Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman made international waves this month due to his trip to North Korea and his attempt at diplomacy through basketball exhibition games. “The Worm” has befriended North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and even once sent out a tweet asking Kim to release American prisoner Kenneth Bae.
In a New Day exclusive, CNN’s Chris Cuomo will sit down live with basketball star Dennis Rodman.
The interview is Rodman’s first since returning home from his controversial trip to North Korea and entering an alcohol treatment center. In this CNN interview airing live on Friday, January 31st at 6 am EST (that’s 5 CST for you Bulls fans), Rodman will discuss his trip, his contentious interview with Cuomo while he was in North Korea and his comments about Kenneth Bae. He will also discuss the chain of events that has led him to seek treatment.
Earlier this month, Rodman was asked if he would raise the issue of Kenneth Bae during a CNN interview. He became agitated and said:
“Kenneth Bae did one thing … If you understand what Kenneth Bae did. Do you understand what he did in this country? No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why? … I would love to speak on this.”
The next day, Bae’s sister said of Rodman’s comments, “There is no diplomacy, only games, and at my brother’s expense.” Rodman later apologized for his comments about Kenneth Bae, saying he had been drinking and was stressed when he made the remarks.
New Day airs weekdays 6 to 9 am EST.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar in media studies, he’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on ESPN, NBC, CBS and Fox Sports Radio. A former writer for NBCChicago.com and WashingtonTimes.com, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)