ESPN’s “The Last Dance” Part II-3 Life Lessons-Episodes 3 & 4
Artwork Courtesy Of: @shiftrefresh
To pick up where we left on the previous 3 life lessons learned from ESPN’s “The Last Dance” check out Episode 1 & 2 review here!
In the latest installment, Dennis “The Worm” Rodman is being unearthed from the weeds and finally presented to us as the unsung hero of “The Last Dance” ’98 Chicago Bulls.
A walking reality TV show, the naturally shy Dennis Keith Rodman would’ve taken social media by storm had it been around back then. He would’ve been the internet’s main event. 50+ million followers on social media sites would’ve been easy money.
TMZ would’ve built their entire establishment strictly around Rodman content. Eventually, they’d have to give him at least 40% equity in the organization. They’d’ve been chasing him around like another famous introvert who reigned in Chicago we know all too well.
How did the once shy kid from Texas who was homeless at 18 climb his way out of obscurity into the Basketball Hall of Fame? Dennis understood some things that we can all take with us into our own personal careers.
Here are the top 3 life lessons learned from “The Last Dance” Episodes 3 & 4:
- Play To Your Strengths
How many of us work jobs where some days, we are complimented by a colleague or supervisor? Doesn’t this give you the sense that we’re actually making a difference in our jobs? It’s like an productivity injection into your veins when you feel valued by your employer. The by-product makes you want to work harder for them.
That was Rodman playing basketball during the 1997–1998 Chicago Bulls 3-peat run while Scottie Pippen was recovering from an injury early in the season . However, MJ made him feel valued because he had no choice and knew that when Rodman was engaged in his job, he would perform at a high level.
The Worm delivered on MJ’s investment into him with his on the court production.
Dennis came into The Association averaging 25.7 points and 15.7 rebounds at the NAIA school, Southeastern Oklahoma State University. However, his role shifted in the NBA as he became an elite defender and rebounder.
He found his niche.
Rodman was a man possessed early in the 97–98 season, doing everything asked of him and playing with a level of hustle and energy unparalleled. The proof is in the pudding:
How many of y’all keeping this same energy at your 9–5? I’ll wait.
However, an elite role player being thrusted into the spotlight as the 2nd star can take a toll. Not even Rodman could handle it. Which takes me to my next life lesson:
- Take Care Of Y’all Chickens & Y’all Mentals
The great philosopher Marshawn Lynch, better known as Beast Mode, decided to drop some life knowledge in his potential retirement speech about money and mental health:
Chicken & Mentals? Well said, Beast Mode. Well said.
Money & mental health makes the world go round so let’s begin the clucking with the former.
Financial stability is something we all understand is important. Economic power is the foundational pillar of United States’ core tenants. We all know that “green” is the highlight of our country’s color spectrum.
Nothing showcases that more than sports because entertainment is highly valued in America. That’s why franchises are now billion-dollar corporations.
When you think about it as it’s core, the athletes we admire on TV are playing a game for millions that I’ve seen of hundreds of recreation league hoopers do daily.
FOR FREE.
That’s why many young kids consider it “The American Dream” to play professionally in any sport.
It’s what Rodman understood early on when it came to reporters and beat writers who swarmed him like bees, excessively expecting honey-like gems of information to be poured out of Dennis The Pooh’s pot.
Here’s one of the best lines he had for the media:
“I’ll play the game for free, but you get paid for the bulls — t.”
There you have it talking heads. Temper those hot takes. You know who you are..
The line resonated so much, Steve Kerr follows the credo in his coaching principles.
Think about if people were shoving tape recorders at your job all the time, social media included. I understand that they also have a job to do and it’s an important one. However, being on the speaking side of the camera’s and hot mics can wear on you mentally. Which is why mental health has been so prominent in sports like never before.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver brought voice to this prevalent issues in today’s society:
Unfortunately, it wasn’t big back during the 80’s and 90’s. Lack of mental health awareness nearly cost Dennis Rodman his whole life.
In April of 1993, he contemplated suicide. But why?
He was an NBA champion, former defensive player of the year who appeared to have it all.
Yet, Worm wanted to end it all.
