Rodman signed, set to rebound

Deepa Bharath

Former NBA superstar and ace rebounder Dennis Rodman on Tuesday

signed up with the Orange County Crush, an American Basketball Assn.

team based at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, team

spokesman Erick Benson said on Wednesday.

Rodman, a former West Newport resident who gained notoriety in his

beach community for his raucous parties and for receiving more than a

few noise citations, moved a few miles north to Huntington Beach in

September.

The star athlete who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers,

Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, played just three games for the

Long Beach Jam, another ABA team based in Long Beach, last season.

Benson wouldn’t divulge the details of Rodman’s contract. The

team’s general manager, Kevin Copeland, also wouldn’t comment

Wednesday.

The Orange County Crush will play its home games in the grandstand

arena at the Orange County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds will

certainly benefit from the presence of a crowd-puller such as Rodman

on the team, said spokeswoman Lisa MacDonald.

“It’s great that they’ve signed such a recognizable, charismatic

player,” she said. “It will bring yet another exciting component to

the Crush. It’s exciting.”

The Crush’s first of 18 home games is scheduled for Nov. 18 in an

arena with an expected capacity of 4,211.

Rodman is still pursuing his dream of playing again for the NBA,

Benson said.

* DEEPA BHARATH is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

She may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or by e-mail at

[email protected].