utf8_encode(Dennis Rodman names team of NBA All-Stars toplay in North Korea for Kim Jong Un's birthday)

Dennis Rodman names team of NBA All-Stars to play in North Korea for Kim Jong Un's birthday |Mail Online

Rodman's Pyongyang Dream Team... or just the stuff of nightmares? Reality star and an alcoholicamong NBA players traveling to North Korea with Dennis for Kim Jong Un's birthday gameFormerNBA players Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson, Vin Baker, Craig Hodges, Doug Christie, and CharlesD. Smith will play against North KoreaMembers of the selected team have also made realitytelevision show appearances on programs such as Basketball Wives and The Real Housewives ofNew JerseyVin Baker is a former alcoholic who drank his way out of the leagueTournament in Pyongyang on Wednesday will 'honour' dictator on birthdayRodman, 52, flew lastmonth to help select the state's own national teamRodman has been criticized for not talking aboutNorth Korea's human rights record, described as one of the world's worst by activists, the U.S. StateDepartment and North Korean defectorsByMia De Graafand Alexandra Klausnerand Associated Press

PUBLISHED:20:53 EST, 4 January 2014|UPDATED:06:27 EST, 5 January 2014118shares12

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Dennis Rodman has named his eclectic team of former NBA players and reality show stars that willplay 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, andVin Baker.

Craig Hodges, Doug Christie and Charles D. Smith are on the team, as well. They will play against atop North Korean senior national team on Wednesday, marking Kim Jong Un's birthday.

Controversial: The former NBA player has released a team sheet to fly to Pyongyang after weeks oftalks

The American player's rich histories go beyond basketball, reports Buzz Feed.

Kenny Anderson was recently in a play entitled, The Penis Monologues and has appeared on thereality television show, Basketball Wives.

Cliff Robinson was on the Real Housewives of New Jersey and may be a participant in the realityshow Survivor next year.

Vin Baker is a former NBA player who drank his way out of playing basketball and is now apparentlyenrolled at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

More...Dennis Rodman picks the players for North Korean basketball team who will line up againstvisiting NBA stars in January for Kim Jong Un's birthdayBookmaker Paddy Power backs out of'hoops, not nukes' North Korea basketball match set up by Dennis Rodman'Whatever his uncle hasdone has nothing to do with me. I'm just going to have some fun': Rodman arrives in North Korea totrain basketball team for Kim's birthday matchCraig Hodges once unsuccessfully sued the NBA in 1996 after he claimed the league discriminatedagainst him due to his political outspokenness and his association with Islamist Louis Farrakhan.

Doug Christie and his wife Jackie were recently featured on their own television series called TheChristies Committed on BET J. Jackie also appears on Basketball Wives: LA.

Buzz Feed reports that Christie is known for not wanting to make eye contact with women otherthan his wife. Whether or not he's willing to make eye contact with infamous world leaders is adifferent question all together.

Charles D. Smith ran a digital media company, was a motivational speaker, and started an assistanceprogram to help retired players find new careers--the chance of him finding players this gig isunlikely.

Los Angeles Clippers' Doug Christie (left in blue) will play alongside former NBA All-Star Vin Baker,of the Minnesota Timberwolves (right in white). The match on January 8 will celebrate Kim Jong Un'sbirthday

New York Knicks' Charles Smith (right) is another high-profile name on the list, as is All-Star KennyAnderson

Dennis Rodman, famed for his unique and controversial relationship with the communist leader KimJong Un, flew to the state last month to help recruit their national team.

At the time, he confessed he was struggling to persuade any of his former teammates to make thetrip to Pyongyang.

Rodman, 52, is the highest profile American to meet with Kim Jong Un since Kim Jong Il passed awayin 2011.

Rodman made his latest visit to North Korea shortly before Christmas to train the North Koreanbasketball team, though he did not meet with Kim.

Rodman, known as much for his piercings, tattoos and bad behavior as he was for basketball,traveled to the secretive state for the first time last February with the Harlem Globetrotters for anHBO series produced by New York-based VICE television. Rodman has called Kim a 'friend for life.'

