Former Detroit Pistons/Chicago Bulls/Torpan Pojat power forward and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman was in Bulgaria this weekend to help that nation’s league celebrate its all-star break and oh yes, he left his mark.
Ireland-based The Score reported somewhat hyperbolically that the appearance was part of a full-on comeback to the game by the financially-troubled Rodman, but such reports may be greatly exaggerated (more on this below). Via the ‘site, though, here’s a YouTube in which a decidedly civilized and erudite Worm thanks the Bulgarian people for the opportunity, somehow finding a comparison between the country and Texas in that both locations are “very raw” and “very cool.”
The all-star game was held on Saturday night, thereby giving Rodman just enough time to sleep in late after cross the Atlantic – this, somewhat unfortunately meant that the former Chicago Bull blew off a meeting with Bulgarian Olympic Committee chairperson Stefka Kostadinova.
Reported Bulgaria-based Novinite: “Rodman … was supposed to meet up with Kostadinova, a former world sports star herself, at 2 pm on Friday.
“Instead, he ‘took her for a ride,’ the reason for that most likely being that he was still sleeping in the afternoon … Rodman is known to have partied until very early in the morning in a Sofia club, where he is said to have demonstrated amazing dancing skills, and to have showered ladies with flowers.”
Ah, now *there’s* the Rodman the Americans know and love…
Local outlet Sportal was also able to achieve a “close encounter” with The Worm, who demonstrates his pregame readiness at the age of 50 – apparently, it involves big cigars.
As for, you know, the actual all-star festivities for which Rodman was booked, Rodman was first introduced as a special guest to the familiar strains of the Bulls entrance theme, hair dyed in the tri-colors of the Bulgarian flag, essentially refrained from addressing the crowd and plopped down in a courtside lounge chair to enjoy the game – so much for comebacks.
Both sides in the matchups of the stars were sponsored, with the Turkish Airlines side overcoming the Toyota team, 110-107. Former University of Mississippi/BC Azovmash swingman Aaron Harper scored 25 in the losing effort and was named game MVP.
And today? Well, the basketball gods only know were Rodman might be – one wonders what sort of damage he could wreak with one more day in a long weekend. Recall an incident in Trier, Germany, in 2009…
