What is a Dennis Rodman?  Is he a nut?  Is he an ego gone 
berserk?  Is he the best rebounder to ever play the game?  As he 
says, is he an entertainer first, and then a basketball player?  
Or, is he all of these?

        I may be wrong, but I think he may be the San Diego 
Chicken in disguise.  Don't laugh.  Have you even seen the 
Chicken and Rodman together?  I thought not.  Think about it.  
Both wear outlandish getups.  Both want to be the center of 
attention.  Both are a distraction to the game.  Both are one-
of-a-kind.  And both have big feet. 

        If it turns out that Rodman isn't the San Diego Chicken, 
then I think he is a bottle of fine champagne with a loose cork.  
The champagne being his basketball talents, and the loose cork 
being his temperament.  If everything goes smoothly, then the 
champagne is a joy.  But if things get rough, if the bottle gets 
shook up, then the cork will blow, and a good portion of this  
champagne will be wasted.

        Will Rodman be a major factor in bringing Chicago its 
fourth NBA championship in the 90's?  He has a lot going for him 
in Chicago.  The Bull's coach, Phil Jackson, should be able to 
coexist with Rodman, if anyone can.  Jackson's lifestyle was 
pretty wild itself when he was young.  Jordan and Pippen both 
know that Dennis brings the one thing the Bulls need most - 
rebounding in the paint.  And Rodman knows that this may be the 
best team for him to display his entertainment and basketball 
skills. 

        But I don't believe it's gonna happen.  There are just 
too many opportunities during an NBA season for the bottle of 
champagne to get shook up.  The cork is gonna blow - sooner or 
later.  As sure as uncorked champagne goes flat, Dennis Rodman 
will find a way to mess it all up.  

        I would like to see him make it through the season.  Them 
Bulls really bring a lot to the table.  They are great basketball 
players.  Too bad they won't be able to finish a fine meal after 
the NBA finals with champagne. 

        Don Sibrel
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             June 17, 1996

        Them Bulls did get to have champagne with their meal 
after the NBA finals.  Rodman made it!   He was able to play in 
64 regular season games.  However, he was probably lucky that he 
wasn't suspended for the remaining part of the season for head 
butting a referee.

        He led the league in rebounds per game.  And except for 
the times when he would leave his man to get rebounding position, 
he usually played great defense.  He never scored many points, 
nor got many assists, steals, or blocked shots.  But he gave them 
what they needed most: rebounding and toughness.

        He played well in the playoffs.  Whether the Bulls could 
have been NBA champions without him, is really hard to judge.  
But he was certainly a factor.

        Don Sibrel