# Rodman's North Korea basketball game. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 22, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945 "2013-12-22T10:32:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/21 "2013-12-23T15:31:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Their propaganda has taken that tack, yes. [They don’t much care for black people or any other non-Koreans.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html) Yeah, I was going to come in and say this. While aspects of African-American culture (music, clothing, etc) might be popular or emulated, it’s a far cry from saying North Koreans or just the Kim family have an affinity for Black Americans themselves. Kind of a “some of them are ok, but I wouldn’t want my daughter marrying one” deal. It’s not just North Korea. You’ll see similar attitudes across pretty much all of east Asia though perhaps not to the same degree as officially sanctioned in North Korea. Japan and Korea aren’t some of the most ethnically homogeneous areas in the world for no reason. As for Rodman, I can’t believe people honestly think he’s to be taken as any sort of goodwill ambassador or potential access to Kim. He’s always been a sideshow attraction. At best, he does the situation no harm. At worst, he detracts attention and resources from dealing with one of the worst regimes in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/22 "2013-12-23T16:27:39Z")
The one good thing I could see coming of this would be if Rodman gets his picture taken with Kim, and the picture gets published in North Korea. It’d be a very graphic demonstration that people outside of North Korea are big, strong, and healthy, especially by comparison with the stunted North Koreans. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/23 "2013-12-23T18:15:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The one good thing I could see coming of this would be if Rodman gets his picture taken with Kim, and the picture gets published in North Korea. It’d be a very graphic demonstration that people outside of North Korea are big, strong, and healthy, especially by comparison with the stunted North Koreans. What makes you think anyone in North Korea would ever see such a photo, much less an undoctored version? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/24 "2013-12-23T18:22:14Z")
They’d see a photo with a caption saying something like ‘Famous U.S. giant basketball star comes to pay tribute to Kim Jong Un, showing the Not at All Chubby Leader is respected by powers around the world.’ ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/25 "2013-12-23T18:40:02Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > You could scarcely find a better example of the oppressed victim of capitalism than Dennis Rodman. Maybe the Norkos are just interested in alien life forms. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/26 "2013-12-24T13:37:08Z")
Maybe some former NCAA basketballers who weren’t good enough for the NBA and, frankly, aren’t any good at anything besides playing BB would be willing to go on the trip to NK. I don’t know how an exhibition game with a NK team could turn out well. Remember how Saddam’s sons had members of the losing Iraqi Olympic teams beaten and tortured? Maybe I just don’t understand the brotherhood of sportsmen and how closely the NKs follow it, but I don’t think going to NK and beating them in something is the safest thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/27 "2013-12-24T15:10:28Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Maybe the Norkos are just interested in alien life forms. Well, to many, he may just represent the average American. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/28 "2013-12-24T15:42:00Z")
I’ll be curious to see if Rodman can even deliver 12 guys. Even retired semi pros that played in Europe would need a lot of convincing and a fat paycheck. Rodman may have to get out there and play & coach. 😛 How competitive is N Korea’s International b-ball team? I know they had one, is it still playing? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/29 "2013-12-24T16:21:22Z")
Whoops. 😉 So Rodman had a secret backer. This thing may unravel faster than Kim’s inner circle. > **[Dennis Rodman corporate partner backs out of Kim Jong Un celebration](https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-dennis-rodman-north-korea-20131223-story.html)** > > Dennis Rodman has lost his corporate partner for his upcoming basketball exhibition in North Korea to celebrate the birthday of the repressive regime's young leader, Rodman's "friend for life" Kim Jong Un. > [@](#): > > Dennis Rodman has lost his corporate partner for his upcoming basketball exhibition in North Korea to celebrate the birthday of the repressive regime’s young leader, Rodman’s “friend for life” Kim Jong Un. > > The online betting site Paddy Power announced in an email Monday that it had decided to end its association with Rodman and his planned exhibition basketball game between the North Korean national team and a group of former U.S. players due to “changed circumstances.” ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/30 "2013-12-24T16:21:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Well, to many, he may just represent the average American. Many who? Norkos? Well, that would make me polish up my homeland-defense skilz. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/31 "2013-12-24T16:24:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Whoops. 😉 So Rodman had a secret backer. [Secret?!](http://blog.paddypower.com/2013/09/09/find-out-more-about-the-paddy-power-dennis-rodman-invitational/) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/32 "2013-12-24T16:38:45Z")
