Episodes three and four of “The Last Dance” aired on Sunday night, and somehow even catapulted above the greatness of the first two episodes. The ESPN/Netflix documentary looks at the 1998 season of the Chicago Bulls, the last time the team won a title with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson … and Dennis Rodman.
A big reason for these episodes’ greatness was that they largely focused on Rodman, a figure who’s as misunderstood and interesting as any athlete of the last few decades.
We’ll do a full breakdown of the two episodes later this morning, but for now, let’s count down the best six moments featuring Rodman in the episode, from his on-court work to his infamous trip to Las Vegas with Carmen Electra.
1. Rodman explaining the rebounding prep work he did
Dennis Rodman was, statistically, the greatest rebounder the game has ever seen. (Read this wonderful, extensive blog post breaking down just how special he was.) As he reveals in the documentary, that wasn’t just from some preternatural understanding of where the ball was going to go.
Rodman reveals that he used to go in an empty gym and has his friends chuck up shots from all over the court, over and over, so he could study how the ball would bounce. He’d have them shoot with different arcs and spins, and revealed that he’d study certain players’ releases to know how the ball would come off the rim of their shots. If one thing became even more clear these episodes: Good heavens he did the work.
2. Getting a $20 bill from Craig Sager for an upcoming fine
There’s a delightful moment when a younger Craig Sager is walking past Rodman in the underbelly of an arena, and Sager hands Rodman a $20 bill to help him pay some upcoming, undisclosed fine. Rodman laughs, then posits it’s Sager bribing him for an upcoming interview.
3. The Barbara Walters interview
Watching Rodman’s interview with Barbara Walters interview back is such an interesting little window into the time period. Walters is such a tough interviewer that she doesn’t let Rodman off the hook, but watching back, it’s sort of bizarre what she won’t let him off the hook for. He … dyes his hair? He … has piercings? Who cares?
There’s a longer essay here about why Rodman was so threatening to people back then, and what it says about popular athletes, especially popular black athletes, that any deviation from a preset idea results in a national hysteria.
4. His “apology” to Michael Jordan
After getting ejected from a game, Dennis Rodman “apologized” to Michael Jordan by going to his room and asking if he had an extra cigar. No “sorry” or anything. Just asking for a cigar.
That’s great, but what’s even better is that MJ inherently understood that was Rodman’s way of apologizing, and forgave him. Honestly, it made me like Jordan more.
5. The Vegas vacation
Rodman asked for a vacation to clear his head and was given 48 hours to go to Las Vegas and blow off steam. (It’s incredible how much respect Phil Jackson gave his stars, by the way. Not only in allowing Rodman to go, but by getting Jordan’s permission (!) first.)
I’d heard that story before. What I hadn’t heard (or forgot) was that the Bulls actually sent Jordan to go collect Rodman in Las Vegas. Can you imagine if that happened today? NBA Twitter would have to retire.
6. His dismissal of Nashville
This was a throwaway line, and Nashville has changed a lot, and I love the city, so please don’t get mad at me for including it. But when a fan told Dennis he needed to come visit Nashville, his answer “I’ve been to Nashville. Uh uh. No.” is an all-timer.
— Jason Kirk, FURLOUGH MODE (@thejasonkirk) April 27, 2020
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