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Dennis Rodman: No Shoes, No Job

Fri., Apr. 16, 1999 1:05 PM PDT by Daniel Frankel

A week after Carmen Electra filed to divorce him, the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers also dumped Dennis Rodman, citing pretty much the same reason as the ex-Baywatch actress: irreconcilable differences.

The loony rebounding ace and sometime wrestler showed up late for a Lakers practice Thursday morning--quite groggy, and missing his shoes and socks--and was told by coach Kurt Rambis to "just go home."

Hours later, team officials--who supposedly never wanted to sign the very troubled power forward in the first place--finally managed to convince team owner Jerry Buss the time had come to waive the former Madonna flame.

Thursday's transgression followed a tumultuous two-month tenure with the Lakers, in which the 37-year-old Double Team star left the team for a week to "clear his head" in Las Vegas, took verbal shots at teammates, showed up late for practices, refused to re-enter basketball games and, perhaps most important, failed to produce on the court.

Rodman's personal relationship with owner Buss--the pair purportedly hang together on the Los Angles after-hours scene--had forced Lakers officials to overlook the player's more-erratic-than-ever behavior. But Thursday's antics proved to be the last straw.

"At this time, we feel it's in the best interest of the Lakers to end the relationship," Lakers vice president Jerry West said in a statement. "This obviously didn't work out like we had hoped, but we would like to thank Dennis for the contributions he did make to the team and wish him the best of luck in the future."

The Lakers will continue to pay his $1 million-a-year contract for the remainder of the season, but say they will not pay him for next season, despite his contract.

"They have to have a fall guy [for their underachieving season] and I'm basically the fall guy," Rodman told Associated Press. "The Lakers are cowards not to take the fall for some of the things that have happened this year. I hope I'm still loved by the people here in the state of California."

It's unlikely any other team will immediately pick up the Worm. He also won't be hawking hamburgers for Carl's Jr. anymore. The fast food chain announced Friday it was dropping Rodman as a pitchman.

If nothing else, he'll have plenty of time to pursue his acting career. Can anybody say Double Team 2?