Rodman Apologizes --Maybe

Dennis Rodman says he’s sorry. Or, at least, the Chicago Bulls say Dennis Rodman says he’s sorry.

Rodman certainly didn’t sound repentant on his radio show Tuesday, which aired at about the same time the team was preparing a release that had Rodman apologizing to his teammates and fans.

Some of Rodman’s teammates doubted he had even seen the words he supposedly said.

“As long as he comes back, plays hard and stays out of trouble, it doesn’t matter to me if he apologizes or not,” guard Steve Kerr said. “He can show that he’s sorry better than he says it.”

On WMVP-AM, which pays Rodman to go on the air twice a week, the volatile forward said: “I’ve been holding back, holding back. I’m very emotional and very high-strung about certain things, but when you’ve been tested and pushed so much in every game, it’s hard to hold back.”

Rodman, who can’t play again until April 2, said he’d like a private audience with David Stern so he could ask the NBA commissioner, “What’s the difference between me and everybody else in this league?”

But here is Rodman’s statement in the Bulls’ release:

“I was wrong in making contact with any NBA official and I deserved to be punished for my actions, although I do believe they [the sanctions] are severe.

“I realize NBA referees are doing their jobs and it’s my job to respect them and the rules of the game and not put my teammates in jeopardy. Chicago fans and my teammates have treated me with great warmth and acceptance and I realize I let them down. I have an obligation to not let them down again.

“My sole aim from now until June will be to help bring the NBA championship back home to Chicago.”