ARGENTINA: BASKETBALL -Former NBA "Bad Boy" Rodman gets emotional during Argentina "Legends of Basketball" trip

Record ID: 448045

  • Title: ARGENTINA: BASKETBALL -Former NBA "Bad Boy" Rodman gets emotional during Argentina "Legends of Basketball" trip
  • Date: 28th March 2014
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MARCH 28, 2014) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** VARIOUS OF FORMER BASKETBALLER DENNIS RODMAN WITH OTHER NBA STARS VARIOUS OF BASKETBALLERS DUNKING THE BALL, CHILDREN WATCHING RODMAN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BASKETBALLER, DENNIS RODMAN, SAYING: "I'm here to entertain and come here to go to the hospital, go to neighbourhoods, to go to see the kids and stuff like that, and I just want to see how the culture here in Argentina actually functions and how people actually live here. And, like I said, I came from the ghettos, from the projects, I came with nothing. Most of these guys have come with nothing. But over the years things have changed. But it doesn't change the fact that, how I feel about the...(chokes up and stops talking, wipes tears away)." RODMAN WIPING AWAY TEARS VARIOUS OF RODMAN AND NBA STARS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BASKETBALLER, DENNIS RODMAN, SAYING: "In some ways I hate the fact that I'm looked upon different. But, can't blame nobody but myself. I have to deal with this. But all in all, I have the good times and the bad times." VARIOUS OF RODMAN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS
  • Embargoed: 12th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RC5RQ52MYIU4IRGQD9QF9T0S
  • Story Text: Controversial NBA star Dennis Rodman made an appearance in Buenos Aires on Friday (March 28), where he will return to the court for an exhibition match Saturday (March 29) alongside other basketball greats in the South American country.
    Appearing at a public event alongside the likes of Charles Smith, Danny Reyes and up-and-coming streetballers, Rodman, 52, was moved to tears when he told media he would visit Buenos Aires' barrios, recounting his tough life growing up in the ghetto.

    "I'm here to entertain and come here to go to the hospital, go to neighbourhoods, to go to see the kids and stuff like that, and I just want to see how the culture here in Argentina actually functions and how people actually live here. And, like I said, I came from the ghettos, from the projects, I came with nothing. Most of these guys have come with nothing. But over the years things have changed. But it doesn't change the fact that, how I feel about the..." Rodman said before chocking up from emotion.
    The NBA stars will hit the court at Luna Park Stadium on Saturday (March 29) for a friendly match that sees them face off with some of the U.S. best streetballers, up-and-coming athletes who perform a variation of basketball played on outdoor courts and with a less rigid application of the game's rules.
    Rodman's stint in Argentina comes as his 1989 Detroit Pistol's team reunite back home for the 25th anniversary of the NBA championship, with Rodman decidedly absent from the reunion.
    During the event, Rodman said he lamented his ostracisation for his tumultuous past.

    "In some ways I hate the fact that I'm looked upon different. But, can't blame nobody but myself. I have to deal with this. But all in all, I have the good times and the bad times," he added.
    In January of this year, Rodman had checked himself into a substance abuse rehabilitation centre shortly after returning from his controversial trip to North Korea to celebrate leader Kim Jong Un's birthday.
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