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Rodman fearful NBA return will be blocked
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-17 08:52
LONDON (AFP) - Dennis Rodman fears his plans to make an unlikely return to
the NBA will be blocked by officials and admits he could yet return to Britain
in a bid to continue his basketball comeback.
 The 44-year-old forward, whose last NBA game was with the Dallas
Mavericks in 1990, claimed to have been offered try-outs by the Toronto Raptors
and Portland Trail Blazers in his efforts to become the oldest player to ever
appear in the elite American league.
However, Rodman fears NBA commissioner David Stern will do his best to block
a return to top flight American basketball and admits he may be forced to look
elsewhere.
Rodman, who completed his latest, two-game stint, in the British Basketball
League with four points and nine rebounds for the Brighton Bears in Wednesday's
103-84 road win over the London Towers, proved a popular figure with UK fans
after starring in the British television show 'Celebrity Big Brother'.
"I need to stay somewhere for a long time and that could be Brighton,
Portland, wherever," Rodman said prior to returning to the United States.
"Germany wants me, Turkey wants me, a lot of people want me but I want my
next move to be a long-term thing.
"I don't know if Brighton want to bring me back. My schedule is really busy
but I would be happy to come back and experience the BBL for a longer time.
"I am serious about a full-time return. I will be training five days a week
and hopefully give it a shot somewhere. Portland and Toronto both want to give
me a try-out.
"Just me being on the floor or on the bench will bring in the crowds. Give me
that 10 million dollars!
"I would be the first guy to play in the NBA at 45 but I can do it. Charles
Barkley is talking about a comeback but the guy would have to lose 200lbs to
stand a chance!"
Rodman believes Stern will attempt to block his latest return but is ready
for a fight with the man responsible for the world's richest basketball league.
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