SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Hall of Fame in black, zebra, a cowboy hat feathers come a long arm of the bar and approached me, bowing as if he intended to plant a wet kiss on the cheek.
Dennis Rodman has done that many times, but in this particular case - 3:30 crowded Springfield-turned-strip club after-party-pad, five hours away from his emotional, semi-tortured, half-triumphant speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball induction Hall of Fame - has just whispered in my ear.
It will only get worse, brother.
We laughed together and looked at the scene around us, cleavage shots boss; Cuban cigar smoke strong voice straining to be heard as Pearl Jam "Black" rang through the speakers, old friends like Floyd Raglin, Thaer Mustafa and former NHL star Chris Chelios trade war stories with guest of honor, former Bulls teammates Steve Kerr and Jud rituals reminiscent of Michael Jordan's iconic pre-game (I do not say) Buechler, excluding Service Chicago cop George Triantafillo avoids the crowds of curious revelers, a documentary crew in tow, miles to go before we go to sleep.
"We have a game tomorrow?" Kerr, Rodman said, and Buechler, and all the cracks. "It 's like we never left."
We party like it's 1996 was an opportunity that is very unlikely: Worm as a basketball immortal. Rodman as he acknowledged in his speech in Springfield Symphony Hall, simply leave the building was not upset small, given his penchant for petulance, the rejection of all things creative and remains of potential participants.
More impressive is the idea that this kid of darkness, who stood 5 feet 11 inches to his high school, played college ball south of Naia Oklahoma State University, was a rookie 25 years for the Detroit Pistons in 1986-87 season and averaged only 7.3 points per game in 14 NBA seasons were rightly crowned as one of the best to ever play the game
If there is more wildly implausible Hall of Famer in major American professional sports landscape, he or she is probably not yet born.
Speaking of nature, I co-wrote the book with Rodman, "Walk on the Wild Side", and have spent too many wild parties pay-Friday nights as before, during and after the blessed will.
[Related: Five facts about Dennis Rodman]
There was no doubt that I would be there at the moment, the career of the Crown Rodman - not because it was a cool journalistic opportunity or a chance to reconnect with the old crew, but for one simple reason compelling: He asked me to come. Seventeen months earlier, at a party a few days before the Super Bowl XLIV, the athlete the most convincing I've ever covered told me he wanted me to where he entered the room and from this point of my presence was a slam-dunk.
Worm I consider a special friend as you love blind and throat of your best friends in elementary school, the feelings are not just the fact that double stuck in my mind that David Letterman on national television when I 'was a young writer Sports Illustrated and we had just arrived from a four-day Bender, three states that would change our lives for the wacky.
When Rodman in the middle of the trip, talked about gay sexual fantasies, the ability of his ex-girlfriend Madonna for her "feel like the King Tut" and his desire to play his last NBA Thurs Au Naturale - and posed for a cover SI iconic a tank top with zipper, pants hot metal, a rhinestone collar for dogs, an exotic bird on the shoulder - the dominant sport in the world was not prepared for the consequences.
Rodman was: Having traded to the Bulls next year won the title third, fourth and fifth NBA career, he continued his series of seven consecutive league crowns rebounds, and brought his great defensive skills to another level and pushed the boundaries Celebrity and security of society at a time. relentless and constant also celebrated as a rock star, not incidentally, partying with rock stars: A friend, singer Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, had come to Springfield, but could not fly because an ear infection. Instead, Vedder sent a video tribute that will be released in the Hall after the induction of Fame dinner at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut on Saturday night.
Rodman stories that could fill several columns, and you should be all fun, but are not nearly as shocking as they were in a time when they are incurred. The operating environment has changed - not only because of changing social norms and the growth of social media, but also because of the erosion resistance of a dull thought unusual for Rodman, among others, helped to deceive.
For those of you who were too young to appreciate it in its first, or too busy or uninterested to pay attention, you missed some important elements.
[Photos: See more of Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman]
Yes, there is some truth in the cartoon: Rodman was actually an attention seeking self-promoter who understands the direct correlation between knowledge and opportunities to make money. He did (and does) love to drink and play and stay up all night and did not have to develop resistance to the legions of hot women and unhindered in constant orbit around it.
