By Jordan Niespodziany
(Originally posted on TigerRag)
Former NBA star, Dennis Rodman, recently visited North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, as part of a weeklong trip to film a TV documentary. While the Obama administration chose to distance itself from the visit claiming it was simply sports, a report from the U.S. State Department has been critical of the visit. The report said that the North Korean government should allocate their funds to their starving nation and not towards celebrity visitors. During his visit, Rodman attended a basketball game with Kim and enjoyed a night filled with fine dining and plenty of drinks.
Following his trip, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos interviewed Rodman. He considered the trip a success and described the supreme leader as an “awesome guy” and a “great leader.” Stephanopoulos asked Rodman why he did not address North Korea’s terrible human rights record or discuss the supreme leader’s hatred of the United States. Rodman simply stated that his time with the North Korean leader was spent enjoying sports and avoiding political issues. Additionally, he told the leader “You have a friend for life.”
When I first read Rodman’s comments calling Kim a “great leader” I will admit that I was surprised. North Korea’s poor human rights record is not a secret to anyone. Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting human rights, has described the government as one of the most repressive offering no freedom of the press or religion as well as controlling all political or social opposition. For obvious reasons, Rodman was condemned for holding such high regard for the supreme leader. U.S. State Department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell criticized the visit saying, “Clearly, you’ve got the regime spending money to wine and dine foreign visitors, when they should be feeding their own people.” Although Ventrell brings up a fair point, I wonder if his comments would be the same if President Obama had been the one visiting.
International diplomacy has to start somewhere and if that means using basketball as a vehicle for conversation then I am all for it. Sports offer people of all types an opportunity to come together and share a common interest. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of television and radio shows dedicated to discussing sports. The meeting between North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, and Rodman was simply that. Two men sat down to watch a game they both shared an interest in.
Although Rodman’s bad boy image has caused the public to write him off as a “weirdo,” his interactions with Kim Jong-un should serve as an example for others to follow. If Rodman was able to have such a meaningful experience with Kim while observing a basketball game, why cant other influential figures, political or not, use sports as a means of developing friendly foreign relations?
The unstable political climate of North Korea is a cause of concern for the United States. They have announced their intentions to actively pursue nuclear development with the intent to target the U.S. In times of hostility, a motion for diplomacy must be made. The eccentric Rodman might have done the U.S. a favor by visiting with Kim. Maybe, just maybe, U.S. officials should consider lacing up their sneakers and follow in his footsteps.
You can view Rodman’s interview here.
Following his trip, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos interviewed Rodman. He considered the trip a success and described the supreme leader as an “awesome guy” and a “great leader.” Stephanopoulos asked Rodman why he did not address North Korea’s terrible human rights record or discuss the supreme leader’s hatred of the United States. Rodman simply stated that his time with the North Korean leader was spent enjoying sports and avoiding political issues. Additionally, he told the leader “You have a friend for life.”
When I first read Rodman’s comments calling Kim a “great leader” I will admit that I was surprised. North Korea’s poor human rights record is not a secret to anyone. Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting human rights, has described the government as one of the most repressive offering no freedom of the press or religion as well as controlling all political or social opposition. For obvious reasons, Rodman was condemned for holding such high regard for the supreme leader. U.S. State Department spokesman, Patrick Ventrell criticized the visit saying, “Clearly, you’ve got the regime spending money to wine and dine foreign visitors, when they should be feeding their own people.” Although Ventrell brings up a fair point, I wonder if his comments would be the same if President Obama had been the one visiting.
International diplomacy has to start somewhere and if that means using basketball as a vehicle for conversation then I am all for it. Sports offer people of all types an opportunity to come together and share a common interest. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of television and radio shows dedicated to discussing sports. The meeting between North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, and Rodman was simply that. Two men sat down to watch a game they both shared an interest in.
Although Rodman’s bad boy image has caused the public to write him off as a “weirdo,” his interactions with Kim Jong-un should serve as an example for others to follow. If Rodman was able to have such a meaningful experience with Kim while observing a basketball game, why cant other influential figures, political or not, use sports as a means of developing friendly foreign relations?
The unstable political climate of North Korea is a cause of concern for the United States. They have announced their intentions to actively pursue nuclear development with the intent to target the U.S. In times of hostility, a motion for diplomacy must be made. The eccentric Rodman might have done the U.S. a favor by visiting with Kim. Maybe, just maybe, U.S. officials should consider lacing up their sneakers and follow in his footsteps.
You can view Rodman’s interview here.
I can't wait until you work for ESPN Chicago and I get free tickets
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