The NFLPA and Cigna on Monday are hosting a mental health program titled "Beyond the Physical: A Symposium on Mental Health in Sports" at the Georgia Tech Hotel &d Conference Center. Falcons Senior Dir of Player Affairs KEVIN WINSTON, free agent WR BRANDON MARSHALL and former NFLer WARRICK DUNN "will participate," while Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist JEFF SCHULTZ will serve on a media panel (AJC.com, 5/9).
SCREEN PLAYS: CRISTIANO RONALDO has "partnered with two companies to create his own entertainment property" called "Striker Force 7." His digital character is "expected to be rolled out across animation comics, publishing, gaming and digital content." The deal was "put together by sports agency Polaris Sports." Ronaldo also "scored a scripted drama from Facebook Watch" with LIZ GARCIA and JOSH HARTO, who created TNT's "MEMPHIS BEAT" (DEADLINE.com, 5/9)....Director EDWARD BURNS is working with Baseball HOFer TOM SEAVER to “direct a feature documentary on Seaver’s career and his role with the fabled 1969 Miracle Mets.” Burns and the producers are “in discussions to attach” MLB to the project (DEADLINE.com, 5/8).
HONOR ROLL: Basketball HOFer DAVID ROBINSON on Monday was “honored by the Kelly Cares Foundation” in N.Y. Robinson received the “Leadership in Education Award” for his “family’s work through the Robinson Family Foundation which contributes to community development and education" (MYSANANTONIO.com, 5/9)....Pro Football HOFer TONY DUNGY will inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor during halftime of their “MNF” game against the Steelers on Sept. 24 (Bucs).
Rozier (r) and Bledsoe began wearing each other's jerseysNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
NAMES: Celtics G TERRY ROZIER "finally came face to face" with former NFLer DREW BLEDSOE at TD Garden last night. Rozier "created a bond between the two" when he inadvertently called Bucks G ERIC BLEDSOE "Drew Bledsoe." Rozier then began "wearing Drew Bledsoe jerseys" to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Celtics Managing Partner WYC GROUSBECK invited Bledsoe to attend Game 5 against the 76ers (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/10)....Skateboarder NYJAH HUSTON was featured in the N.Y. Times’ fashion section. Huston: “I’m more in jeans than I am in pants. I’m usually in Levi’s skinny jeans, probably black. They’re really stretchy. I’ve found they’re the best jeans to skate in.” He added, “I like wearing mostly white shoes. It’s been something I’ve been doing for the past few years. It’s mainly because I wear black jeans most of the time, and when I pair that with a white pair of socks and white shoes, it looks clean when I skate” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/10)....One of the companies owned by Pistons Owner TOM GORES’ private equity firm is “one of two defendants in a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts court last week.” According to the lawsuit filed by consumer and prisoner rights groups, Gores’ company is “tied to an illegal kickback scheme that nearly doubles the cost of jail phone calls made by inmates in Massachusetts” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/9)....IndyCar driver TAKUMA SATO yesterday “threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field before the Cubs took on the Marlins” yesterday (INDYSTAR.com, 5/9)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer LILLY KING on Saturday will be the “pace car driver” for the IndyCar Grand Prix (USATODAY.com, 5/9)....RUDY GIULIANI last night at Yankee Stadium “sat in the second row directly behind home plate” during Red Sox-Yankees (NJ.com, 5/9).