The real Rodman, however, was much more complex than portrayed without artifice. There was a time when irresponsible hedonism, and it was to pick up or take a dip in the glory. Rather, it was the desire to push the conventions of what he thought was a boring American culture swollen and restrictive, to honor the antics of the public theaters of the counterculture of the 60 cavorters like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison Ken Kesey and, more importantly, to proudly wear their peculiarities.
Trust me, I was there: after all, Rodman sat down with his advisers and said. "If I wear a wedding dress in public, I will sell lots of books and offered to get movie roles"
The actual scene was, invariably, some damage to the brain had breakfast in the Gold Coast of Chicago (or where the circus was the night before), Rodman and his friends laugh at the folly that they have created and the ringmaster by blurting His deep voice that was barely understandable: "And if I am dressed the bride in Manhattan and married myself as [expletive] crazy would that [expletive] you are?"
It was not always the soul of the party. Rodman did not drink until age 30. (Of course, he has composed for her in the next two decades.) It was also, until the mid-90s, has lived a repressed idiot who kept his inner monster in a cage secret. I was afraid to show the world the real, or even to explore it, because it assumed that the reaction of colleagues and the general public would be very negative and disapproving.
Finally, Rodman gave up and began to reveal bits of strangeness, and when I met him in the spring of 1995, he was going to let the dragon in the dungeon. What he discovered to his surprise is that for all the people who laughed at his deviant tendencies neck, there were many others - many basketball fans, even - that embraced him for his honesty and willingness to take risks without limits.
Again, remember the context: Attitudes toward homosexuality in particular have come a long way in 16 years, and then the idea that an athlete like Rodman public roll up Gay bars and tables to share with transvestites and transsexuals (including one seemed particularly hot Marilyn Monroe named Mimi, who danced with both mouths of Chicago) and proclaim that "if I've never made love with another man, I'd find someone like me and love [expletive] that would be like two bulls going at it, brother, I will tell you "was considered unthinkable until the worm has broken the mold.
And guess what? The "monsters" was treated like royalty. Gays men idolized as he was the love child of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. And women - oh, my. So many ladies have made their part in his strange presence that has literally refused kinky activities more than most celebrities involved (and no, Charlie Sheen, I do not expect). Yes, sometimes Rodman happy. But what brought him the most pleasure, I think they were people who came to him and said, sometimes in tears, "I was afraid to show people the real me, until you m 'have inspired. "
I am not exaggerating when I tell you, this is part of the heritage Rodman: Being strange is less severe in 2011 than in 1995 because he took so many bullets back in the day.
On Friday it was fitting that Rodman has literally taken an unconventional path to the room - with an entourage that was at least 50 strong, that it was impossible to board the party bus as (another ode to the heyday of year 90) in place Sheraton Monarch and head to the receipt of the pre-induction a few blocks away.
So we went, walking the streets of the city of Springfield and mingling with the masses entertained with two children Rodman at his side and lots of smiles all around. Rodman is a good friend Billy Penz was there, surprised that the lanky boy, who grew up near the rural areas of Oklahoma (where Rodman had a brief Hoops Junior College and was "adopted" by a white family) was still standing - and move towards the consecration. The third musketeer, Bryne Rich was home mourning the loss of his older brother, Rodman said in his speech of water.
When we come to the Symphony Hall for a woman of 50 something in a wedding dress drew attention to Rodman, and he failed to pay their respects. At least I think it was a woman. Not that it really matters. With Rodman, never does.
There will be three wardrobe changes before Rodman, the last of the 10 winners will be presented, took the stage. Before he did, there was a short video presentation, but with some important highlights of his career. Again, for those who do not look at the time was a revelation clips. Intensity, stress, passion, work is the only determination to get to the basket and keep the opposing players to put in - it was for want of a better word, weird.
There is no reason why a person of high Rodman (supposedly 6-8, but closer to 6-6) and construction (he weighed in his first 220ish) would have been able to do what he did for the best basketball players in the world, night after night after night. But it happened and he helped the Detroit Pistons win two championships, the San Antonio Spurs might run to the final and the Bulls set up a three-year term that rivals the greatest short stretch of domination in the history of the NBA.
When Rodman took the stage, was defeated by now. Cried his eyes. He could not speak. He gestured to his current and former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson, and it seemed that the worm can not say anything.
