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Sports InsiderDennis Rodman: NBA Fruit Loop and Super Freak.
July 31st 2006 10:46
There have been some interesting characters to say the least in NBA
history, but perhaps none was as crazy as Dennis Rodman. The Worm as he was popular known was an fruit loop par excellence, but it wasn't always that way.
When Rodman was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round he was an shy Texas kid from a Division 3 University. What does Division 3 mean? Basically the third tier of college basketball. Rodzilla was a total work horse who was an physical stud, while having the type of work ethic that would make coaches drool.
The Pistons picked Dennis in the 1986 draft and couldn't have been in a better position to develop as a basketball player. Rodman was not only fortunate to play for a star studded team, but under the guidance of legendary coach Chuck Daly who would harness Rodman's energy and enthusiasm in a positive manner.
Rodzilla was most well known for his rebounding and defensive efforts and was recognised for his work stopping the opposition, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988. Do you know what else, dear reader? The man was so sensitive and stoked to win the award that he burst out crying in
public.
Although, people familiar with Rodman would guess that the Worm was the ultimate show pony, it is far from the case. Many people who know the inner workings of the man would attest to the fact that he was an extremely shy and sensitive person. However, there were signs that the man was not totally with it during his time with Detroit.
During his rookie season with the Pistons and battling the Boston Celtics with the legendary Larry Bird, Rodman, made a name for himself by having an outstanding defensive outfit on the superstar Celtic. When the Pistons were finally knocked out, Rodman courted controversy when he suggested that the reason Bird was so popular with the public and the press was because he was white. Needless, to say this caused a shit storm, especially when Isiah Thomas agreed with Rodman's critique. Both players were forced to apologise, but Rodman would clarify his comments years later by stating that Bird was actually close to unstoppable, and that he should have said that the reason Bird was so loved was because he played in Boston, rather than being white.
Perhaps the seminal night for Rodman was in 1993 when he was in the Detroit
Pistons carpark with a shotgun by his side, contemplating suicide. In his biography Bad as I Wanna Be, Rodman would state that it was this night the 'old' Dennis Rodman was killed, leading to the Worm we would all know and love.
Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs during the 1993 offseason where he would break out into wider public consciousness by dying his hair a variety of colours, acting like a big loon and dating Madonna.
There was little doubt that Rodman was an effective rebounder and defender, but his crazy antics were becoming too much for the conservative Spurs organisation, and disciplinarian General Manager Gregg Popovich who traded Rodman to the Bulls.
Upon joining the Chicago Bulls and with Michael Jordan on the roster, things got really crazy. The attention on the Bulls was out of the stratosphere and Dennis thrived in the environment. Jordan wouldn't tolerate any drama from the Worm, while Coach Phil Jackson had Rodman on a tight leash. Rodman would help the Bulls win three consecutive championships, while gaining rebouding and defensive accolades along the way.
Rodman's time with the Bulls was without total drama. Kicking camera people, headbutting refs and dissing Mormons were some of his transgressions with Chicago.
Perhaps the most bizarre stunt that Rodman was involved in was when he rocked up to a book signing in a full wedding dress. Weird.
After his time with the Bulls, Dennis bounced around with the Lakers and Dallas which dumped him like a hot potato.
Dennis' personal life would see him get involved with former uber-babe Carmen Electra, marry her, dump her, then get arrested for assaulting her.
Rodman would get involved in professional wrestling with Hulk Hogan, while being a regular on police arrest sheets.
Most recently Rodman was signed to play basketball for a team in London, while probably shagging white chicks around the world. Respect.
Dennis Rodman was just misunderstood. (Image from Wikipedia)
When Rodman was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round he was an shy Texas kid from a Division 3 University. What does Division 3 mean? Basically the third tier of college basketball. Rodzilla was a total work horse who was an physical stud, while having the type of work ethic that would make coaches drool.
The Pistons picked Dennis in the 1986 draft and couldn't have been in a better position to develop as a basketball player. Rodman was not only fortunate to play for a star studded team, but under the guidance of legendary coach Chuck Daly who would harness Rodman's energy and enthusiasm in a positive manner.
Rodzilla was most well known for his rebounding and defensive efforts and was recognised for his work stopping the opposition, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988. Do you know what else, dear reader? The man was so sensitive and stoked to win the award that he burst out crying in
Rodman and Hulk Hogan would form a deadly wrestling duo. (Image from Wikipedia)
Although, people familiar with Rodman would guess that the Worm was the ultimate show pony, it is far from the case. Many people who know the inner workings of the man would attest to the fact that he was an extremely shy and sensitive person. However, there were signs that the man was not totally with it during his time with Detroit.
During his rookie season with the Pistons and battling the Boston Celtics with the legendary Larry Bird, Rodman, made a name for himself by having an outstanding defensive outfit on the superstar Celtic. When the Pistons were finally knocked out, Rodman courted controversy when he suggested that the reason Bird was so popular with the public and the press was because he was white. Needless, to say this caused a shit storm, especially when Isiah Thomas agreed with Rodman's critique. Both players were forced to apologise, but Rodman would clarify his comments years later by stating that Bird was actually close to unstoppable, and that he should have said that the reason Bird was so loved was because he played in Boston, rather than being white.
Perhaps the seminal night for Rodman was in 1993 when he was in the Detroit
Read 'Bad as I Wanna Be' for graphic details on sex with Madonna. (Image from Wikipedia)
Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs during the 1993 offseason where he would break out into wider public consciousness by dying his hair a variety of colours, acting like a big loon and dating Madonna.
There was little doubt that Rodman was an effective rebounder and defender, but his crazy antics were becoming too much for the conservative Spurs organisation, and disciplinarian General Manager Gregg Popovich who traded Rodman to the Bulls.
Upon joining the Chicago Bulls and with Michael Jordan on the roster, things got really crazy. The attention on the Bulls was out of the stratosphere and Dennis thrived in the environment. Jordan wouldn't tolerate any drama from the Worm, while Coach Phil Jackson had Rodman on a tight leash. Rodman would help the Bulls win three consecutive championships, while gaining rebouding and defensive accolades along the way.
Rodman's time with the Bulls was without total drama. Kicking camera people, headbutting refs and dissing Mormons were some of his transgressions with Chicago.
Perhaps the most bizarre stunt that Rodman was involved in was when he rocked up to a book signing in a full wedding dress. Weird.
After his time with the Bulls, Dennis bounced around with the Lakers and Dallas which dumped him like a hot potato.
Dennis' personal life would see him get involved with former uber-babe Carmen Electra, marry her, dump her, then get arrested for assaulting her.
Rodman would get involved in professional wrestling with Hulk Hogan, while being a regular on police arrest sheets.
Most recently Rodman was signed to play basketball for a team in London, while probably shagging white chicks around the world. Respect.
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