Here’s a look at the life of former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman.
Personal:
Birth date: May 13, 1961
Birth place: Trenton, New Jersey
Birth name: Dennis Keith Rodman
Father: Philander Rodman
Mother: Shirley Rodman
Marriages: Michelle Moyer (May 13, 2003-2012, divorced); Carmen Electra (1998-1999, divorced); Anicka Bakes (1992-1993, divorced)
Children: with Michelle Moyer: Trinity and Dennis Jr.; with Anicka Bakes: Alexis
Education: Attended Cooke County Junior College, 1982-1983; Attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 1983-1986
Other Facts:
Career Statistics: 6,683 points, 11,954 rebounds
Won five NBA championships (1988-1989, 1989-1990 with Detroit Pistons; 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998 with Chicago Bulls)
His father left the family when Rodman was three.
Worked as a janitor at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport at age 19.
Dated Madonna.
Nicknamed “The Worm.”
Has appeared on the reality shows “Celebrity Rehab” and “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Timeline:
1983 – Begins attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University on a basketball scholarship.
1986 – Is chosen in the second round of the NBA draft.
1986-1993 – Plays for the Detroit Pistons.
1990 and 1991 – Named NBA defensive player of the year.
1993-1995 – Plays for the San Antonio Spurs.
1995-1997 – Plays for the Chicago Bulls.
1996 – Rodman’s memoir, “Bad as I Wanna Be,” is released.
1997 – Is suspended and fined by the NBA for kicking a courtside photographer.
1997 – Co-stars with Jean-Claude Van Damme in the film, “Double Team.”
1999 – Plays 23 games for the Los Angeles Lakers before being released.
2000 – Plays 12 games with the Dallas Mavericks before being released.
March 2000 – Settles a lawsuit with Connie Wilcox, a Las Vegas waitress, who accused Rodman of grabbing her breasts.
July 2000 – Is sentenced to probation and required to attend an alcohol program after pleading guilty to driving under the influence.
2005 – Becomes the first man and first athlete to pose nude for a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) advertisement.
2011 – Is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
February 2013 – Travels to North Korea with the Harlem Globetrotters for an exhibition game. Strikes up a friendship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un.
September 2013 – Travels to North Korea on what he calls a “basketball diplomacy tour.”
December 2013 – Travels to North Korea, with a documentary crew, to help train a team of North Korean basketball players for a January exhibition game against former NBA players. The exhibition game will celebrate the birthday of Kim Jong Un.
January 6, 2014 – Rodman and several other former NBA players arrive in North Korea to take part in an exhibition basketball game.
January 7, 2014 – During an interview with Chris Cuomo on CNN, Rodman yells angrily and suggests that detained American Kenneth Bae had done something to deserve his 15-year sentence.
January 8, 2014 – Leads a sing along of “Happy Birthday” to Kim Jong Un.
January 9, 2014 – Apologizes for his outburst on CNN, explaining that he was stressed out and drinking when he made the remarks.
January 15, 2014 – Checks into a New Jersey alcohol-rehabilitation facility.
January 25, 2015 – The Slamdance Film Festival premieres “Big Bang in Pyongyang,” a documentary film recounting Rodman’s 2013 visit to North Korea.
November 21, 2016 – Rodman is charged with four misdemeanors after allegedly driving on the wrong side of a freeway, being involved in a hit and run, not having a valid license and lying to police. The incident happened in July 2016 in Santa Ana, California. Police say Rodman drove head-on toward another vehicle while on the wrong side of the freeway, causing the other driver to swerve to avoid Rodman’s SUV and crash into a concrete wall. The hit and run charge is later dropped. Rodman pleads guilty to the other charges and is sentenced to three years’ probation.
June 13, 2017 – Tells CNN he hopes to do “something that’s pretty positive” on what will be his fourth visit to North Korea. The four-night trip is sponsored by PotCoin, a digital currency for the cannabis industry.
December 11, 2017 – While on a “humanitarian tour” of Asia, Rodman announces that he is planning to organize a basketball game between the US territory of Guam and North Korea.
January 13-14, 2018 – Rodman is arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Newport Beach, California. After spending the night in jail, Rodman is released early Sunday.
