On the heels of Bulls C JOAKIM NOAH’s "well-received, anti-violence video 'You’re Not Alone,'" Noah has "launched another initiative." Noah: "Me and my mother started this movement, it’s called Rock Your Drop: The Drop of Consciousness. It’s a necklace that represents a tear drop. ... It’s to bring awareness to all the violence that’s going on and also that we’re all in this together, and you’re not alone. ... The more money we raise with these drops, the [more] programs we can put in for these kids." The necklaces are "available for purchase" on www.RockYourDrop.com. Noah: "It’s a harsh reality here in Chicago. Violence is out of control. As somebody who plays for the Chicago Bulls, I just feel like it’s important to be aware and to be involved" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/5).
BANK JOB: 49ers RB FRANK GORE "has agreed to take a drastically reduced monetary settlement in a high-profile lawsuit" involving BB&T and 16 current and former NFLers. The players sued BB&T in November '13, "citing disputed financial transactions made within a south Florida bank before BB&T bought the bank" in July '12. Gore "claimed a loss" of $1.6M. The remaining plaintiffs "expect the lawsuit to go to trial" later this year (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 3/5).
FANTASY BECOMES REALITY: The Fantasy Sports Combine, a large-scale conference for fantasy sports enthusiasts scheduled for this July in Las Vegas, has added ESPN's MATTHEW BERRY to its roster of experts slated to appear at the event. Berry joins a variety of other fantasy personalties, current and former pro athletes, and former NFL coaches MIKE SHANAHAN and MIKE DITKA (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
NAMES: USA Today's CHRISTINE BRENNAN and ESPN's MICHAEL WILBON will join Northwestern Univ.'s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications as professors of practice as part of the school's new sports journalism graduate program (NU)....Cynopsis Sports Media announced that Gatorade and Propel CMO MORGAN FLATLEY and CBS Sports Group Chair SEAN MCMANUS will be honorees at its annual awards show April 16. McManus gets the '15 Legacy Award while Flatley gets the GEM Award on behalf of the Gatorade brand (Cynopsis)....Lions WR RYAN BROYLES is working with State Treasurer KEN MILLER on an Oklahoma-wide effort "to improve the money management skills of high school and middle school students” (OKLAHOMAN, 3/5)....Predators C MIKE RIBEIRO is being sued by his former nanny, who claims the NHLers assaulted her in ‘12. The suit also claims that Ribeiro’s wife “verbally attacked” the nanny following the alleged incident. She is suing for more than $1M (TMZ.com, 3/4)....Giants QB ELI MANNING will serve as the ’15 Celebrity Chair for the March of Dimes’ March for Babies in N.Y. (March of Dimes).
