Former NBA great Dennis Rodman, who’s frequently referred to North Korean despot Kim Jong-un as a personal friend, returned from a recent trip to Russia filled with praise for another leader with disreputable roots — the former KGB’s Vladimir Putin.
Of President Putin, Mr. Rodman said this, during a recent interview on Fox Business Network: “You know, he’s actually cool. I’m not going to say — I’m not talking about politics. I ain’t about politics … this was my first time meeting him. He just walked in, shook my hand and left with all his people. I just stayed there and had a good time at his restaurant.”
Mr. Rodman rocked headlines in January, after returning from a trip to North Korea where he took part in an exhibition basketball game with other NBA greats to celebrate Mr. Kim’s birthday.
In a followup interview on CNN, Mr. Rodman referred to Mr. Kim and said, “I love my friend. This is my friend.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.