Dennis Rodman has high hopes for the coming year. Specifically, the former NBA star says he hopes to clinch a nomination for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Rodman spoke about his surprise trip to North Korea earlier this year, saying that he's made it his "mission…to break the ice between hostile countries."
“Why it’s been left to me to smooth things over, I don’t know. Dennis Rodman, of all people. Keeping us safe is really not my job; it’s [President Barack Obama's] job," the former Chicago Bull said. "But I’ll tell you this: If I don’t finish in the top three for the next Nobel Peace Prize, something’s seriously wrong."
Rodman, who called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an "awesome guy" after his Vice-sponsored visit to the hermit country in February, has previously suggested that Obama should consider following in his footsteps and attempting some basketball diplomacy with the Asian nation.
"He wants Obama to do one thing: call him," Rodman said on ABC's "This Week" in March, adding: "[Kim] said: 'I don't want [to] do war. I don't want to do war.' He said that to me... He loves basketball. And I said the same thing, I said, 'Obama loves basketball.' Let's start there."
Rodman announced in April that he's planning to return to North Korea in August for a follow-up trip. The star rebounder says he wants to "just hang and have some fun" with the Supreme Leader.