He claims the game on Wednesday will be an attempt at 'basketball diplomacy'.

'My previous travels have allowed me to feel the enthusiasm and warmth of fans,' Rodman said.

'The positive memories and smiles on the faces of the children and families are a testament to thegreat efforts we have put into fulfilling our mission wherever we go voiding any politics. We are alllooking forward to arriving in Pyongyang, meeting the citizens, visiting various charities and usingthe opportunity to develop new relationships that result in our annual return,' he continued.

Rodman, the most high profile to meet Kim Jong Un since Kim Jong Il died, is here selecting theNorth Korean team last month. Holding a cigar and wearing a pink shirt, he told the players thegame would be an 'honour'

Speaking after the North Korean team's tryouts, Rodman discussed his teammates concerns.

He said: 'You know, they're still afraid to come here, but I'm just telling them, you know, don't beafraid man, it's all love, it's all love here.

'I understand what's going on with the political stuff, and I say, I don't go into that venture, I'm justdoing one thing for these kids here, and for this country, and for my country, and for the worldpretty much.'

Addressing the North Korean players, he said: 'I want you guys to do one thing for your leader. It'shis birthday. It's a very special, special day for the country.'

It is less than a month since Kim's uncle was dragged from office and executed, but Rodman hasrefused to comment on the issue, or on the detention of American Kenneth Bae for allegedlycommitting anti-state crimes.

Instead his focus has been on sport and the basketball game which he hopes will be without politicalor nationalistic undertones.

North Korea will play against America in the first half, but for the second half the teams will bemixed.

On Christmas Eve, Paddy Power announced it would not be sponsoring the tournament as a result oftheir boycott of Pyongyang.

Rodman has been criticized for not talking about North Korea's human rights record, described asone of the world's worst by activists, the U.S. State Department and North Korean defectors. Thedefectors have repeatedly testified about the government's alleged use of indiscriminate killings,rapes, beatings and prison camps holding as many as 120,000 people deemed opponents ofauthoritarian leader Kim Jong Un, the third generation of his family to rule.

Read more:Dennis Rodman Will Bring Six Other Ex-NBA Players To North KoreaShare or comment on this article118shares

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was...Comments (12)Share what you thinkNewestOldestBest ratedWorst rated View allThe comments below have been moderated in advance.

rhc_333,Road to Santiago,12 hours ago

North Koreans are extremely restricted of world events or cultures.And you mean to tell me that99.8% of North Koreans get to see this gem ofa representation of America?Jesus.If they only knowhow much we don't want him......They see him and think we are all that goofy.New Comment14232Click to rateMotoman,Arizona,12 hours ago

The Worm will turn.ReplyNew5140Click to rateMargaret,Portland,12 hours ago

Kim Jong Un is a crazy and dangerous "leader" who should not have his out-of-control ego fed by theformer NBA players.New Comment8251Click to rateRick Jamey,nO, United States,12 hours ago

Imagine if Jong-Un ordered them to be executedReplyNew8350Click to rateLou Cherney,independence, United States,12 hours ago

after readin how he killed his uncle and other family members. If you still decide to go there just staythere your no better then him.New Comment9305Click to rateEightyshilling,manchester, United Kingdom,12 hours ago

well done, mr rodman, ambassador of international understanding

ReplyNew12250Click to rateCatfish,Bottomofthelake, United States,12 hours ago

What a idiot, I just wish he would stay there and enjoy "All the love they have to offer"

New Comment12263Click to rateJoe,Nirvana, United States,12 hours ago

Make sure the money dear leader is paying y'all isn't fake and pass if he offers to let you feed hisdogs.

ReplyNew6178Click to rateHJ,Las Vegas,12 hours ago

you would think after hearing reports that the NOKO dictator fed his uncle and five other men to awild pack of dogs even Dennis Rodman would have the good sense to cut ties with this guy but thenagain Rodman didn't earn the name Looney Tunes for nothing.New Comment9229Click to rateStaceyB,On the edge, United States,13 hours ago

Well there's a list of 6 people who don't read the news or are seriously hard up for money.ReplyNew12302Click to rateThe views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect theviews of MailOnline.

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