This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I distinctly remember the first time I noticed a skinny, unheralded Detroit Piston forward named Dennis Rodman.
He didn't make much of an impression.
At some point during a long-ago game against the Jazz at the Pontiac Silverdome, Rodman ran past the Utah bench, looked at coach Frank Layden and screamed, "Sit down, fat man."
I blamed the incident on the youthful enthusiasm of a young, unknown player who would probably be out of the league by the time the Jazz and Pistons played again.
I was wrong.
Twenty-five years later, Rodman has landed in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Along with nine other former players, coaches and contributors, he was enshrined Friday night at ceremonies in Springfield, Mass.
At this point, it's useless to argue whether Rodman belongs in the Hall of Fame, even though I strongly believe he does not.
Forget the unprofessional disrespect he once showed Layden, and my negative first impression of him. Forget hundreds of other self-created controversies that followed Rodman through the years, including head-butting referees and kicking court-side photographers. I believe a player's Hall of Fame worthiness is determined by what he or she does on the court.
Rodman, I believe, is not worthy. Basically, he was a good player on some of the NBA's greatest teams.
In the final analysis, he was a role player — a sidekick to stars like Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars.
No team ever asked Rodman to score consistently because he couldn't do it. Rodman was never asked to shoulder the burden of making a game-winning shot.
Yes, he rebounded, did the dirty work on defense and played on ring-winning teams. So did Kurt Rambis.
Rodman played in two All-Star Games in his career — one more than the greatest role player in Jazz history, shot-blocking center Mark Eaton. Still, the votes to elevate Rodman into the same high-rent district as Jordan, Magic, Bird and Wilt have been cast and counted.
Last winter, at least 18 of 24 members of the Hall of Fame honors committee supported Rodman, punching his pass into basketball's most sacred place. Done deal. Whether I agree or not.
In the aftermath of Rodman's enshrinement, however, it should be noted that a price will be paid. Specifically, future Hall of Fame voters will be forced to deal with irrevocably changed criteria.
The bar has been lowered.
From now on, good players on great teams must be considered for the Hall of Fame because many of them will own credentials equal to those of Rodman.
Should players like Danny Ainge, Bill Laimbeer, Ben Wallace, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott and Tony Parker get into the Hall of Fame?
A year ago, maybe not.
Now, why not?