Update at 7:45 a.m. ET, March 1. Kims Are "Great Leaders," Rodman Says:
On his way home Friday from North Korea, former NBA star Dennis Rodman said Kim Jong Un, his father and grandfather have been "great leaders." According to The Associated Press, Rodman also said of the young North Korean leader that "he's proud, his country likes him — not like him, love him, love him. ... Guess what, I love him. The guy's really awesome."
Our original post — Dennis Rodman To Kim Jong Un: 'You Have A Friend For Life':
Add this to the controversial things that former NBA star Dennis Rodman has done over the years:
"You have a friend for life," he told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday. Word of his comments comes from that sent Rodman and members of the Harlem Globetrotters to the Stalinist state as part of an upcoming HBO series that will explore "news, culture and current events from all around the world."
Rodman, known as "The Worm," .
According to VICE and , Rodman and the "supreme leader" sat together Thursday to watch a basketball game involving North Korea's top players and the three Globetrotters who are with Rodman on the visit. The Americans — along with VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy — were divided between the two sides. The game reportedly ended in a 110-110 tie.
Xinhua reports Rodman said after the game that "although relations between the two countries are regrettable, personally I am a friend of Marshal Kim Jong Un and the DPRK people."
The now 51-year-old Rodman, , "is best remembered for his colorful appearance (dyed hair, tattoos, piercings) and his eccentric, high profile antics":
-- " when that was still a big deal.
-- " , and rocking it it should be added, to promote his first book.
-- " to promote his second book.
-- "Appearing in of all time.
-- " .
-- "Taking on a second career during one of his NBA suspensions.
-- "Earning one of those suspensions ."
Kim, of course, has inherited from his father and grandfather the leadership of a Stalinist state that as NPR's Louisa Lim has said is " " and where " " its people. Under the young leader, North Korea has also continued to ignore international condemnation and move ahead with and s.
And , North Korea has a "dire human rights record." It has reported that:
"Arbitrary arrest, detention, lack of due process, and torture and ill-treatment of detainees remain serious and pervasive problems. North Korea also practices collective punishment for various anti-state offenses, for which it enslaves hundreds of thousands of citizens in prison camps, including children. The government periodically publicly executes citizens for stealing state property, hoarding food, and other 'anti-socialist' crimes, and maintains policies that have continually subjected North Koreans to food shortages and famine."
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