Rodman: Sorry About N. Korea Comments, I Was Drunk

'I embarrassed a lot of people'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 9, 2014 4:51 AM CST
Updated Jan 9, 2014 7:19 AM CST
Rodman: Sorry About N. Korea Comments, I Was Drunk
Dennis Rodman waves to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seated above in the stands, before an exhibition basketball game with US and North Korean players in Pyongyang yesterday.   (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)

Too many cold ones with Kim Jong Un? Dennis Rodman blames booze and the collapse of his North Korean "basketball diplomacy" dreams for his bizarre outburst about imprisoned American missionary Kenneth Bae. "It had been a very stressful day," the former NBA star tells the AP. "Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates." He says he had been drinking and while "it's not an excuse," by the time the interview happened he was upset.

"I embarrassed a lot of people. I'm very sorry," Rodman says. "At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry." Rodman sang "Happy Birthday" to the North Korean dictator yesterday before joining other former NBA players in an exhibition team against a North Korean team, which the Americans lost 47-39. It's not clear what else Rodman has planned on this trip to North Korea or when he will return to the US, though he and the remaining US players are expected to go skiing today, reports CNN. No word on whether Kim will join him on the slopes. (More Dennis Rodman stories.)

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