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Rodman told celebrity website TMZ that he is returning to the communist country to try to free Korean American Kenneth Bae. Rodman admitted, "It's gonna be difficult." Rodman had angry words for Obama. "We got a black president (who) can't even go talk to (Kim)," Rodman told TMZ. "Obama can't do s**t, I don't know why he won't go talk to him." newsmax.com

Dennis Rodman, Barack Obama, North Korea, Kim Jong Un 

Dennis Rodman tells TMZ ... he's going back to North Korea on August 1 to reopen the political dialogue with Kim Jong-un ... because Barack Obama "can't do s**t." TMZ.com

Dennis Rodman, Barack Obama, North Korea 

The Worm told us he'll do everything in his power to sway Jong-un into releasing American Kenneth Bae -- who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government. "I'm gonna try and get the guy out," Rodman said ... "It's gonna be difficult." Then came the Obama attack -- "We got a black president [who] can't even go talk to [Jong-un] ... Obama can't do s**t, I don't know why he won't go talk to him." TMZ.com

Dennis Rodman, Barack Obama, North Korea 

NBA-icon-turned-diplomat Dennis Rodman has asked Kim Jong Un to 'do me a solid' and release American prisoner Kenneth Bae. 'I'm calling on the Supreme Leader of North Korea or as I call him 'Kim', to do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose,' Rodman tweeted on Tuesday. Bae, a devout Christian who worked as a tour operator near the China-North Korea border, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour earlier this month for undisclosed 'hostile acts' against the hermit kingdom. BigPond News

Dennis Rodman, North Korea, Kim Jong Un 

Do you remember the last time you guys didn't make the playoffs? Dirk Nowitzki: I remember that was my second year and that's when Cuban bought the team. We brought (Dennis) Rodman in for a stint. They asked him in the paper, 'What do you think this team needs to do to move forward?' And he said 'Well they need a new point guard, a new shooting guard, a new power forward and a new center and a new owner. Other than that, they're ready to go.' And Cuban said, 'That's a bit much.' And then he yanked him the next day after that interview. He was there for maybe 10 games. We finished the season really strong. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Rodman 

Speaking of North Korea, Rodman spoke to us exclusively on his controversial trip there. "I have been contacted by the FBI and I met with them. They wanted to know what went on and who's really in charge in North Korea. I have been invited back to North Korea in August and I want to go. I'm not a total idiot. I know what Kim Jong-un is threatening to do regarding his military muscle. I hope it doesn't happen because America will take whatever actions to protect America and our allies. I do think, umm, you know, that we have to talk to people who want to cause us harm so hopefully they won't. I've been talking to folks for years who don't get what I'm about but that's cool, 'cause once they walk away they like me. I might be able to keep folks' heads cool. We all going to find a way to get along and keep peace. Peace and love is where it is at, Lesley." Miami Herald

Dennis Rodman, North Korea 

Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman is planning a return trip to North Korea in August to "hang and have some fun," the Miami Herald reports. Rodman said he's going back Aug. 1. "We have no plans really, as far as what we're going to do over there, but we'll just hang and have some fun," he told the newspaper. Toronto Sun

Dennis Rodman, North Korea 

ESPN Stats & Info: John Henson grabbed 25 rebounds off the bench for @Bucks -- 1st bench player with that many in game since Dennis Rodman (1995, Spurs) Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Dennis Rodman, John Henson 

[Josh] Would you say you were lucky that as the brand of basketball was growing in China, along comes a 7' 6" Chinese man entering the NBA draft? There's a great quote: Luck is the residue of desire. Keep in mind at the 1936 Olympics, when basketball was first introduced, China was one of the original 32 teams. I think they came in 16th place. But they truly believed they invented the game. Sports is an incredible international language—and let's leave Dennis Rodman out of this—but it can do amazing things. Gothamist

David Stern, China, Dennis Rodman 

Dennis Rodman: I have 4 fathers. And the last one is James Rich. Thank you Rich family for the love over these years. Twitter

