Dennis Rodman, always on the rebound.

At Dennis Rodman’s 52nd birthday party at Cheetahs Gentlemen’s Club on Monday evening, the flamboyant former basketball star slunk from one designated VIP section to the next, protected by bouncers and surrounded by throngs of obsequious followers. (They don’t call him “The Worm” for nothing.)

One can’t blame Mr. Rodman—wearing a relatively tame ensemble of bellbottom jeans, an unbuttoned white linen shirt, a baseball cap and sunglasses—for wanting his privacy.

Since traveling to North Korea with Vice in February to meet Kim Jong-un (whom Mr. Rodman now considers a friend), he has become a kind of accidental ambassador, having played a pivotal role in what may go down as the weirdest political event of the 21st century.

“I wasn’t a Dennis Rodman fan until he went to North Korea and then asked for the release of Kenneth Bae,” said Cheetahs owner Sam Zherka, referring to the American citizen currently detained in North Korea, who was recently sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.

“Maybe he could accomplish what our government failed to accomplish.”

Basketball diplomacy, however, was not on Mr. Rodman’s mind on Monday. We managed to swing a couple of encounters with the NBA Hall of Famer, who understandably seemed more intent on having a good time than discussing politics, despite his plans to return to North Korea in August.

“How’s it goin’, brother?” Mr. Rodman asked the Transom upon his arrival. “Shit, I haven’t had a drink in three days. Time to get going.”

Mr. Rodman has been celebrating his birthday for about three weeks now. In early May, there was a Las Vegas pool party; next week, he’ll make a stop in Toronto to further fête his 52nd. New York, it turns out, was supposed to be the climax, according to Mr. Rodman’s agent, Steve Simon.

“He just wanted to have a kick-ass party,” said Mr. Simon. “He loves New York.”

One dancer, who called herself Sabina, told us that she had never seen Cheetahs more packed. And what did she think of Mr. Rodman, we wondered?

“What is he?” she asked, correcting herself: “Where is he?”

We weren’t exactly sure how to answer either question.

Another dancer, named Sandra, if we remember correctly, thought the party was great for the club. Of course—but what did she make of Mr. Rodman’s sketchy relationship with the 29-year-old dictator Kim Jong-un?

“Oh yeah … I heard about that,” she said noncommittally, rubbing our lower back. “So, do you want a dance?”

We declined, moving closer to the glass-enclosed VIP room in which Mr. Rodman had recently installed himself. Long after our first, ephemeral encounter with the man of the hour, we finally finagled our way inside to have another audience.

As it turned out, he wouldn’t speak with us. But he had just eaten a lot of sushi, and it seemed that he’d put back more than a few, so his guard was down. We took a moment to watch him.

“No fat here! No fat here!” Mr. Rodman proudly exclaimed to no one in particular, patting his bare, chiseled, tattooed belly.

His did not look like the body of a 52-year-old man.

Rodman told the his unlikely new buddy, "You have a friend for life," after watching a game together in Pyongyang.

No word yet if the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army feels as warmly toward his buddy, or if this is like the time that "Johnny Mountain" and Avery Jessup explained the food and weather situation on 30 Rock?

But let's be real: These two were made for each other. They both had weird relationships with their dads--Kim Jong-il sent his youngest son to live in or around Switzerland until the early 90s, while Rodman didn't talk to his father for 42 years until they met during a game last July in the Philippines. They both have dealt with the trials of a hastily-arranged marriage. And they both are into body modification. And look, they've both had some bad press, but they know at the end of the day the important thing is to sit down, let off some steam, and watch Michael Ri play some b-ball.

The next words are definitely "North Korea." (Twitter)

According to a U.S. state department official, VICE has not contacted them about their trip, nor does it vet private travel to the country, which two weeks ago scared the world by performing underground nuclear testing.

What could go wrong?


An obvious diplomatic choice.

According to VICE founder and host Shane Smith in a press release sent out today:

“Is sending the Harlem Globetrotters and Dennis Rodman to the DPRK strange? In a word, yes. But finding common ground on the basketball court is a beautiful thing. These channels of cultural communication might appear untraditional, and perhaps they are, but we think it's important just to keep the lines open. And if Washington isn't going to send their Generals then we'll send our Globetrotters – Cue music – ‘Sweet Georgia Brown.’ ”

The week-long trip will include a basketball camp for North Korean children and "engaging in community-based games to encourage openness and better relations with the outside world." And hilariously, the release added, "there may be a top-level scrimmage to be attended by Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea."

Rodman told reporters today, "“It’s my first time, I think it’s most of these guys’ first time here, so hopefully everything’s going to be OK , and hoping the kids have a good time for the game." And that's the last we'll hear from him for awhile, though we keep checking his Twitter feed for news about his decision to move permanently to the great and glorious sovereign country of strong leadership and bountiful food.

Though dangerous and extremely stupid (that's VICE's official motto, right?) this news has created quite a lot of buzz for a show we didn't even know was in the works. As The New York Time's staff Michael Roston asked on Twitter, "Hey @DennisRodman can you defend America in North Korea like you defended @Shaq in the 1996 NBA playoffs?" We actually think this is going to be more of a Rocky IV situation, with this guy playing North Korea's answer to Dolph Lundgren.

VICE debuts Friday, April 5th (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO, which will be the last time anyone sees the Harlem Globetrotters, so be sure to tune in!

Madonna and Guy Ritchie did not have a pre-nup, and the director is now reportedly looking for "a nice piece of the pie." [NYDN]

Prince deigned to visit the exclusive Eldridge only after he'd sent in an "advance man" to scope the place out. After arriving with five bodyguards, he stayed for about an hour before departing for Butter, where he installed his personal DJ. (This is all acceptable because he is Prince.) [P6]

Hermès heir Mathias Guerrand-Hermès assaulted the pilot of his Air France flight earlier this week. Apparently, he tried to "grab the pilot's crotch and punch him," a move that resulted in his being shackled to a first class seat for the remainder of the trip. [NYT via Cityfile]

Declining hot spot Bungalow 8 is now issuing invitations via Facebook. [Down By The Hipster]

David Duchovny's recent trip to rehab for sex addiction wasn't enough to save his marriage to Téa Leoni. [US Weekly]

Dennis Rodman stole a half-finished bottle of Champagne and two glasses from Bounce Uptown, then left without paying. [R&M]