The world of sports is loaded with unforgettable characters but perhaps none more so than NBA great Dennis Rodman. The player known as “The Worm” is one of the most well-known athletes in the history of American sports, and not necessarily for his performance on the court.
ESPN’s award winning documentary series 30 for 30 took a closer look at the life and career of Rodman in the aptly named Rodman: For Better or Worse.
Rodman is known for his outrageous hairstyles, his excessive piercings, his over the top antics both on an off the court and his relationships with other celebrities, but the latest 30 for 30 documentary looks at so much more. It closely examines Rodman’s childhood and upbringing that led to all of those aforementioned characteristics and behaviors.
We as fans, viewers or whatever other name you want to give us, form our opinions on celebrities based on what we see in the public eye. But we rarely see beyond that and understand what made them behave the way they do. That’s exactly what this documentary gives us with Dennis Rodman.
It’s certainly very interesting to watch. Growing up in the 90s, I was vaguely familiar with Rodman as a player but very familiar with his bad boy persona. This gave me a new perspective and allowed me to see every aspect of his career and his life outside of basketball.
The documentary hits on everything from Rodman’s little known childhood to some of his most iconic moments, like showing up in a wedding dress to his own book signing in New York. And of course, if you’re a basketball fan, it’s always fun to see some clips from Rodman’s best years in the NBA.
The new 30 for 30 is produced and narrated by Jamie Foxx and while he does a pretty great job of creating both dramatic heartfelt vibes and light-hearted humorous ones, he also brings in one too many fourth wall breaks. The first one comes right as the documentary starts and it’s funny. Another comes later on and it’s still kind of charming. After that, it just distracts from the story. Still, that’s just one small complaint in what is otherwise a fantastically interesting documentary that is very well narrated by Foxx.
Rodman: For Better or Worse is yet another great documentary in the 30 for 30 series and one that anyone familiar with Dennis Rodman will enjoy.
You can watch Rodman: For Better or Worse now on ESPN+. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and can cancel at any time.