Dennis Rodman 

If you're one of many who believe Dennis Rodman, the self-appointed ambassador to North Korea and now Vatican City, really needs to find his way back home, how do you suppose the family he abandoned feels? They haven't seen their "son" in ages, or roughly 57 tattoos ago. "The truth is," said Pat Rich, her slow Midwestern drawl dripping with sadness, "we don't hear from him anymore. And I don't know why. There hadn't been anything that happened between us. We hadn't done anything to him. I've tried to reach out and tell him we still love him, always loved him and for him to come see us. It's like we don't exist anymore. He simply forgot about us. He don't contact us no more." SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

Here in a post-NBA career laced with strange turns, as one might've predicted, Rodman can trek to a foreign country half a world away and snuggle up to a ruthless and dangerous dictator. He can take another trip to Italy in a self- promotional attempt to gain an audience with a saint. But he can't bring himself to travel a few states away, to a place he once knew before the madness changed his life, and hug a family that famously cared for him in a way no one else has or probably will. "I feel like I lost a son," Pat Rich said. SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

Two, actually. A few years ago her oldest died suddenly at age 48 and the tragedy shattered the tight family. Rodman and the Rich's two boys, Michael and Byrne, were an inseparable threesome once upon a time, and so the family naturally assumed Rodman would finally reconnect during a time of crisis. They spent days trying to contact Rodman before reaching him through his people. He didn't call and didn't show for Michael's funeral. As it turned out, he was busy. He sent word that he had an appearance on Jay Leno. "It hurt my husband dearly," said Pat Rich. "My husband cried that day." SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

Rodman couldn't be reached for comment for this story. A person who identified himself as John at the talent agency that represents Rodman said "there's nothing at all" against the Riches but couldn't offer any explanation for his refusal to speak with them. SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

As a white family, they took heat from neighbors in Bokchito, Oklahoma (the N-word was thrown their way quite a bit) who never knew of any black people, and even some relatives when their troubled 13-year-old son Byrne brought home a 22-year-old black man and asked if Rodman could stay for dinner. What followed was a study in racial and cultural attitudes, the healing power of love and how sports and fame can cause an unexpected shift in a three-stoplight town. "We had so many wonderful times together and some struggles, and that's why this is so hard for us right now," said James Rich. "We all went through a lot. He was a son to us and we're all sad and wondering what happened. It's like a void in our lives. I don't know where to start." SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

Then the first hurricane hit: Rodman was drafted by the Pistons and became a major part of a two-time champ. Pat Rich found the response a bit funny in Bokchito. "The people who complained about us having a black man in our house, all of a sudden, wanted his autograph," she said. "Having him in our house wasn't OK until he became famous." SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

"Kim told me to pass a message that he said is very important," said Rodman, in one of his stops on a post-trip media blitz. "He said, 'Tell President Obama to call me. Because if we can talk, we can work this out.'" Call. Talk. Work this out. What if Rodman followed that advice? "If he did, we would be ecstatic," said Pat Rich. "But it won't happen. Those days are over." SportsonEarth

Dennis Rodman 

Dennis Rodman plans to take a spin in the Popemobile during his trip to Rome ... but he tells TMZ, that's only the BEGINNING of his plans to change the world by meeting the new Pontiff. Rodman was at Miami International Airport yesterday -- where he boarded his flight for Rome -- and we were able to fire off a bunch of questions before he took off. TMZ.com

Dennis Rodman, Rome 

Emiliano Carchia: Dennis Rodman is really in Rome, just outside Vatican City pic.twitter.com/Z6ydba3SJd Twitter @SportandoBasket

Dennis Rodman, Rome 

And you thought Enes Kanter’s game was only blossoming on the court. The free-spirited Turkish ballplayer showed up for Monday’s Jazz-Pistons contest wearing a fedora, sparkling gold jacket, jeans and snake shoes. “He makes it look good,” teammate Al Jefferson told reporters. “It’s not like it don’t look good on him.” In a Rodman-Gaga-I’m-rich-enough-to-dress-strange sort of way. Deseret News

Utah Jazz, Dennis Rodman, Enes Kanter