I didn’t know about it. They didn’t mention sponsors in any of my OP links. I wondered who was paying. I’d guess the four Kim’s have diverted hundreds of millions out of N Korea since the early 1950’s to Swiss Accounts. It just speculation based on other despots like Gaddafi. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/33 "2013-12-24T16:44:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I didn’t know about it. They didn’t mention sponsors in any of my OP links. I wondered who was paying. OK, but it wasn’t a secret. I read some other articles while posting in this thread and found their name. [They’re a big company that likes tacky promotion.](http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1387035/gambling-firm-paddy-power-behind-dennis-rodmans-north-korean-trips) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/34 "2013-12-24T17:09:18Z")
Apparently Kim hasn’t fielded a N Korea team since 2010. That would have been a team his daddy sent. They placed 8th. I haven’t heard if any of the 2010 players were picked for Rodman’s game. They are probably out of shape and rusty. > **[North Korea men's national basketball team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea_national_basketball_team)** > > The Democratic People's Republic of Korea national basketball team (recognized as DPR Korea by FIBA and known colloquially and in the media as North Korea) represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in international basketball and is controlled by the Amateur Basketball Association of DPR of Korea, the governing body for basketball in North Korea. > In December 2013, former American basketball professional Dennis Rodman visited North Korea to help train the national team after he deve... > [@](#): > > The following is the North Korea roster in the men’s basketball tournament of the 2010 Asian Games.[1] ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/35 "2014-01-06T16:35:26Z")
Well The Worm came through. He’s actually put together a team of retire NBA players and the team has traveled to N Korea. I didn’t think he could do it. The sponsor dropped out just before Christmas. The recent reports that Kim’s uncle was thrown into a pack of hungry dogs. That’s the most horrific execution imaginable. It’s surprising that the State Dept didn’t block this many Americans from traveling to N Korea. I guess we don’t have the same travel bans like we do with Cuba? > **[Dennis Rodman names team of NBA All-Stars to play in North Korea](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533985/Dennis-Rodman-names-team-NBA-All-Stars-play-North-Korea-Kim-Jong-Uns-birthday.html)** > > After weeks of discussions, Dennis Rodman has persuaded players including All-Stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson, and Vin Baker to fly to Pyongyang. > **[Dennis Rodman arrives in North Korea with his basketball team](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534467/Dennis-Rodman-arrives-North-Korea-star-basketball-team-declares-country-isnt-bad.html)** > > The U.S. is at odds with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, and Rodman has been faulted for not talking about North Korea's human rights record. > [@](#): > > Dennis Rodman has named his eclectic team of former NBA players and reality show stars that will play in North Korea next week for dictator Kim Jong Un’s birthday. > > Rodman will lead the team that includes former NBA All-Stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson, and Vin Baker. > > Craig Hodges, Doug Christie and Charles D. Smith are on the team, as well. > [@](#): > > The U.S. players are to compete in an exhibition game against a North Korean team on Wednesday, Kim’s birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/36 "2014-01-06T17:02:32Z")
Ladies and Gentlemen, your Retired and Bankrupt NBA All-Stars! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/37 "2014-01-06T17:12:28Z")
Money can move mountains. 😃 I wonder who is footing the bill? Even washed up NBA players don’t come cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/38 "2014-01-06T17:27:18Z")
[According to this story,](http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/01/05/rodman-picks-team-for-north-korea-basketball-exhibition/) “Irish betting company Paddy Power PLC – a driving force behind the exhibition – removed its name last month as the title sponsor. The company is still financing the trip and is honoring all contractual commitments.” They don’t want their name attached to the game anymore, but they’ll pay for it since they agreed to do so. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/39 "2014-01-06T17:37:33Z")
That explains it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945/40 "2014-01-06T19:21:04Z")
I wonder if the exhibition game will be under North Korean basketball rules: - Slam dunks are worth three points (up from two) - Field goals in the final three minutes of the game are worth eight points (up from two) - Three-pointers are worth four if the ball doesn’t touch the rim - A point is deducted for missed free throws No, this is apparently not a joke. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodmans-north-korea-basketball-game/676945.md?page=3)