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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:

This past weekend I caught up with friend and client, NFL Veteran Marcellus Wiley. We talked about what he has been up too, his new life ventures and his time in the NFL. Check out the interview below.

 You are on ESPN Radio and a TV Show. How do balance your schedule?

Thank God for the iPhone and a little patience. I never look too far ahead. I try not to peak into the future with my calendar, just day to day big dog….day to day!

What do you miss, if anything, about playing in the NFL?

I don’t miss the game. I rarely miss the locker room. The checks weren’t bad, but I really don’t miss anything about it. It was super rewarding and equally as painful. It was a means to an end, and I’m far from the end! Forward we go!

Which NFL player, former or current do you admire the most?

Eric Dickerson was my idol growing up, so I have to stick with the original. Their are many guys I highly respect, but it all started with #29

What is your favorite restaurant in Los Angeles?

Bamboo’s on Venice. Caribbean food that is affordable with the best seasonings and spices I’ve ever tasted.

Most families hang out around the kitchen. What dish would Marcellus make to keep them there?

Tacos with Ketchup. That’s right, Ketchup! Nothing is better! I can eat them all day and most of my family would agree with me.

What do you like best about living downtown?

I can walk downstairs to work. My commute involves flip flops! Also, I love all the restaurants, bars, and the short walk to Staples Center. Everyday it seems like the community is growing. New York West!

Any future projects we should know about?

Yes, I’m working on a podcast, a very exciting project around the Espys, and a book is in the works! Your boy is trying to keep pace with the spirit of Downtown LA…hustle hard!

**Be sure to listen to Marcellus on the “Max & Marcellus” show on 710 ESPN Radio weekdays from 3-7pm.  You can also watch him daily on Sports Nation.

Watch Kofi & Mauricio’s televised interview with TMZ on the Michael Jordan Listing

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Iggy Azalea is officially the No. 1 rapper, at least according to the Billboard Music Awards.

The “Fancy” hit maker won the award for Top Rap Artist on Sunday night, but you probably didn’t know that since her win wasn’t televised during the awards show. Azalea bested 2013 winner Nicki Minaj, as well as Drake, J. Cole and Rae Sremmurd. Some may be left pondering one question, though: I-G-G-WHY?

Azalea’s win shouldn’t be much of a surprise, since she made Billboard history last year as the female rapper with the longest run on the Hot 100 chart. The rapper’s hit “Fancy” with Charlie XCX spent seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 and was namedBillboard’s Song of the Summer last year.

In addition to “Fancy,” Azalea’s “Problem” featuring Ariana Grande became the rapper’s second biggest single in the U.S. and remained in the top 10 of the Hot 100 for sixteen weeks. When “Problem” peaked at the No. 2 spot, Azalea made even more history, matching with The Beatles as the second act ever to appear in the top two spots of the Hot 100 with their first two Billboard Hot 100 hits in the U.S. The rapper was also only the third woman to have the top two spots on the chart, alongside Mariah Carey and Ashanti.

This is Azalea’s third Billboard Music Award. She also won Top Rap Song for “Fancy” and Top Streaming Artist. Azalea was also nominated for Top New Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Rap Album for “The New Classic,” Top Hot 100 Song for “Fancy,” Top Streaming Song (Audio) for “Fancy,” the fan-voted Billboard Chart Achievement Award, and again in the Top Rap Song category for “Black Widow.”

Azalea also performed alongside Britney Spears at the award show, belting out their new single “Pretty Girls.”

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With its original franchise about to come to its end, freshman spinoff series “CSI: Cyber” has been renewed for one more season.

CBS announced last Wednesday that “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” will be ending its 15-year run. As a parting gift, a 2-hour special will be airing on Sept. 27. William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger, two of the show’s original cast members, are said to come back for the finale show.

Starring Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette, the procedural series follows the same format as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” but it mainly focuses on cases involving cyber criminals. Arquette solves weekly cyber crime cases with help from her team of tech experts.

“CSI: Cyber” already wrapped up its debut season and is already preparing for its next offering.

With “CSI: Cyber” renewed for one more season, CBS teased several changes to the spinoff, including a fairly new character joining the show and another one exiting. The freshman show, which started off with so-so ratings, will also be undergoing some “creative tweaks” in an effort to improve the story.

According to Deadline, the “CSI” franchise won’t be letting Ted Danson go despite “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” getting the boot. He will reportedly be helping Special Agent Avery Ryan (Arquette) as his already established character D.B. Russell.

The two characters have already met in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” season 15 when the Las Vegas team investigated a blackmailing case that involved a hacker using an innocent woman’s face as an online prostitute.

Meanwhile, “CSI: Cyber” season on regular Peter MacNicol, who played Assistant Director Stavros Sifter, won’t be coming back for a second season. Will Danson be taking his spot as Avery’s supervisor next season?

According to The Inquisitr, Danson’s transfer wasn’t the reason for MacNicol’s decision to exit the freshman show.

Aside from Arquette, Danson will be joining the show’s other regular cast members, James Van Der Beek, Bow Wow and Charley Koontz.

What do you think about “CSI: Cyber” being renewed and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” being cancelled by CBS?