A CLOSER LOOK -- Rodman sports both good and bad boy image

Deepa Bharath

The City of Newport Beach has one problem with Dennis Rodman -- the

former NBA ace rebounder just can’t stop partying.

They wrote him 14 citations between 1999 and 2000. On more than 50

occasions, Newport Beach police sent officers to his beachfront home on

Seashore Drive. And they forced him to pay $8,500 in fines.

Last weekend, police in riot gear were virtually in his backyard when

Rodman tried to land in a helicopter on the public beach in an attempt to

make a dramatic entrance at his 40th birthday party, which was a gala

affair by itself with a flock of 300 people and several live bands

blasting away.

It was a party that neighbor Chris Kyle says was almost surreal.

“Man! It was like Woodstock out here,” he said pointing at the beach.

“It was just that instead of hippies, there were porn stars.”

But, Kyle added, “it was a lot of fun.”

“Every member of LIVE was playing,” he said. “It was like we were

getting free concerts on the beach.”

The police didn’t exactly share Kyle’s excitement. For the city, it

was the last straw. The Police Department is in the process of filing a

complaint to the Orange County District Attorney, alleging Rodman

“disturbed the peace” with his wild party.

Further, the City Council is scheduled Tuesday to consider changing

the city’s noise ordinance to make it easier for the police to file

criminal charges against violators.

But that is just one side to the story. Some of Rodman’s staunch

supporters and neighbors believe the man who has gained notoriety as the

bad boy of basketball has in fact been a good neighbor. They say the city

is blowing the issue way out of proportion.

While police officers say Rodman just doesn’t care about making a

ruckus because he knows he has enough money to foot the bill to pay

penalties, his friends say the man cares, and cares a lot.

According to friends, while part of Rodman is the wild party animal,

seemingly uncaring and standoffish, his other side emanates a humane

glow. In a few days, he is set to conduct a Soapbox Derby for kids. Last

week, he took a dozen employees from Josh Slocum’s Restaurant on a free

trip to Hawaii.

“Dennis is just Dennis,” says Mike Steppe, Rodman’s friend and manager

of Josh Slocum’s. Recently, Rodman helped remodel the restaurant and has

since been actively involved in changing its ambience, said Steppe.

“He made it all really cool and informal,” he said. “He brought in

live bands. He put a couch here to give it a more relaxed look. He set up

a VIP box. It’s been good.”

Steppe said the restaurant has done “much, much, much better”since

Rodman started calling the shots.

There, again, the city has a different opinion. Officials say the live

entertainment and dancing has occurred without a city permit, and that

several noise complaints have been filed against the restaurant in that

duration.

The city is also getting close to seeking an injunction against the

restaurant, which, if approved by a Superior Court judge, will force the

restaurant to comply with city code or face fines or criminal charges.

But Steppe said Friday that the restaurant had shut off live

entertainment a month ago. Even when there were live acts, the restaurant

soundproofed its windows, restricted amplified music and added security

guards, he said.

The city is being unfair to Rodman and the restaurant, said Steppe.

“They say he paid $8,500 in fines,” he said. “But he spends more than

$8,500 a day helping people unconditionally. He spends a lot of money to

soundproof his home and for security so everybody is safe. He’s one of

the most generous and sincere people I know.”

Steppe’s point-of-view seems alien to local officials who don’t care

to hide their frustration when they discuss the issue. Police officers

have not tried sitting down and talking to Rodman, said Newport Beach

Police Lt. Doug Fletcher.

“He hasn’t tried contacting us either,” he said. “He shows no

appearance of caring.”

The Orange County district attorney’s office is in the process of

investigating police complaints against Rodman, relating to the May 12

birthday party. Deputy Dist. Atty. Mike Fell, who is prosecuting the

case, said he is still waiting for some information from Newport Beach

police. He declined further comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration is also looking into the

“operational aspects” of the helicopter that attempted to land on the

beach, said spokesman Jerry Snyder. He said the helicopter did not

actually land on the beach but had hovered over the sand, and that if

they find a violation, it is the pilot of the helicopter who would be

held accountable, not Rodman.

“The focus of our investigation is going to be the procedures that

were followed,” he said, declining to comment on the specifics. Snyder

said that FAA law does not require pilots to get permission from any

authority before landing on public property, but added that city codes

may vary.

Newport Beach police said city law states that permission is required

before landing a helicopter on a public beach. They maintain that Rodman

could have endangered lives by making an unannounced landing in a crowded

area.

Some of Rodman’s neighbors seemed apprehensive to comment on the

issue. But others said they have no complaints against him. Rodman

himself was not available for comment.

Joseph Kidushim, who lives three doors away from Rodman, says “his

parties are fun.”

“It’s like any other beach party,” he said. “I don’t see anything

wildly unusual about them.”

Kidushim said he finds Rodman to be a “very nice and low-key person.”

“I’ve never had one bad experience with him so far,” he said.

But as Steppe puts it, “it’s just the way he is” that trips a hostile

switch in some people.

“That’s Dennis,” he said. “He loves to party, but I think he knows his

limits. He is not a law breaker. He doesn’t park in handicapped spots. He

doesn’t want or mean to disrespect people.”

Try telling that to Councilman Gary Proctor, who initiated the

amendment to the city’s noise ordinance.

“The city has tried to reason with him more than 50 times,” he said

referring to the number of times officers knocked on Rodman’s door in

response to noise complaints.

“Fines have never deterred him from having his way,” he said. “Maybe

this will.”

* QUESTION: What, if anything, should Newport Beach do to keep party

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