Bulls C JOAKIM NOAH has been given the "oldest and most prestigious league award for community service" -- the Professional Basketball Writers Association's annual J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award -- for his "efforts to fight youth violence." Noah's foundation in March "launched the 'Rock Your Drop: The Drop of Consciousness' campaign against youth violence," and released an anti-violence video called 'YOU'RE NOT ALONE'" around the same time (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/15).
BOOK CLUB: Royals Senior VP/Baseball Operations & GM DAYTON MOORE's book "MORE THAN A SEASON: BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP CULTURE" begins and ends "at the same place," the '14 World Series. The remainder of the book "shares the growth process and Moore's leadership principles." It is not "a tell-all," however. Money raised from sales "will help fund Moore's pet project, his 'C You in the Major Leagues Foundation'" (KANSASCITY.com, 5/14)....UFC fighter RONDA ROUSEY's autobiography "MY FIGHT/YOUR FIGHT," co-authored by her sister, journalist MARIA BURNS ORTIZ, "wanted to deliver more than a memoir and succeeds." It is an "easy read that rises from the entertaining to the inspirational at times" (CP, 5/14).
NAMES: For the first time in the net’s history, ESPN was selected for the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, as “E:60” was named the winner in the Int’l Television category for its investigative feature “QATAR'S WORLD CUP,” an in-depth look at the preparations for the ‘22 FIFA World Cup. ESPN’s JEREMY SCHAAP and the show’s producer, BEEIN GIM, will be recognized along with Exec Producer ANDY TENNANT, Coordinating Producer MICHAEL BALTIERRA, and Editor TIM HORGAN (ESPN)....The Univ. of California on Thursday announced former NFLer TONY GONAZALEZ will be inducted in the school’s Athletics HOF as part of the ’15 class (SFGATE.com, 5/14)....Panthers LB THOMAS DAVIS will drive the pace car at next Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/15).
