Dennis Rodman to Sports Illustrated: I should be considered for Nobel Peace Prize 
 
 Sports Illustrated’s annual “Where Are They Now?” issue often feels like an unpredictable real-life version of Mad Libs: [Former athlete] goes to [unexpected place] and [contributes to society in surprising manner]. For 14 years now, those blanks have been filled in, simultaneously prompting trips down memory lane and offering a glimpse at life after sports. 
 
 This year’s cover story is arguably the maddest of the Mad Libs: Dennis Rodman goes to North Korea in hopes of normalizing relations between the country and the United States and capturing a Nobel Peace Prize. 
 
 You can subscribe to Sports Illustrated here and purchase the tablet edition here. 
 
 The eccentric, uninhibited basketball Hall of Famer drew untold headlines this year when he accompanied HBO’s Vice and members of the Harlem Globetrotters on a trip to North Korea, one of the least-accessible countries to Americans and a place with one of the world’s worst records on human rights. Franz Lidz caught up with Rodman for the story behind the story, revealing the former Bulls star’s surreal experiences with North Korea’s new leadership, his plans for international diplomacy and peace, and, yes, his belief that he should be considered for a Nobel, an honor bestowed on the likes of Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, Elie Wiesel, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr. 
 
 Rodman’s very public powwow with Kim Jong-un, the rogue state’s missile-rattling dictator, was the most existential odd coupling since Nobel Prize-winning writer Samuel Beckett met a hulking boy named André Roussimoff in the French countryside and drove the future André the Giant to school in his pickup. More astounding, Rodman got serious face and partying time with the reclusive despot, whose brother, Kim Jong-chul, used to parade around their Swiss prep school in the Worm’s Bulls jersey. At a private dinner reception, Rodman even serenaded the Supreme Leader with Sinatra’s “My Way.” Afterward, the Worm said of Kim, “guy’s really awesome” and a “friend for life.” A headline in Britain’s Daily Mirror pronounced them THE BASKETBALL ACE AND THE BASKETCASE. … Early on this warm, blustery afternoon outside the Jet Blue baggage claim at JFK, the Worm is holding forth — to his limo driver, to anyone who will listen, to the wind — on his foray into geopolitics. “Before I landed in Pyongyang, I didn’t know Kim Jong-un from Lil’ Kim,” he says. “I didn’t know what country he ruled or what went on in the country he ruled.” … “Fact is, he hasn’t bombed anywhere he’s threatened to yet. Not South Korea, not Hawaii, not … whatever. People say he’s the worst guy in the world. All I know is Kim told me he doesn’t want to go to war with America. His whole deal is to talk basketball with Obama. Unfortunately, Obama doesn’t want to have anything to do with him. I ask, Mr. President, what’s the harm in a simple phone call? This is a new age, man. Come on, Obama, reach out to Kim and be his friend.” Rodman plans to return to North Korea in August. “I’m just gonna chill, play some basketball and maybe go on vacation with Kim and his family,” Rodman says. “I’ve called on the Supreme Leader to do me a solid by releasing Kenneth Bae.” The Korean-American missionary was recently sentenced to 15 years of hard labor on charges that he tried to topple the North Korean regime. He’d organized tours into the isolated state. “My mission is to break the ice between hostile countries,” Rodman says. “Why it’s been left to me to smooth things over, I don’t know. Dennis Rodman, of all people. Keeping us safe is really not my job; it’s the black guy’s [Obama's] job. But I’ll tell you this: If I don’t finish in the top three for the next Nobel Peace Prize, something’s seriously wrong.” 
 
 Vice has posted must-see footage of Rodman’s trip to North Korea, which was highlighted by a basketball exhibition in which he sat side-by-side with Kim. The packed house’s thunderous standing ovation for its Supreme Leader — which saw a number of grown men openly weep — is jaw-dropping and eye-popping, a reminder of just how far outside the realm of normal Rodman ventured in making this trip. 
 
 Where is Rodman now? Out of this world, just like always, but in ways we never could have imagined. 
 
 MORE COVERAGE: SI’s 14th annual “Where Are They Now?“: Maurice Clarett 
 
 Note: This week’s cover recalls a 1995 cover that featured Rodman during his second and final season with the Spurs. The following season, the two-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year joined Michael Jordan’s Bulls, reeling off three straight titles from 1996 to 1998. ||||| It’s a leak Barbara Walters doesn’t want you to know about. 
 
 The ABC News doyenne pushed hard to have NSA leaker Edward Snowden at the top of her list of 10 most fascinating people of the year — but in the end was overruled by network brass, a source told Confidenti@l. 
 
 Snowden, who did land further down on the list, is particular about his outlets, relying mainly on journalist Glenn Greenwald — formerly of the Guardian — to tell his stories, and would not participate. Instead, the network did a write-around with old interview clips for his part, much like they did with Gen. David Petraeus in 2012. 
 
 AP 
 
 Walters had been collaborating with “The View” executive producer Bill Geddie throughout the year on choosing the 10 figures to appear on “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of the Year.” She had a particular fascination with the former NSA contractor, we’re told, because at one point she believed he would be chosen as Time magazine’s Person of the Year. 
 
 In addition to Snowden, the others chosen for the much-anticipated special include Jennifer Lawrence, Miley Cyrus, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West (starring jointly as KimYe), baby Prince George, the cast of “Duck Dynasty,” swimmer Diana Nyad, “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts and Pope Francis. 
 
 Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Gregg DeGuire/WireImage 
 
 As usual, an ABC spokesperson assures us it won’t discuss who will be interviewed for the hour-and-a-half special. 
 
 “We never talk about our bookings ahead of time, but you can rest assured that we will include the most fascinating people of the year,” says a network rep. “People are fascinating no matter if we interview them or not. The most fascinating decision is not made based on who we interview. You will just have to watch and find out who is number one.” 
 
 247PapsTV/Splash News 
 
 We’ve also learned that this year the special also will include a segment featuring Walters’ picks for the most fascinating people of the past 20 years. 
 
 We’re told Babs was interested in Bill and Hillary Clinton for the segment, so she can “go out with a bang.” She will be retiring from her chat show in 2014, but will continue to do news specials at her leisure for ABC. 
 
 PHOTOS: JENNIFER LAWRENCE 'HUNGER GAMES' RED CARPET LOOKS 
 
 LETO TUSSLES WITH VODKA REP 
 
 Sometimes the sponsor needs to know when to stop drinking the product. Sources tell Confidenti@l that actor Jared Leto and an employee of Russian Standard vodka were involved in a bizarre incident in the green room at the 23rd annual Gotham Independent Film Awards Monday. Leto was at Cipriani Wall Street to accept the Best Actor Award on behalf of his “Dallas Buyers Club” co-star Matthew McConaughey, who couldn’t attend. “Leto told the guy from the vodka company he didn’t want to do any more press, and that’s when he [the Russian Standard rep] snapped and threw a hat at Leto. It was childish, and clear the guy had been drinking,” our snitch tells us. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated new Coen brothers flick, “Inside Llewyn Davis,” took top honors, winning for best feature. Also at Cipriani Wall Street were Mayor Bloomberg, Forest Whitaker, John Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Stark Sands and Joana Vicente, executive director of IFP. 
 
 BOLTON DOES GOOD BACKUP 
 
 Autism spoke, but Michael Bolton kept quiet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Monday’s star-studded Autism Speaks Winter Ball raised $3.4 million before ending with 12-year-old autistic crooner Christopher Duffley singing “Lean On Me,” accompanied by the Harlem Boys Choir and backup singers Kelly Rowland and Michael Bolton. Though Bolton held a mic, he didn’t sing, due to a sore throat. Brian Williams emceed the Tommy Hilfiger-hosted ball, where billionaire philanthropist Stewart Rahr plunked down $1.1 million for the cause. 
 
 REUTERS 
 
 FERRELL'S STORY DIFFERENT FROM BURGUNDY'S 
 
 
 
 Funnyman Will Ferrell sees big differences between himself and his “Anchorman 2” character, Ron Burgundy. The “SNL” alum says in real life he’s shy and never feels the need to impress someone by being funny. “I meet people in public, and I’m sure they’re completely underwhelmed,” Ferrell says in the latest edition of Rolling Stone. He says Burgundy is a different animal. “At first glance, you think he’s really self-confident, but he’s such an insecure guy,” says Ferrell. “His confidence supplants knowledge.” 
 
 PHOTOS: 'ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY' - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 
 
 Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 
 
 LILLY BLOOMS 
 
 Evangeline Lilly looks far from “Lost” in a Catherine Deane dress at the Hollywood premiere of her film “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” 
 
 Splash News 
 
 CAUGHT IN THE NIP OF TIME 
 
 To skip the bra or not to skip the bra isn’t actually the question. It’s how to keep your braless cups from running over that baffles celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who had an accidental nip-slip at the British Fashion Awards at the Coliseum in London. Selena Gomez, on the other hand, proved it can be done with class at the 106.1 KISS-FM Jingle Ball at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Monday night. 
 
 Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images 
 
 NO HART TROUBLE 
 
 Victoria’s Secret still has a Hart. Correcting another erroneous report in a crosstown tabloid’s once-feared gossip pages, Victoria’s Secret exclusively tells Confidenti@l that Aussie model Jessica Hart has not been canned for criticizing Taylor Swift’s performance at the 2013 VS Fashion Show. “There is no truth to the rumors that Jessica Hart has been fired or that she will no longer work with the brand. As you will see, she was a great part of our show and we look forward to continuing to work with her,” Victoria’s Secret marketing director Ed Razek said. Swift, along with Hart and the rest of the Angels, will strut their stuff Dec. 10 on CBS. 
 
 Kevin Winter/Getty Images 
 
 TOM TERRIFIC 
 
 Doing maniacal impressions of Tom Cruise must really be the sincerest form of flattery — at least for Ben Stiller. Cruise, 51, acted as emcee at Stiller’s Grauman Theater handprint ceremony in Los Angeles on Tuesday, where Stiller was surrounded by his “Tropic Thunder” co-stars Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Robert Downey Jr. Cruise flashed his trademark crooked smile and crazy eyes for the cameras, to everyone’s delight. 
 
 PHOTOS: TOM CRUISE AND SURI GO ON DISNEY WORLD VACATION 
 
 NOW A STAR OF NOTE 
 
 
 
 Love me or leave me. Zoe Saldana isn’t discouraged by criticism over being tapped to play legendary jazz singer Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic, even though Simone’s own daughter, as well as Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, has voiced disapproval over her landing the gig. “I can’t stop to think about who thinks me to be black enough or not black enough,” she tells Ocean Drive magazine. “I know who I am. I like who I am.” 
 
 SEEN AND HEARD ... 
 
 Former “Bachelorette” Trista Sutter hosting a signing of her new book, “Happily Ever After,” with divamoms.com founder Lyss Stern, at Instrata-NoMad on E. 29th St. Wednesday with blowouts by Louis Licari. ... “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban and family tucking into an epic breakfast at Upper West Side bistro Sugar and Plumm. … Rose Byrne and boyfriend Bobby Cannavale chowing down at SushiSamba in South Beach, Miami. … “Glee” star Darren Criss celebrating a friend’s engagement at Sea Fire Grill. … The Meatpacking District is getting its first luxury sports lounge from the team behind downtown hotspot VIP Room, called FC Gotham, just in time for the Super Bowl. 
 
 SALUTING KAPLAN 
 
 The newspaper business paid respects to one of the best in the business Tuesday. Hundreds gathered at Larchmont Temple in Westchester to bid farewell to former New York Observer editor in chief Peter Kaplan, 59, who succumbed to cancer Friday. Kaplan made his mark on journalism in this city during 15 years at the helm of the Observer and a run at Fairchild Publications, where he oversaw the relaunch of men’s magazine M. Kaplan’s daughter, Caroline, performed “What’ll I Do,” by Irving Berlin, in a very moving moment at the service. 
 
 WILLING TO TALK SHOP 
 
 Jay Z was keen to show he had moved on from the Barneys shop-and-frisk fiasco Tuesday by making a couple of purchases at the problem-plagued high-end department store’s West Coast branch. The rapper, who met with Barneys internal advisory council to deal with the racial profiling issue, was accompanied by Beyoncé and a small army of beefy bodyguards in Beverly Hills. The Daily News was the first to report the race scandal back in October, when the rap mogul was slow to respond to the issue despite launching his own holiday collection with Barneys. 
 
 Angela Weiss/Getty Images; Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images 
 
 DALEY NEWS 
 
 Tom Daley, the British Olympian who sparked international headlines when he came out as bisexual on Monday, is dating an Academy Award-winning screenwriter 20 years his senior. According to the Sun in the U.K., that person is Hollywood screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, 39, who won an Oscar for the 2008 film “Milk." Daley, 19, a diver who specializes in the 10-meter platform event — won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. He’s won praise worldwide for a brave and honest YouTube video in which he said he “couldn’t be happier” after embarking on the relationship. 
 
 On a mobile device? Click here to watch the video.
– Dennis Rodman certainly thinks he's influential, but GQ disagrees. The basketball star and self-styled North Korea ambassador is the No. 1 entry on the magazine's annual list of the 25 Least Influential People. Rodman "was the first prominent American celebrity invited inside the nation-sized prison that is North Korea, and he did literally the least interesting thing possible with it," writes Drew Magary. The rest of the top (bottom?) 10: Paula Deen: She's proved herself to be exactly like what you probably always thought she was like. Anthony Weiner: All that public humiliation, and he didn't even have any actual, real-life sex. Justin Bieber: He's now officially too old to be peeing in buckets and making light of Anne Frank. Pope Benedict: The new pope is just way better, and nobody misses this guy. Miley Cyrus: She "spent the entire year foam-finger-blasting herself, licking sledgehammers, and basically trying every inane strategy she could think of to rile up America's few remaining pearl clutchers." Aaron Hernandez: Uh, star athletes who came from tough backgrounds are supposed to act like thugs, not actually be thugs. Prince George: The royal baby got a lot of attention, but when you look at him, he's pretty much just a normal baby. Angela Corey: The prosecutor in the George Zimmerman case failed us all. The Smith family: As in Will, Jada, and the kids. "In just a few years, Will Smith has gone from one of America's most beloved stars to one of its most despicable." Click for the complete list.