DENNIS Rodman, Gentleman's Quarterly. Gentleman's Quarterly, Dennis Rodman. The two don't make a winsome couple. I mean, "gentleman" and Dennis Rodman uttered in the same breath? Get outta here! To worship the Worm
is wrong-headedNevertheless, Dennis Rodman, a k a the "Worm," graced GQ's cover last month, with model Rebecca Romijan.
Rodman's credentials hardly end with a measly magazine cover. He has, among other things, an outlandish program on MTV, dubbed "Rodman's World Tour"; a book, "Bad As I Wanna Be"; endorsements galore; and even an ad sporting a milk moustache in the drink-milk campaign running in many publications.
I keep wondering, will this be the month that Rodman mania finally bites the dust? The hype bothers me.
Don't get me wrong. I don't detest Rodman's every cell. About 5 percent of me likes the eccentric guy. Correction: Make that 1 percent.
Why would a scant 1 percent of me like the guy?
Hey, the Worm knows how to play a good game of hoops. Oh, and also, I was told I should never dislike anyone 100 percent. There.
And what about the 99 percent of me that dislikes the guy?
I hope you're not assuming it is Rodman's RuPaul-like sense of style I dislike. Heck no. Why should I dislike a fellow whose hair is blindingly blond today, outrageous orange tomorrow and a combination of gory green and ridiculous red the following day? Or why should I dislike a fellow who's comfortable packing on rouge, lipstick and the whole shebang? Or who enjoys donning apparel meant for the opposite sex, including a lavish wedding dress?
Yeah, why should I?
NINETY-NINE percent of me dislikes Rodman because 1) he exceeds Howard Stern's brazen attitude, and 2) he is a poor role model for youths.
Although some may disagree with the assertion that he is a role model, unfortunately, many youths look up to athletes. And it's a shame that Rodman has made it big on and off the B-ball court due to his ungentlemanly, pompous demeanor.
Why? Because youths receive this subliminal message: Being less than a gentleman is chic, and being less than a gentleman will garner you attention, fame and wealth.
It doesn't matter what I say, or even what the president (yep, even Mr. Clinton has publicly condemned Rodman's adverse behavior) says to those who will worshop Rodman's ungentlemanly behavior.
I can envision a Rodman junkie's retort, "If you don't like Rodman, just shut the (expletive) up and ignore him, or I'll kick your (expletive)!"
Not so pleasant? Well, that's what a large dose of Rodman can do to youths.
"I don't get paid $9 million to go (to a basketball court) and look good," Rodman said in an interview that appeared recently in this paper's sports section.
"It is entertainment," he continued. "I have got to give you the total package. If I can't give you that, I am worthless."
IS Rodman's statement true? Apparently not.
See, due to one of Rodman's transgressions (he would call it "entertainment"), wherein he allegedly kicked cameraman Eugene Amos in the groin, the National Basketball League slapped him with an 11-game suspension, and a restaurant chain has pulled its commercial featuring the Worm.
Kudos to both establishments. They have sent a clear message to Rodman's young fans, that, despite what he claims, he is worthless with his bad-boy attitude, not without, and so are you.
Warren Kaneshiro is 19, and says sports enthusiasts
may be better off supporting Rodman's
saner team mate Michael Jordan.Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature allowing those 12 to 22 to serve up fresh perspectives. Speak up by fax at 523-8509; by answering machine at 525-8666; snail mail at P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802; or e-mail, features@starbulletin.com