Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Craps dealer calls foul on Rodman

and Bill Gang

Dennis Rodman makes money because of his aggressive play. A local lawsuit intends to make him pay for the same reason.

The eccentric Chicago Bulls forward, currently competing against the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals, has been accused of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress for his bizarre treatment of a Mirage hotel-casino craps dealer last October.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in Clark County District Court on behalf of dealer James Brasich by attorney Michael Koning, alleges Rodman repeatedly rubbed the bald plaintiff's head, stomach and groin with the dice before rolling them.

Neither Brasich nor Koning could be reached for this story.

According to the lawsuit, the incidents were witnessed by "a large crowd of spectators that were gathered around watching the defendant."

The lawsuit states the 6-foot-7, 228-pound Rodman rubbed his hand on Brasich's groin three times while the dealer "attempted to maintain his composure and professionalism."

Rodman, aka the "Worm," was unavailable for comment Monday. He skipped practice and was fined $10,000 for missing an NBA-mandated media interview session. He did, however, show up with Hulk Hogan at a professional wrestling event in Auburn Hills, Mich., Monday night.

Rodman's agent, Dwight Manley, did not return messages left at The Rodman Group in Newport Beach, Calif.

Brasich's lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, stating the alleged acts "were done without the expressed or implied consent of the plaintiff."

Brasich, 51, contends he has suffered "substantial humiliation, embarrassment, indignity, degradation and anger ... (over) such despicable conduct."

The incident forced Brasich to take time off work and incur other expenses, the lawsuit claims.

Rodman made $10 million this season. He often brings his money -- along with his multicolored hair, strange wardrobe, tattoos and body piercings -- to Las Vegas.

He visited several casinos last Wednesday night and Thursday morning, arriving hours after the Bulls lost in overtime to the Jazz in Game 1. He was spotted shooting dice at the Las Vegas Hilton as late as 6 a.m. Three hours later he showed up for Thursday's workout in Salt Lake City.

The seven-time NBA rebounding leader apparently was on good behavior during his recent trip, but he is as notorious an agitator on the green felt as he is on the hardwood.

Late last year he was banned from The Mirage -- one of his favorite haunts and the rendezvous site for his admitted flings with Madonna -- for an accumulation of transgressions. Most incidents stemmed from drunken disorderly conduct and abusive language to staff and guests.

It is uncertain how much a role Brasich's allegations played in that ban.

Rodman's alleged acts upon Brasich began shortly after noon on Oct. 12. He reportedly was gambling with former NBA player Vernon Maxwell and two female companions.

Rodman "was interfering with (Maxwell) shooting the dice by grabbing them, by removing them from the table, by rubbing them against his body, by rolling them himself and by similar improper actions."

It was then, according to the legal action, that Rodman rubbed Brasich's bald head and "stroked and rubbed the chest of Mr. Brasich, even attempting to get inside the dealer's shirt."

Rodman is then alleged to have "with the dice in his hand, rubbed his hand upon the plaintiff's groin (and) a few minutes later, again rubbed (the) plaintiff in the groin with his hand, and moments later again, for the third time, rubbed (the) plaintiff in the groin with his hand."

Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman declined comment on the lawsuit due to a lack of information.

"This is the first I've heard of it," Feldman said.

"I wouldn't comment on rumors one way or another. But there always are a lot of rumors about Mr. Rodman."

The Bulls, who lead the best-of-seven championship series two games to one, host Game 4 Wednesday night.

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