Dennis Rodman

His desire to move his star above and beyond the basketball court pushed Rodman into the world of professional wrestling in 1997, when he joined the WCW (World Championship Wrestling). That same year he took his first major film role in a movie titled Double Team (he'd had a bit part in Eddie with Whoopi Goldberg in 1996). Though it was a less than steller debut, Rodman wasn't deterred. He followed with roles in Simon Sez in 1999 and Cutaway in 2000. Along with the big screen, he joined the cast of a small television series, Soldier of Fortune in 1997, and signed a deal with MTV for twenty episodes of a show that followed him around.

All of these extra-curricular activities were obviously taking their toll on Rodman's presence on-court. Add to the mix a bestseller (Bad As I Wanna Be) in 1996, and yet another book (Walk on the Wild Side) in 1997, and not many would argue that Rodman was wearing himself thin.

In 1998, Rodman was picked up by the Los Angeles Lakers, who saw a need for his rebounding talents. But his personality didn't fit in with the team (in fact, his personality by this point didn't fit in with many NBA organizations), and after only twenty-three games, he was cut when the head office ran out of patience. In 2000 he joined the Dallas Mavericks, finally returning full-circle to the town where he grew up, but the team released him after only twenty-nine days. Rodman ended up retiring from basketball.