Rodman’s Likeness Serves As Highway Distraction

Dennis Rodman rebounds better than anyone in the NBA. Now, his outlandish appearance is a real traffic stopper.

The giant likeness of the Chicago Bulls’ forward in an advertisement for a local chain of clothing stores has caused traffic jams for two weeks on the busy Kennedy Expressway, 1-1/2 miles north of downtown.

Motorists slow down to gawk as painters work on the giant, tattooed Rodman next to a painting of Michael Jordan on a large white building along the expressway.

“Half the people want to look at it, the other half don’t, but it slows everyone down,” said T.J. Andrew, a local reporter.

On Tuesday, a crane lifted the 10-foot-by-5-foot hairpiece - red, for Rodman’s latest fashion whim - atop the head of the power forward.

“The color will change every time he changes his,” said Bigsby & Kruthers clothiers executive Joe Silverberg.

State officials are worried.

“Our concern isn’t the painting, but the possibility of a serious accident on the Kennedy,” said Jim Klafeta of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Store officials say they will paint over Rodman in a week if the traffic jams don’t ease.

“We had a lot of calls from our customers who … don’t want us to take it down,” Silverberg said.