Former US basketball star apologises for not being able to help with US captive in NKorea

(13 Jan 2014) Dennis Rodman apologised on Monday for not being able to help with the situation of captive US missionary Kenneth Bae in North Korea, where the former NBA player has just spent one week for a game to celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong-un. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't do anything�," Rodman said, appearing emotional, as he was met in Beijing by dozens of cameras and reporters. "It's not my fault. I'm sorry. I just want to do some good stuff, that's all I want to do." Rodman apologised last week for previous comments about the missionary. In an email sent to The Associated Press he said that he had been drinking and was upset by some of his players leaving under the pressure. He had been slammed for not using his influence with Kim to help free Bae, the missionary in poor health who is being confined in North Korea for "anti-state" crimes. In an interview with CNN last Tuesday, Rodman implied Bae was at fault. On Monday, at his arrival in Beijing, Rodman repeated his goodwill intentions. "This is not a bad deal," he said. "I want to show people that no matter what's going on in the world, for one day, just one day, no politics, not all that stuff." "I'm sorry about all the people and what's going on, I'm sorry," he continued. "I'm not the president, I'm not an ambassador, I'm Dennis Rodman, just an individual that's showing the world the fact that we can actually get along and be happy for one day." During his visit, the former basketball star sang "Happy Birthday" to Kim at the start of the friendly game. Along with Rodman, the former NBA players included ex-All Stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson and Vin Baker. Also on the roster were Craig Hodges, Doug Christie, Charles D. Smith and four street ballers. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...