The irony of this ordeal is embedded into the backstory not discussed in The Last Dance.
Ironically, one special NBA reporter (the legendary Craig Sager) stepped into a local Detroit strip club to save The Worm from taking his last dance years before the documentary. Sager vision was in full effect and Dennis was forever grateful, thanking Craig on the day of his passing with a post.
Mental health affects everyday people. I highly encourage anyone who is going through states of depression and mental uncertainty to seek help. Counseling services, hospitals, etc. We are all valuable as human beings on this earth. Regardless of what other people think, self worth is what matters the most. I’m here to tell you readers that YOU matter and never think otherwise!
Dennis found out that he mattered the most early on in the 97–98 Chicago Bulls season with Pippen out and him having to assume more responsibility on the team. Once Scottie returned though, things changed. Remember, Rodman was always wired differently.
His teammates knew that.
The coaching staff knew that.
It’s what made him a radically gifted basketball player and leads into our final life lesson.
- Work Hard, Play Hard(er).
Think about an employee who is a director of a corporation being thrusted into the role as interim Chief Operations Officer for a few months due to the current executive taking a medical leave of absence. Granted, it may work for awhile but will become unsustainable since the employee’s skill set doesn’t match the job description consistently enough.
Dennis was playing Scottie’s role of COO for that injury stint on the ’98 Bulls squad.
In all actuality though, he was more like the Senior Director of Maintenance. Not a glorified position but one critical for sustainability.
The problem is that Dennis got a taste of the COO role and didn’t know how to act once he had to relinquish the power.
He began to struggle and lash out in unproductive ways on the court when Scottie came back into the fold because CEO Michael Jordan didn’t give him the same level of responsibility any longer.
Not that Dennis didn’t matter but he wasn’t asked to do as much anymore. Worm didn’t take it that way.
It apparently got so bad, he was ejected from a game and as MJ scolds him to the sidelines, he knows he was outta pocket.
Later on, as a way to say “my bad”, Rodman came by MJ’s hotel room and asked if he had an extra cigar. The ‘gar was an olive branch for accountability, acknowledge the error of his ways.
Afterwards, Rodman’s focus and play improved significantly. However, the grind of another championship run started to wear on him.
He needed…an escape.
So the homie took a hiatus in the middle of the season to go to Vegas.
Hell, he should’ve asked for background music leaving the facility for Sin City too since MJ and Phil were already approving PTO requests:
Lowkey, Rodman should’ve been on the Board of Directors for modern-day load management. A trip to Sin City with Carmen Electra for a few days???
My man would’ve been crucified in the modern camera phone era slithering around the Vegas strip.
Courtesy of: Clutchpoints.com
I can only imagine Kawhi Leonard’s reaction when he realized he was toting Rodman’s load management torch into 2020 would have people mad at him..
We later find out that Jordan goes to Vegas and rescues Rodman from himself.
The over/under odds of Rodman returning should’ve been +1998.
Yet, when he finally returned from his PTO, he was ready to put in work. The wonders a little time away from the office can do!
In his book, 11 Rings, Phil Jackson mentioned that Rodman was the most conditioned athlete he had ever coached. During the documentary, that was evident when they were running indoor laps.
MJ wanted to take it “easy” because he had been carrying such a heavy load during the games with Scottie rehabbing. However, the game of “rabbit” around the track had escalated to a new level by The Worm himself.
Jordan said it took four laps to catch him around the track..fresh off a trip from Las Vegas.
Here’s some live footage to support this claim:
In summary, what have we learned?
- Find something you’re good at…and become great at it.
- Money and Mental Management is monumental.
- Do what you have to do in life so you can then, you do what you wanna do.
As we make our championship run thru the next couple of episodes of “The Last Dance”, there are two renditions of 3-peat Bulls to be discussed. Even though the documentary is built around the ’98 team, the early championship squads built the narrative that makes this documentary so enticing at a time without live sports.
There is still a lot left to unpack that we can carry in our day-to-day living. Dennis taught us the power of being yourself, finding your niche and maxing out company benefits.
What will the next episodes teach us? In the spirit of Rick James,
