It's a nickname that's befuddled sports enthusiasts for some time: Why is one among the NBA's best possible defensive players, Dennis Rodman, referred to as "the worm"?
ESPN's The Last Dance, the 30 for 30 docuseries that chronicles now not handiest the life and times of Michael Jordan, but the Chicago Bulls' 1997-1998 season where they went after their 2d three-peat and 6th championship, is ridiculously good. It's so excellent that even if you have by no means even watched a unmarried basketball sport, you'd still most certainly be entranced via it, most commonly as a result of its storytelling and solid of real-life ability.
Like Dennis Rodman. And speaking of Dennis, why is he called "The Worm" anyway?
Why is Rodman known as "The Worm"? His bodily style of play.
While worms aren't exactly known to be the maximum intimidating of animals, in reality, they're extra gross than threatening, Dennis's physicality in the game of basketball and emotional style of play earned him two defensive player of the 12 months awards, along side the slimy moniker.
No topic how tight or congested a group of gamers were given when seeking to achieve possession of the ball, Dennis nearly at all times discovered himself proper in the thick of it and, numerous the time, he'd be the one to get the rock. He didn't care about scoring, he didn't care about breaking ankles on offense and taking it to the hole. All Dennis truly cared about was protecting his teammates, stealing the ball, snatching rebounds, and guarding the heck out of somebody trainer informed him to stick with.
Another explanation why he used to be given the nickname was once additionally because when he "stuck to a player, he wouldn't leave them alone." Dennis has at all times been known for his boundless energy, so his talent to never get drained, that tenacity, coupled with his enthusiasm for sticking to gamers like white on rice, is one more reason some say he was once known as "The Worm."
But every other rumor is that Dennis's mom gave him the nickname for the manner he'd wiggle whilst playing pinball.
Whatever the reason why for Dennis's nickname, it's not easy to argue that he wasn't one in all the perfect defensive players in the sport, and is somebody you'd definitely need hustling on your behalf.
Interestingly sufficient, his incapacity to ever turn into fatigued additionally contributed to one more reason as to why Dennis is one among the maximum infamous basketball gamers ever, his happy-go-lucky hard-partying way of life.
Carmen Electra once hid from Michael Jordan as a result of Dennis Rodman's party-loving tactics.
In the Bulls final championship season, Dennis as soon as asked trainer Phil Jackson if he may just take a mini holiday to let out some steam. So Phil, realizing Dennis's dedication to the sport and working out the mentality of his squad, informed Dennis he may pass. So Dennis headed out to Vegas with then-girlfriend Carmen Electra to have some amusing.
The thing about Dennis, alternatively, is the 2nd he decides to party, he is firing on all cylinders from the get-go.
CBS Sports reported Carmen Electra as pronouncing: "I do remember being in Vegas with [Dennis]. It was on. The party was starting right away. One thing about Dennis, he had to escape. He liked to go out. He liked to go to clubs. We'd go to his favorite restaurant. Then we'd go to a nightclub. Then we'd go to after hours. It didn't stop. It was definitely an occupational hazard to be Dennis's girlfriend. He was wild."
She persevered, "But to be honest, I didn't realize what the team's schedule was. I didn't know he took a detour." So it came as a wonder to her when Michael Jordan came a knocking on their door right after the couple made it again from Vegas to be sure that Dennis was once able to fit up and get to observe.
"There's a knock on the door. It's Michael Jordan. And I hid. I didn't want him to see me like that. So I'm just like hiding behind the couch with covers on me," Electra recounted.
The Bulls would cross on to win their sixth championship and second three-peat. The rest is history, and The Worm's partying and Carmen Electra are very a lot part of it.
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