“Wasnt Smiling Anymore”: Despite Being Featured on $50 Billion Worth Network, Dennis Rodman’s Peculiar Habit Had His Agent Turn Pale

The early ’00s were when Dennis Rodman‘s off-the-court issues were more pronounced. He’s been away from the NBA a couple of years at this point, welcomed two children, wrestling, partying, and trying to return to the NBA. There were some people in his entourage who were ready to go above and beyond to restore the six-time NBA champion’s former glory. But Rodman gave him a hard time which came to a head during a critical period.

‘The Worm’ detailed his dramatic life from his perspective in his 2006 book, I should be dead by now. One chapter revealed when his longtime friend and colleague was at the end of his tether with Rodman’s antics.

Dennis Rodman got caught partying on TV

Rodman literally lived the open book life, detailing his flamboyant life in multiple memoirs. His 2006 book came after his repeated struggles to return to the NBA after retiring on a low note. Chapter 12, titled Sports Sinner poignantly revealed when his problems were at its peak. It speaks of an incident in 2003 when his alcoholism had caused a series of public incidents.

At that time, Rodman was still with Michelle Moyer, DJ and Trinity Rodman’s mother. He also had Darren Prince by his side, a sports agent who’s been working for him for over two decades. Rodman has referred to Prince as a close confidante many times. Prince had stuck by him through his publicity nightmares and was trying very hard to clean up the NBA star’s reputation.

Prince could be considered very tolerant of Rodman’s shenanigans. But on September 6, 2003, he spat the bitter truth at Rodman’s face.

At that time, Dennis Rodman was the star of an ESPN reality show, Rodman on the Rebound. It was shot across five months and they were at the halfway point.

Moyer had told the filming crew, “The last three years for Dennis have been a party. Nothing but drinkin’ and drinkin’ and drinkin’.” However, he said that the ESPN crew had yet to catch Rodman drinking on camera. He got away until this day.

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He was at a friend’s in Newport Beach, ushering more visitors in, and drinking. He recalled the exact scene that was broadcast with Moyer saying, “Right now what Dennis cares about is drinking,” cutting to Rodman’s 2 a.m. party.

Rodman embarrassed his agent on camera

Rodman’s partying and drinking meant an NBA team was not willing to take a gamble on him. So Prince and Moyer gave him an ultimatum that he had to stop drinking. At this party, his friend’s patience was tested.

Rodman, Moyer, Prince and another acquaintance were lounging at the party where the NBA champion starting taking jabs at his friends. His jabs at Prince were the harshest. He started off by saying, “I don’t need you.” It would escalate to him telling everyone he doesn’t need them.

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“I made my career without your a*s. Hello!” he told his friends. Darren was smiling and taking it lightly before. But at some point, Rodman wrote that Darren “wasn’t smiling anymore.” The ESPN cameras are rolling, filming everything about Rodman’s intoxicated tirade. That’s not a good look for the athlete and the agent.

That made the other friend lose his cool and yell, “You swore to me you’d be on the court.” He further added, “I think you will be on the court but not if you keep drinkin’ like this.” Ultimately, Rodman’s NBA ambitions fizzled out. He would play in international leagues and the ABA before officially retiring.