Dennis Rodman lived one of the wildest lives imaginable for an NBA star of his time. He became a unique figure, both on and off the court due to his style of play and the high-profile issues surrounding his image. In 1992, Rodman married Annie Bakes after five years of dating. However, that marriage did not work out too well for him. He had a daughter named Alexis with Bakes, with whom Rodman now shares an estranged relationship. In his autobiography, I Should Be Dead by Now, he wrote about an incident where he cried on the Oprah Winfrey Show because of his wife and estranged daughter.
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Rodman and Bakes had a tumultuous married life stained by infidelities and accusations of abuse. The couple divorced after 82 days of their marriage, leaving him absent from the lives of his children. Rodman particularly mentioned his love for the children, while his ex-wife did not allow them to feel affection towards their father. This was partly one of the reasons why Rodman infamously broke down on national television.
Dennis Rodman once broke down on national television on the Oprah Winfrey Show
As Rodman started growing in popularity in the NBA, he was invited to the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996. However, many believe Winfrey had stepped the line by asking Rodman questions about his personal life. Rodman narrated Winfrey’s attempts to get him back in touch with his daughter Alexis. But that attempt was jeopardized by his ex-wife, turning it into a huge fiasco. He described how Annie Bakes would not allow Alexis to appear on the show unless she was included. It ended up hurting Rodman, as he broke down in front of millions of viewers on national television. Describing this incident in his own words, Rodman wrote-
“Oprah tried to get us [Rodman and his daughter Alexis] back together on her show a few years ago, and that turned into a disaster. My publicity-hound ex-wife wouldn’t let Alexis come on stage unless she was included, and I ended up crying on national television.”
Dennis Rodman, as a father, still cherished his daughters with Bakes. However, he seemed severely upset and disappointed in the strained relationship caused due to his marriage. He would fondly remember instances from his children’s early days in his autobiography. Rodman regretted that his now grown-up son and daughter would not stay in touch with him, making him a rather ‘payday father.’
“As for Alexis and Chance, my 16-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son, they are part of my life just one day a month—payday. Other than that, we haven’t been in contact for a long, long time. I still love them both, but if they love me, they aren’t showing it. There are scars—literally—when it comes to Alexis. When she was a toddler, she grabbed my right earring, splitting the ear wide open. It hurt like hell for a minute, and I still have a big notch in my ear lobe. In those days,Alexis was the light of my life, but now she won’t even talk to me.”
Dennis Rodman once attempted suicide over his failed marriage with Annie Bakes
Dennis Rodman’s divorce from Annie Bakes after 82 days of marriage hurt the NBA star’s mental health adversely. In his autobiography, he further mentioned how he contemplated suicide following this failed relationship. This can be understood from his words in the excerpt below from the book Bad As I Wanna Be.
“And if I got rid of that life, what options did I have? I could have gone off and been a nine-to-five guy who would have been happier and would have had fewer problems. My bank account would have suffered, but I would have been able to walk the streets as a normal person. That’s all I was looking for. ”
The excerpt further continues:
“The other option I considered was to keep doing what I was doing and try to fool people into believing I was something that I wasn’t. Then, I thought of a third option: Live a normal life, stay true to myself, and stay exactly where I am. I sat in that pickup and had a duel with myself. I didn’t need the gun; it all took place in my mind.”
Despite facing a mental health crisis during that time, Rodman never gave up on himself. He started a new relationship with Carmen Electra, whom he married in 1998. On the court, he was still as dominant as ever, winning three more titles with the Bulls in their second three-peat run.
Dennis Rodman also contributes to several charities associated with children’s welfare and mental health. Over the years, he has donated to the 100 Club of Chicago, the Boys and Girls Foundation, and the March of Dimes. For Rodman, the significance of such actions goes beyond donating or showing mere support.
