Multiple Fouls For Dennis Rodman

Even when he's trying to do good, notorious bad boy Dennis Rodman can't catch a break from his image.

The former NBA star and Southeastern Oklahoma standout was pulled over and ticketed twice Tuesday while driving his gold-and-black Lamborghini through Colorado in a charity rally race, according to the Colorado State Patrol. In between he was involved in a minor crash and later accused of stealing a hat in what he says is a "misunderstanding" at a gas station in Glenwood Springs.

"It's been that kind of day for me," Rodman said in a phone interview late Tuesday. The incidents were first reported by the Summit Daily News in Frisco, Colorado.

A clerk told police that Rodman tried on a cowboy hat at the Glenwood Springs store, said he liked it, signed an autograph, then put $20 on the counter for gas.

"Unfortunately $40 worth of gas was put in the car, and there was the cost of the hat to consider," Glenwood Springs Police Chief Terry Wilson told the city's Post Independent newspaper.

Rodman said he went into the gas station to prepay for his gas, then signed several autographs. A woman employee gave him a hat, he pumped his gas and left.

"The lady gave it to me," he said, adding he has the gas receipt. "If they want me to pay for the hat, I'll give them double for it."

Wilson said Rodman ran up a total bill of about $67 at the station, including gasoline and the hat. He paid about $20, Wilson said. Rodman's agent, Darren Prince, said he and Rodman learned of the accusations through the media and had not been contacted by authorities.

Rodman has spent the past four days driving his sports car — complete with his face painted on either side — in the Bullrun USA 2005, a 3,000-mile, one-week race for charity with celebrity drivers.

Rodman's troubles began when he was ticketed for speeding and reckless driving near Frisco and given a court date to appear in Summit County, Colorado State Patrol Capt. Ron Prater said. A trooper allegedly clocked Rodman going 98 mph on Interstate 70, in an area where the speed limit is 65 mph, Prater said.

Later in the day, Rodman received a second ticket in western Colorado for driving 89 mph, Prater said. He did not know the speed limit in that area or the exact location where Rodman was pulled over.

Prater said the State Patrol received about 20 complaints about the rally race Tuesday, including reports of illegal passing and running other drivers off the road. Attempts to contact the charity race organizers by e-mail were unsuccessful.

Prince said Rodman also was in a minor crash when a Ford Mustang with people taking photographs and video of Rodman for his sponsor apparently lost control and hit the bumper and the driver's side of Rodman's car. No one was hurt.

Rodman, a seven-time NBA rebounding champion, won five championships in Detroit and Chicago, but hasn't played in the league since 2000.

Since retiring, he has been convicted of drunken driving and he has paid more than $3,000 in fines stemming from noise complaints from parties at his Newport Beach, Calif., home. Other scrapes with the law include a $200 speeding ticket for barreling through Newport Harbor in his 47-foot boat, Sexual Chocolate. Authorities said he was traveling 20 mph in a 5 mph zone.

Rodman said he believed Colorado authorities were targeting him because of his flashy car and his celebrity status. He said he would fight the citations.

"They're doing their job, so there's nothing I can do about it," he said.

But he added: "Is everyone picking on me today?"