KIM JONG UN’S BASKETBALL BUDDY IS A COMMON THIEF

Dennis Rodman Accused of Clothing Heist ... Captured On Video

TMZ Sports
May 9, 2019

The owners of an upscale yoga studio are accusing Dennis Rodman of participating in a brazen daytime clothing heist ... and the whole bizarre thing was captured on video obtained by TMZ Sports.

Here's the deal ... the NBA Hall of Famer entered VIBES Hot Yoga in Newport Beach around 12:45 PM on Tuesday with 3 companions -- 2 women and 1 man.

Almost immediately after they arrived, things got weird -- the owner tells us Dennis began distracting employees while the woman in a long-sleeved green shirt began stuffing clothing into her purse.

At one point, the woman hides behind Rodman while she tucks a shirt away.

Then, things get weirder ...

Rodman's male companion grabs a large $2,500 crystal art piece from the front desk and tries to place it on a steel dolly, insisting he wants to buy it.

But, the guy drops the crystal -- which shatters all over the floor -- and while the staff is distracted, the woman in the green-sleeves grabs another clothing item and again stuffs it into her purse.

Eventually, the entire crew leaves the store with the shattered crystal piece on the dolly. The owner tells us everyone in the group refused to pay. Dennis actually blamed the staff for the broken crystal.

The owner tells us ... the gang left the store with more than $500 in stolen clothing, plus the broken crystal -- so they went to police and filed a theft report.

The owner also says the employees working that day say everyone in Rodman's group reeked of alcohol.

VIBES is a popular spot for the rich and famous in Newport Beach -- everyone from Selena Gomez to Kobe Bryant has been there.

We reached out to the Newport Beach PD -- but they're not commenting.

We also spoke with Rodman's attorney who told us, "We would decline comment. It's premature."

By the way, Rodman is still on probation stemming from a Jan. 2018 drunk driving incident -- so, this could become a VERY big deal for the 57-year-old.
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Kim wanted US to send 'famous basketball players' to North Korea as part of denuclearization deal: report

By Chris Mills Rodrigo

The Hill
May 9, 2019

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wanted the United States to send "famous basketball players" to the country as part of a deal to normalize relations, ABC News reported Thursday.

The proposal was reportedly made as part of the cultural exchange between the two countries ahead of their summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, earlier this year.

North Korea also reportedly requested the exchange of orchestras between the two countries as a requirement for denuclearization.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the inclusion of basketball players in negotiations.

The summit in Hanoi was ultimately unsuccessful, as President Trump pulled out of negotiations.

Kim has been very public about his love for basketball and is close friends with NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, who has visited Pyongyang frequently.

Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, was also a basketball fan.

In 2000, he requested that the U.S. send Michael Jordan to North Korea. Jordan declined and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gifted a ball signed by the six-time NBA champion to the North Koreans instead.