Press Box: Rodman offers Obama advice on North Korea
Add wannabe diplomat-ambassador to Dennis Rodman's resume.
The flamboyant Hall of Famer and former Detroit Pistons "Bad Boy" and member of the Chicago Bulls returned from a trip to North Korea last week with the Harlem Globetrotters where he spent several hours over the course of two days with avowed basketball fan and dictator, Kim Jong Un.
On Sunday, it seemed to matter little to Rodman that recent underground nuclear tests have further strained ties between the United States and North Korea.
Rodman appeared on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" and called the North Korean leader his friend. He said the 28-year-old leader is just a kid and doesn't want to go to war.
And Rodman delivered a message to President Barack Obama.
"He wants Obama to do one thing -- call him," Rodman told Stephanopoulos, who reminded the 51-year-old that Kim has threatened to annihilate the United States
After a U.N. Security Council resolution in January condemned the recent rocket launch, North Korea released a statement saying that "settling accounts with the U.S. needs to be done with force, not with words."
Rodman said Kim "loves basketball. Obama loves basketball. Let's start there. Let's start there."
NBA
---LeBron James has never participated in the NBA's dunk contest during All-Star weekend in his 10-year career, but that could change in the future.
James told ESPN-TV that he's considering a $1 million offer from Magic Johnson to enter the competition.
"I don't have a response yet," James said in an interview with ESPN before the Miami Heat-New York Knicks game in Madison Square Garden.
---Forward Kevin Jones was recalled by the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Canton Charge, the franchise's NBA Developmental League team, and guard Josh Selby was waived Sunday.
NHL
---Philadelphia Flyers forward Harry Zolnierczyk was suspended for four games by the league on Sunday for charging Ottawa defenseman Mike Lundin on Saturday.
Lundin suffered a concussion as a result of the incident, which contributed to the length of the suspension for Zolnierczyk, a first-time offender.
---The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Ondrej Palat from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
,