s resident heel Alex Rodriguez got Ken Jeong to read a lengthy apology for him. It was a full two pages long, and spanned everything from [redacted Game Of Thrones spoiler] to gluten, the water shortage in California, and Greece’s economy circling the drain.

He apologized for everything, except for all of the stuff that actually mattered.

3. LEBRON JAMES WINNING BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE, EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN’T WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP

LeBron James played his heart out in the NBA Finals. He nearly averaged 30-point triple-doubles the entire series. He forced a Game 6, almost all by his onesie (stellar and random performances from Matthew Dellavedova notwithstanding). He fought tooth and nail and still came up empty-handed because the Warriors were just too good. Truth be told, he probably deserved the Finals MVP award, but that ended up in the hands of Andre Iguodala.

It was undoubtedly the Best Championship Performance, and at the very least James was validated with an ESPY.

4. DANIELLE GREEN RECEIVING THE PAT TILLMAN AWARD

Danielle Green punched her ticket out of the South Side of Chicago with a basketball scholarship to Notre Dame and had a successful five years there as an excellent (5-foot-8) point guard. Green then headed off to serve her country in Iraq but lost her left arm from the elbow down in the explosion of a rocket propelled grenade. Green returned home and was decorated with a Purple Heart, and, even after giving so much, continued to give back as a readjustment counseling therapist to post-war veterans and their families.

Green delivered an emotional and moving acceptance speech with a stirring call-to-action:

“Ask yourself: What’s my purpose? What’s my passion? What do I want my legacy to be? How can I live as a full human being? We can all find ways to support the people around us. We can all find a purpose on this Earth larger than yourself.”

5. J.J. WATT AND BRITNEY SPEARS

While presenting the Best Female Athlete Award (which went to Ronda Rousey, obviously), J.J. Watt and Britney Spears engaged in some light, scripted flirting, wherein Watt confessed that “Hit Me, Baby, One More Time” was a huge inspiration to him.

No, not because it makes him think about ripping through offensive lines like tissue paper and laying the smackdown on opposing quarterbacks, but because way deep down, just like the rest of us, J.J. Watt is just trying to stay strong and not die alone.

6. NATE RUESS’ ‘IN MEMORIAM’ PERFORMANCE

In a year when we lost so many, Nate Ruess’ special performance of his soaring solo effort “Moment,” really hit home. It was a segment that was marked by restraint. No gimmicks, no distractions, just his voice, and a backdrop of all of the sports figures that left us this year.

7. DEVON STILL’S AMAZING SPEECH

Leah Still is stronger than you, or me, or anyone else. You could search the world over and struggle mightily to find a child one-tenth as inspiring. She couldn’t travel to the ESPYs, but her father, Devon Still was on hand to accept the Jimmy V Perseverance award on her behalf. And his speech. His speech.

Wow.

The Agency’s Second Quarter Report for the Los Angeles prime residential markets was just released today, and its findings not only reveal sustained growth but record-setting highs across the most sought after neighborhoods.

 The number of single-family residence transactions topped 1,053 over the warm spring months, which set a new 10-year record. Also impressive is the fact that The Agency represented 2 of the recorded 5 sales in the ultra-luxury category, further cementing our team as the leader in the $20 MM+ home sales segment.

Our latest Neighborhood Spotlight, a quarterly series that features a special market within of Los Angeles, invites readers to delve into the beachside community of Malibu. From the historic Malibu Pier to the multi-million dollar homes clinging to the shores of “Billionaire’s Beach”, you might just learn something new about this 21 mile-stretch of beautiful coastline.

To read the full report, click here. The report analyzes all condominium sales over $500,000 and single-family home sales over $1,000,000 in the prime neighborhoods of Los Angeles – stretching from downtown to Santa Monica and Malibu and roughly from the 1-10 Freeway to Mulholland Drive.

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We got a glimpse of what Kevin Durant‘s latest sneaker model would look like a little over a month ago, when Durant himself began to leak images via his social media channels.

On Tuesday, the KD8 got its proper unveiling, as Nike Basketball formally announced Durant’s eighth signature shoe.

As is always the case with Durant and his personal line of sneakers, the designs vary drastically from one iteration to the next. Gone is the strap we saw on the KD7, and introduced on the KD8 are two new forms of technological innovations that are a first for a basketball sneaker.

From the official release: