Rodman already causing trouble

Wednesday, February 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) -- Dennis Rodman didn't need long to start causing trouble. Rodman was ejected from only his second game with the Dallas Mavericks, then made things worse by accusing the league and commissioner David Stern of being out to get him. "I don't know who gave David Stern all the power in the world to sit there and make all the rules in the world, but this league has gone to hell," Rodman said. "It's ridiculous."

Rodman challenged Stern to settle their differences with their fists. "I wish me and David Stern can get some damn gloves on and we go in the ring and we can see who'll come out the winner," Rodman said. "Me and him."

Rodman could be fined and-or suspended for either his words, actions or both. There was no immediate comment Wednesday from the NBA office.

The latest blowup came with 7:13 left in Dallas' 112-99 loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Rodman was called for two technical fouls. The first technical was for complaining that the Bucks should have been called for an illegal defense.

As Sam Cassell went to shoot the free throw, Rodman went to the other foul line and sat down in protest, drawing another technical and an automatic ejection. "I told the referee, `Why don't you kick me out for a reason? Let me hit somebody first. That's a good reason. Don't kick me out because I sit down,' " Rodman said. "I've been a marked man for years. Nobody else in the league would have gotten kicked out for that."

Rodman also may be angry at Stern for forcing him to move out the guest house of Mavericks owner-in-waiting Mark Cuban. The commissioner said over the weekend that the arrangement violated salary cap rules even though Rodman was paying rent. He was given 72 hours to move out or the team would be heavily fined. "He's moved into a high-rise apartment," Cuban said Tuesday. "I don't know if all the stuff is completely moved yet, but it's done."

Rodman has brought the Mavericks plenty of attention, but not necessarily the right kind. After winning seven of eight, Dallas has lost two straight with the former Southeastern Oklahoma player in the lineup. Rodman actually was having a good game before being tossed. He set a team season-high with 16 rebounds, and added six points and four assists in 36 minutes.

Teammates said Rodman was peeved that the Bucks were not called for fouls while playing rough defense against him. "They were grabbing his shirt, and that frustrated him," Mavericks guard Erick Strickland said. "He didn't deserve to get ejected."