?I Am Just Paying the Price of Being Myself?: Losing Over $1 Million, Dennis Rodman Opened Up on Controversy with NBA in 1997

Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman had a lot to say whenever he came in front of the camera. He was a different entity and an enigma off-court as he dazzled the magazine covers. The five-time NBA Champion appeared on the Late Night show with Jay Leno back in 1997 and reiterated the same. Dressed in black, with a hat and glasses on, the confident Bulls no. 91 talked about his controversy in the NBA.

Coming off the controversy in 1997, the NBA Superstar reiterated how his decisions in life would always be a pain for someone else. And his controversies are a byproduct of the way he lives life.

Dennis Rodman on his 1997 ban

Dennis Rodman was fresh off his 1997 ban by the NBA at that time. He got an 11-game suspension from the league for kicking a cameraman. The Chicago Bulls no. 91 got into an altercation with a cameraman and kicked him in the groins mid-game. The rebound king took a lot of flak from the media due to the incident.

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The cameraman decided to sue the basketball superstar, ending with a $200,000 settlement. It was also reported that the player would have to face jail time if the settlement did not occur. The Bulls no. 91 took to the Late Night Show with Jay Leno in 1997 and candidly talked about everything.

Rodman addresses how being himself has cost him dearly in the league

The basketball superstar was asked by Leno whether he thinks he was suffering more in such incidents because of what others had done in recent times. Incidentally, Rodman was fined over $1 million by the NBA for his actions.

?I?m just paying the price of being myself, being a human being in a high profile community and all of a sudden you know ?hey this is a guy, he’s different. He that looks this way, and he does this thing,’? the five-time NBA champion replied.

“I do not want to change the structure of the game and do this, you know I?m one of the highest working guys out there and I do my job,” he added.

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When Jay Leno asked Rodman about the incident and the court proceedings following it, Rodman replied, ?It?s a damn shame that the first thing that comes out of people?s mouth is, ?I?m gonna sue you?”, referring to the cameraman deciding to go to court for the incident. He explained how nobody thinks of an apology first.?

What do you think of Rodman’s remarks? Do you think the outcry against him was justified? Let us know in the comments below.