By David Weinberg
Start spreading the news.
According to an ESPN report, new Philadelphia 76er LeBron James is planning on living in New York City and commuting to Philly for games and Camden for practices.
The proposed plan is not unprecedented. When Wilt Chamberlain was playing for the Philadelphia Warriors in the early 1960s, he resided in a five-and-a-half room apartment in the Central Park West section of Manhattan.
The big difference, however, is that Wilt was a Philadelphia native. He was the original “Fresh Prince” – “West Philadelphia born and raised, in the playground was where I spent most of my days” – having grown up in the Haddington section of West Philly and starred at Overbrook High School.
LeBron has no such connection to Philly. Some fans argue that living in the city or South Jersey would enable him to establish a connection to the area that extends beyond the Live at Xfinity Mobile Arena and the team’s practice facility in Camden.
He could follow the pattern of several Philadelphia professional athletes and live in South Jersey. Phillies sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both have places in Haddonfield. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts rents an apartment in Cherry Hill. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey owns a farm house in Voorhees.
James could even set up shop in our neck of the woods.
If he prefers an ocean view like during his tenures with the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, he could live in Atlantic City, Brigantine, Margate or Ventnor, which are approximately an hour away from the Sixers’ home court.
The Jersey Shore has recruited him before.
Back in 2018, just before James signed with the Lakers, the late Paul Franco from Wildwood Crest put up a billboard on the Route 47 entrance into Wildwood that read: “PHILLY WANTS LEBRON” in giant letters. Just below it, in smaller script, the sign read “AND SO DO THE BAL HARBOUR HOTELS.”
Paul, who passed away in 2021, and his family have owned and operated the Bal Harbour on Stanton Road in Wildwood Crest since 1973.
They are also avid Sixers fans. Paul’s father, Joe, started taking his sons Paul and Joe Jr. to the Spectrum in the 1970s and the family has owned courtside season tickets since 1984.
Local golf courses could also be an enticement for James to establish a residence with a 609 area code.
James is an avid player who likes to spend his off days playing 18. South Jersey is home to some of the best public and private courses in the state.
Six local public courses were voted among the top 20 layouts in New Jersey in a consensus from rankings by Golf Digest, Golf Week and Golf.com.
Twisted Dune Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township earned the highest ranking, placing second in the state. Shoregate Golf Club in Ocean View (No. 4), the Bay Course at Seaview in Galloway Township (No. 5) and Ballamor in Egg Harbor Township (No. 8), Cape May National Golf Club in Lower Township (No. 17) and Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor City (No. 19) also landed in the top 10.
Harbor Pines Golf Club and McCullough’s Emerald Links, both in Egg Harbor Township, earned honorable mentions.
If he wants to go to a private, Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield; Galloway National; Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point; Linwood Country Club; and The Shore Club, Stone Harbor Golf Club and Union League National in Cape May Court House would presumably be happy to host him.
The most logical choice, of course, would be Trout National – The Reserve in Millville. Besides being the closest to Philadephia (about 45 minutes), it’s owned by Mike Trout, who though he plays for the Los Angeles Angels is a big-time Philly sports fan who holds Eagles season tickets.
And if Lebron and Mike ever need a third, I’m available.
Dutch Hoffman race set for Friday
The local lifeguard racing season kicks into high great this week with the 56th Dutch Hoffman Memorial race Friday at 6:30 on the beach at Lincoln Avenue.
The Dutch Hoffman’s event features open singles and doubles rows, and men’s and women’s paddleboard races, swims and beach runs.
Brigantine is the defending champion.
It’s the first segment in what is commonly known as the “Big Three” in the lifeguard racing season, along with the Margate Memorials on Aug. 7 and South Jersey Championships in Avalon on Aug. 14.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
