# Dennis Rodman's future death in North Korea **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180 "2013-09-06T16:10:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/1 "2013-09-06T16:10:21Z")
So, the former NBA star has again flown to North Korea to hang with his new buddy, [del]Han from _Two Broke Girls_[/del] Kim Jong Un. I found an interesting article speculating that [Dennis Rodman had basically become a toy for the North Korean dictator.](http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/05/opinion/lee-dennis-rodman/) Given how Kim Jong Un treated [his last plaything,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700839&highlight=north+korea) I can’t help but wonder what will happen to Rodman if/when he wears out his welcome in Pyongyang. Will he be executed for espionage? Disappear without a trace? Groundless speculation welcome! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/2 "2013-09-06T16:52:06Z")
I’ll chip in $5 if Kim can make Rodman go away. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/3 "2013-09-06T16:55:01Z")
I don’t doubt he’ll say the wrong thing to the wrong person at some point. Polonium-210, administered before he leaves, so he dies a slow painful death outside the country. Any news of said radiation poisoning can be dismissed as “American Propaganda and Slander”. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/4 "2013-09-06T17:19:25Z")
I don’t think Kim has the balls to kill an American celebrity even if Rodman went over there and told him to quit his bullshit ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/5 "2013-09-06T17:24:50Z")
Kim’s not the only danger to Rodman. If the rumors of political infighting at the top of NK are true, one of Kim’s generals might decide to embarrass Kim by rubbing out his American celebrity friend. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/6 "2013-09-07T01:27:57Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Kim’s not the only danger to Rodman. If the rumors of political infighting at the top of NK are true, one of Kim’s generals might decide to embarrass Kim by rubbing out his American celebrity friend. Can you imagine that Rodman might precipitate some international incident? I can’t imagine the US government beating the drum over the death or incarceration of Dennis Rodman. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/7 "2013-09-07T01:45:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Kim’s not the only danger to Rodman. If the rumors of political infighting at the top of NK are true, one of Kim’s generals might decide to embarrass Kim by rubbing out his American celebrity friend. One of the things some of the defectors have said is that the big “War is coming! Prepare for holy war against the Americans!” mobilizations that happen, especially when new leaders take over (such as last year when KJU took over), are less about fear of the Americans and more about testing to see which Generals and which army units will obey the orders, so the disloyal and insufficiently “patriotic” ones can be purged. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/8 "2013-09-07T08:07:15Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > Can you imagine that Rodman might precipitate some international incident? I can’t imagine the US government beating the drum over the death or incarceration of Dennis Rodman. I think it would cause at least as big an international incident as [those two journalists who got arrested in 2009](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_imprisonment_of_American_journalists_by_North_Korea). Embarrassing as he may be, he’s an American citizen, and a high profile one. I don’t think we’d go to war over him, but we’d raise a stink. Anyway, angering the US wouldn’t necessarily be the purpose, here. Loss of face over not being able to protect his friends, or a warning that his power is not unlimited, are also possible motives. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/9 "2013-09-07T16:14:22Z")
I think it has already been determined in the USA that Dennis Rodman is a certifiable nutcase - so it follows he would be hanging with yet another certifiable nutcase. However, I pity the Korean translator: Dennis: Hey, little fat dude - let’s get wasted and bring over a couple of your whore wives and screw their brains out. Translator to Kim: Great exalted ruler of the universe, would you be so kind as to allow me to take a sip of an alcoholic beverage to sooth my stomach from the joy of being in your presence, and perhaps we could relax privately while watching folk dancers perform your life’s story wearing colorful costumes. The only problem will be when someone else who speaks English gets an earful of what Dennis is really saying. Later reports of Rodman’s tragic death, after having fallen into the path of 48 bullets as he lept from a tall building, will be ruled accidental by American diplomats. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/10 "2013-09-07T16:34:44Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > The only problem will be when someone else who speaks English gets an earful of what Dennis is really saying. Seeing as Kim Jong-Un went to an [English-language school in Switzerland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong_Un#Early_life_and_education), I really doubt this sort of thing is happening. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/11 "2013-09-07T16:40:30Z")
I see a new TV show in the future. _Celebrity Apprentice: North Korea._ When you get fired, you really get fired. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/12 "2013-09-07T16:54:58Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Later reports of Rodman’s tragic death, after having fallen into the path of 48 bullets as he lept from a tall building, will be ruled accidental by American diplomats. “Natural Causes” Insult a dictator in his own house, you naturally get killed. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/13 "2013-09-07T17:44:56Z")
There is speculation that he’s secretly trying to free an American prisoner. I’ll reserve judgement until he (if he) returns. Da Bulls. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/14 "2013-09-07T17:57:23Z")
There are no rebounds to grab in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The Outstanding Leader of course never misses a shot. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/15 "2013-09-07T18:02:15Z")
> [@straight\_man](#): > > Seeing as Kim Jong-Un went to an [English-language school in Switzerland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong_Un#Early_life_and_education), I really doubt this sort of thing is happening. If he had gone to English Language School in NC there would not be a problem, but since he went in Europe one thinks he would have some proficiency at least. [Assuming that if he went in NC the teachers would have passed him no matter what his proficiency.] ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/16 "2013-09-07T19:52:33Z")
I go with natural causes. Because after you’ve had 40 or so bullets pumped into you, it’d be unnatural if you lived. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/17 "2013-09-07T20:13:55Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I think it has already been determined in the USA that Dennis Rodman is a certifiable nutcase - so it follows he would be hanging with yet another certifiable nutcase. But consider this…Kim might consider Dennis to be a valuable intelligence source from the USA. Dennis says the USA is out to get Kim by the balls, so Kim takes appropriate military action. :eek: Better yet, why not have a one-on-one basketball game between the two? Sure, Dennis is the superstar, but Kim invented the game (in between writing operas). What’s a friendly rivalry between nutcases? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/18 "2013-09-07T20:30:48Z")
I don’t think many tears would be shed (in or out of the government). My wife’s g’mother had a nice saying: Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas. He is as flea-covered as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/19 "2013-09-07T21:38:35Z")
I presume there is some financial benefit for Rodman in all of this? ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180/20 "2013-09-07T21:49:27Z")
He could be the next John Brisker. > **[John Brisker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brisker)** > > John Brisker (June 15, 1947 – declared dead May 29, 1985) was an American professional basketball player who disappeared on April 11, 1978, after allegedly visiting Uganda. He played college basketball for the Toledo Rockets until he left the team during his senior season in 1968. Brisker began his professional career with the Pittsburgh Pipers / Condors of the American Basketball Association (ABA) where he was a two-time ABA All-Star. He played for the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketb... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-rodmans-future-death-in-north-korea/668180.md?page=2)