In a world of uncertainty, there is one constant. Dennis Rodman will get ejected and suspended. Let me first acknowledge that Rodman was right in his protest of not getting an illegal defense called. It was an obvious call. But Rodman's antics were uncalled for. Let's face it, he's a dirty player. The Pistons weren't called the Bad Boys because they liked the theme song from "Cops". He has always been dirty. He is, or maybe was, a great player, an incredible rebounder, a dominating defensive player, an adept passer and possibly the smartest basketball player on the court at any given time. All that aside, he's a dirty player. Whether it's throwing an elbow at the opportune time, grabbing a handful of shorts off a missed free throw or suckering a player into throwing a punch, he's dirty.

Dennis Rodman did not need to sit down on the court. The first technical called on him was expected, but like Rodman in the past, anyone who isn't named Michael Jordan or Chuck Daly can't tell him what to do. The first technical was the spark that ignited the fire. The second technical and ejection was imminent. What followed was typical Rodzilla. He challenged David Stern to a fight and got a one game suspension for his media outburst. He thinks the referees are out to get him. You know what? He's right. They are out to get him because he's out to get himself.

The referees are watching Rodman and anytime he does anything remotely wrong, he'll get a technical. His reputation has proceeded him. This has not always been the case. On the Pistons, Spurs and Bulls, he got away with a lot. Karl Malone was baited more than once by Rodman's tactics. But Rodman can't just play basketball anymore. He has to be a media spectacle. He is addicted to fame. He has to be the center of attention. If Rodman just shut up and played ball, he'd be a great addition to his team. But he can't. He doesn't practice. He comes late to game. He's not really part of the team. The players are saying the right things to the media, but you know they must be seething at the prospect of having him on the team. It's not like Rodman will put the Mavericks over the top. They are a very mediocre team. Players who are practicing hard and putting in their time are not getting their just due when game time comes around.

David Stern must love and hate Rodman at the same time. Rodman attracts more media than would otherwise cover the Dallas Mavericks. Stern loves the media attention, because that sells tickets and merchandise. On the other hand, Rodman is a royal pain in the ass and is nothing but trouble. Mark Cuban, the Mavericks soon to be multi-billionaire dot.com owner, sold his soul to the devil by signing Rodman. Rodman puts some butts in the seats, but at what cost? Cuban must know something we don't because Rodman will continue to get his 10-15 rebounds a game, play some decent defense and make a good pass every now and then, but he'll get ejected, miss practices, alienate his teammates and once again become a cancer to his team. In the end, he won't be back next year. Don Nelson will be sitting on a beach in Hawaii. The Mavericks will probably have some other lame duck coach and they will fall back into basketball oblivion. Rodman will be a free agent and will try to beg his way back into the NBA once again because it's not about the game to him anymore, as much as he says it is, it's about the fame. Wrestling didn't give him the exposure he needed. Acting sure didn't. Only basketball can provide him with the fix to his addiction, fame.