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Former Connecticut Basketball Players Travel To North Korea With Rodman

Some former Connecticut basketball greats are part of an international courtside controversy. University of Hartford alum Vin Baker and UConn’s Cliff Robi...

Some former Connecticut basketball greats are part of an international courtside controversy.

University of Hartford alum Vin Baker and UConn’s Cliff Robinson are with Dennis Rodman in North Korea as part of a birthday present for leader Kim Jong-Un.  Rodman and a dozen former NBA players will play against the North Korean senior national team Wednesday, the night of Kim’s birthday.

Rodman’s friendship with the leader is sparking a lot of criticism.   The international community widely condemns the country’s human rights record, and the United States is at odds with Kim over his nuclear weapons program.

Robinson and Baker were with Rodman Monday at a layover in Beijing. Baker explained his reason for the trip: “This is strictly for the game and for the love of basketball and to have an opportunity to spread our talents and abilities to another country.”

This is Rodman’s fourth trip to North Korea since last February. It’s unclear who is paying for this trip and how much each former NBA player is making as a part of it.

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