Rodman, Class of ’11 to enter hoops Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Dennis Rodman’s uncommon blend of basketball and entertainment has arrived at the sport’s birthplace.

Rodman will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame on Friday, part of the 10-person class of 2011.

He acknowledged coaches Phil Jackson and fellow inductee Tex Winter, and mentioned teammate Michael Jordan, along with musicians Eddie Vedder and Motley Crue. Dressed in all black, wearing sunglasses, a hat and a scarf that read “The Worm, HOF ’11” on the inside, the five-time NBAchampion was the center of attention during Thursday’s press conferences.

Chris Mullin is the other headline name in the class, though much of the focus was on Rodman. Looking toward Rodman, Stanford women’s coach Tara VanDerveer joked she was so excited she was “gonna go out and get a tattoo.”