It’s game on. Dennis Rodman touched down in Pyongyang on Monday, with 11 fellow former American basketball greats in tow — ending weeks of speculation that he couldn’t get his U.S. teammates to travel to North Korea for an exhibition game.
Mr. Rodman has been trying to arrange a game for the North Korean dictator — his self-professed “friend for life” — for months now, but has faced a challenge to convince fellow American players that it’s safe to travel to the country. The game is supposed to be played in honor of Kim Jong-un’s birthday, on Wednesday, USA Today reported.
Part of the players’ reluctance: Mr. Kim just executed his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, for corruption charges.
But Mr. Rodman ultimately convinced 11 of his basketball pals to travel for the game. Among the motley crew: Former NBA players, Harlem Globetrotter players and some of Mr. Rodman’s street-playing teammates. The team touched down in Pyongyang, from Beijing — Mr. Rodman’s fourth trip to the regime in less than a year, USA Today said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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