Dennis Rodman’s colorful personality, wild lifestyle and the brand of basketball he brought onto the court, all made him a polarizing, yet intriguing athlete back in the day. Talking about color in personality, the different hues in his hairdo was something to behold, at times a bit too loud to behold even. It seems they inspired some celebrities too. Comedian Whitney Cummings, the creator of the hit sitcom, 2 Broke Girls, had the Chicago Bulls star in mind when she went for the boldest look she ever sported.
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Cummings admires Rodman not just for his hairdo though. She calls the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, her favorite player.
According to her, Rodman found a way to make defense glamorous, taking ownership of that end of the floor. He did whatever was necessary to get a stop, whether that meant diving on the floor for the ball, or getting under his opponent’s skin.
Many believe that while Michael Jordan was must-see TV on the offensive end, Rodman was must-see TV on the defensive side.
“Dennis Rodman till I die. He knew the assignment. He was entertaining us even when he didn’t have the ball. He understands like defence is not just as glamorous, but just as important as offense. I’ve always loved Dennis Rodman. When I dyed my hair ten different colors during the pandemic that was a homage to Dennis Rodman,” Cummings told Shannon Spake on the NASCAR Daily podcast.
Though Cummings attributed the creative experiment with her hair color to Rodman, back when she did it, she had a more noble reason.
The year was 2020, right after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cummings wanted to help out her hairstylist who had lost a substantial chunk of her income and clientele because of the lockdowns and social distancing norms.
She went for the most expensive hairdo available to help the stylist, first coloring it pink, in August 2020. She appeared in a vibrant blue a couple of months later.
Rodman, back in his playing days, used to change his style every game. Some outlandish ones — from neon green to leopard prints — were largely statements of non-conformity.
However, he did use the hair for certain causes too. For instance, once he coloured the AIDS ribbon onto his hair to raise awareness on HIV. Then there was the occasion when he etched No. 33 to celebrate the return of Scottie Pippen to the Bulls roster.
Well, Dennis could make statements, and capture the spotlight even amidst superstars of the game. The forward was equally at home around celebrities — he dated Madonna and was married to Carmen Electra, though briefly.
Cummings being impressed by Rodman’s on-court performance is justified too. His impact on the defensive end was pivotal in the Detroit Pistons winning back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. In the Bulls’ second three-peat, he was responsible for shutting down Seattle SuperSonics power forward Shawn Kemp in the 1996 finals, and Utah Jazz icon Karl Malone in the 1997 and 1998 championship series.
His otherworldly rebounding and hustle to save loose passes from going out of bounds earned him universal acclaim.
The Worm also played a part in changing the league’s culture, though notoriously at times.
Rodman brought a tremendous shift to the NBA
In the 1980s and 1990s, tattoos, unconventional hairdos, and piercings were looked down upon in the league. But Rodman went about making various style statements. He, almost singlehandedly, normalized the idea of players experimenting with outfits.
He fearlessly challenged the status quo. However, some of his shenanigans were too bizarre. In 1996, he married himself and wore a bridal wedding dress to promote his autobiography, As Bad As I Wanna Be. Well, that did capture attention: his unpredictability was his allure.
Rodman’s unapologetic attitude did bring some trouble too. There were times he would miss practice, or forgot he had a game to play after partying all night. However, Bulls head coach Phil Jackson tolerated the forward’s indiscretions because of what he brought on the court. His selflessness was irreplaceable.
And his role in encouraging players (celebrities like Cummings too) to express their individuality is an undeniable part of his legacy.
