http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10134211/dennis-rodman-return-north-korea-train-basketball-team Dennis Rodman back to North Korea Updated: December 13, 2013, 5:14 PM ET Dennis Rodman plans to travel to North Korea next week to train its basketball team, a trip unaffected by the execution of leader Kim Jong Un's uncle. Jang Song Thaek's execution, announced early Friday in Pyongyang, marked an unprecedented fall from grace of one of the most powerful figures in the country as well as its most serious political upheaval in decades. Jang was North Korea's No. 2 official -- behind only Kim. Rodman considers Kim a close friend and has a long-scheduled trip that starts Monday to train the national team. Rodman also has organized an exhibition game in January in Pyongyang to celebrate Kim's birthday. Rodman could reveal the roster next week. He says former professional basketball players have committed to the game, though he declined to reveal names. Rodman, known as much for his piercings, tattoos and bad behavior as he was for basketball, was the highest-profile American to meet Kim since Kim inherited power from father Kim Jong Il in 2011. He traveled to the secretive state for the first time in February with the Harlem Globetrotters for an HBO series produced by New York-based VICE television. "Yes, I'm going to North Korea to train the basketball team," he told The Associated Press by phone. "I'm going to bring American players over there. Yes I am. I'm going to be the most famous person in the world when you see American people holding hands and hoping the doors can be opened. If they can. If they can. If they can. I'm going. I'm going back for his birthday. Special." Rodman has been criticized for not talking about North Korea's human rights record, described as one of the world's worst by activists, the U.S. State Department and North Korean defectors. The defectors have repeatedly testified about the government's alleged use of indiscriminate killings, rapes, beatings and prison camps holding as many as 120,000 people deemed opponents of authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un, the third generation of his family to rule. Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press
rodman thinks this is all a joke, what happens when kim jong un orders rodman and his team of americans executed bc he gets pissed off that they play no defense........im seeing a chappelle show "when keeping it real goes wrong"
Rodman in North Korea to train national team Former NBA basketball star Dennis Rodman walks with Vice Minister of North Korea's Sports Ministry, Son Kwang Ho, as Rodman arrives at the international airport in Pyongyang, North Korea on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013. Photo: Kim Kwang Hyon, AP http://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/Rodman-flies-to-North-Korea-to-train-national-team-5077475.php
Maybe something positive comes out of this. Maybe basketball will set the people free or just for a bit forget about the hardship living under that regime.
I can see it in text books 50 years from now. "World War III was caused by a cross dressing basketball player."
Rodman should include THIS GUY in his roster of 12. Surely the North Korean team can learn a thing or two from him.
I recently watched the Vice documentary of when Rodman and some Globetrotters went over to N.Korea. The documentary definitely made it seem as though some creepy, conspiracy stuff was going on throughout the visit, but the parts where they played basketball with the Korean players and children made it seem as though something good was happening. I mean, who doesn't like the Globetrotters? And apparently people over there love basketball (apparently). In the grand scheme of things, these visits probably won't amount to much, but as a gesture of good will and sportsmanship its a step in the right direction I think. If you haven't seen the documentary I advise checking it out on youtube.