"Hold on Big Um" Raglin shouted in the fifth row, and the new Hall of Famer has frozen.
Then she met Rodman. He delivered a speech that was all he had - rich, messy, profane (he called himself a couple of names, and none in his entourage were forced to offer objections), unpleasant, stupid, and bleeding all over the place. He told his children, trying to be a better father, and admitted to his mother, Shirley, that he needed to let go of his resentment towards him and be a better son. He graciously thanked NBA Commissioner David Stern, I would have taken up again at the end of his career, and the former agent, I had cause. It was mandatory for a celebrity shout-outs (and director Penny Marshall, who directs the document to him), and a well-deserved thanks to his current agent, Darren Prince, Rodman was a good bank account and his personal well-being.
The Prince helped to make sure that Rodman was a stone cold sober, and also for the induction of the party raged Later, the guest of honor was pretty tame, mostly in beer and stick a drinks brand Light Control girly (Jägermeister, Goldschlager, suicide bombers) and the inevitable chaos.
Women, Rodman, Michelle - both live and on opposite coasts in southern Florida and Newport Beach with the kids - had a moment of ill humor few, but for most, she and Dennis acted as a pair and all the world around them was cheerful and nostalgic and surprisingly well behaved. It was a great night.
"It's crazy," said Rodman when we sat at a table outdoors in a steakhouse Springfield massive eat shrimp and beer bottles grids. "I know you know how ridiculous it is that I am here - and how hard I worked for her, I worked and worked and worked and worked and played and played and played ..."
It was particularly animated, while catching up with Kerr and Buechler, speaks the glory days on and off the field. Kerr and I grew up together and co-wrote a sports column in our paper in high school, and I'm not ashamed to admit that, had he not been such a great shooter, and chose follow the same career path that I have there a reasonable chance it would be the best sports columnist in the Pali High Class of 83rd.
[Related: Emotional Dennis Rodman Hall ceremony caps]
It is also, incidentally, the only person to help the alley-oop dunk by Michael Jordan and Michael Silver, although the first time on a Nerf hoop in my room.
"Work is what Dennis each other," Kerr said at one point during the afterparty. "A lot of guys are working very hard there, but he worked hard. He wanted the ball more than anyone, and he literally had what it took to get it. "
This led to a mention of the memorable photo was taken when Rodman jumping on the level of saving a ball sailing out of bounds.
"You know what classic hit SI, where Dennis is completely shot?" Asked Kerr. "Well, that was out of my missed shots, and Dennis was trying to save the possession. Everyone saw it and said, 'Wow, what amazing dive!" I said,' Wow, what a terrible shot! I really had to lose it's bad for the ball rebound to date. "
Rodman laughed so hard, cowboy hat nearly fell. He, Buechler and Kerr talk for a bit, 'and then a number of us returned to the bus and headed to the Sheraton after the party after the second floor meeting room. Pearl Jam more deafening, more smiles, old-timers mingle with the newcomers on the scene some of Rodman, who were just out of diapers when the party withdrew from the train station first, do not sleep until Mohegan some of the band, or so it seemed.
Shortly before 5 o'clock, I said my goodbye, gave a big hug from me Rodman and fatigue, even in bed, the party remains in full force. I looked back on my way to the elevator and saw Rodman sitting in his chair, eyes closed, a satisfied smile on his face.
When Rodman and I had three days to Bender, who produced the history of SI, which helped vault her fame into the stratosphere 16 years ago, we knew we shared something surreal that affect us down the road. On a flight from Las Vegas to Houston, he asked what my next task was (a history of NASCAR, it turned out) that the NFL players, I want to interview and what my eight months on the largest sports magazine had been committed.
Then he said, "you're screwed, man." (OK, could use a different adjective.)
How so?
"The reason behind me, all these other [expletives], all the interviews I'm going to look so safe and boring, that will drive you crazy. Nobody seems true self, as I do now. This is the best that ever will be. "
I remember two things: Laugh hard, and taking into account the strong probability that he was right.
In the wee hours of Saturday morning, I just watch and I saw the explosion of my past Hall of Famer happy that has an impact much larger and more significant than his caricature suggests - and I was proud of the part of the circus again if only at night.
It is getting worse?
Yes, of course.
And better, in a way that few athletes have ever known.
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