(Larry) Bird and the Worm

For my next essay in my sports writing class, we are to find an athlete who does not get their just due or recognition. I originally was looking to write something on Ben Wallace or Chris Osgood. Then my professor finally explained the full details of the essay.

He wants us to focus on the person we picked and then focus on the network of players, coaches, legends, etc. that they too played with. He said he wants us to do, essentially, a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

So I realized that doing the essay on Ben Wallace would be a challenge, so would Osgood, albeit, Osgood would be a little easier.

I called an audible and called my brother to see how he felt about my new choice:

The Worm, Dennis Rodman.

He was leery at first, then I explained it to him, when you look at Rodman, all though in his later years, he was quite excentric, he still played with the greats.

On the Pistons, he was a member of the Bad Boys and was coached by Chuck Daly, coach of the Dream Team. On the Spurs he played with David Robinson and Sean Elliot. On the Bulls he obviously played with Jordan and Pippen and was coached by Phil Jackson. He forayed into pro wrestling and wrestled with Hulk Hogan against Karl Malone. He was a member of the Lakers with Shaq and Kobe.

And then there are the players he played against. Magic, Kareem, MJ, Bird. Immortals in the game of basketball. He had a pretty intense rivalry/war of words too with Larry, hence the title.

Like the others before, I am pretty excited for this one.

I might have to ask Andrew to bring up the autographed Dennis Rodman, Piston jersey that my grandpa gave me when he comes to visit.

I need to channel my inner Worm.