Rodman visits meet

Visitors to Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association events never know what they might see.
Some things are expected. That list includes engines and tractors, obviously.
Farm implements of all ages — some polished and shiny, others worn and rusty — and a variety of tools are also common. And there are other collectibles like signs, yard ornaments and farm toys.
It would be hard to ever guess, though, that Tri-State’s May swap meet, which began Wednesday and runs through Saturday at the association grounds on Morton Street, would include a former NBA power forward turned reality TV star and quasi political activist.
But turn a corner on the north side of the grounds, and there, in all his 6-foot, 7-inch, green-haired, heavily-tattooed glory, is Dennis Rodman.
“That’s the last one I have left,” said Dale Kurzen, a rural Massillon, Ohio, resident who is at the show with his wife Shirley. “It’s been up in my attic.”
This version of Rodman, who played 14 seasons in the NBA and won championships with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, won’t be grabbing any rebounds. He’s two-dimensional, a cut-out that was used as a marketing tool in the mid-1990s when the eccentric basketball player was the top pitch man for Mistic Beverages, a company that was purchased in 2000 by what is now known as Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.
Dale Kurzen’s friend worked for a beverage distributor in Akron, Ohio, and one day came home with several boxes full of the Rodman cut-outs.

“Apparently (Mistic) didn’t sell very good,” said Kurzen.
The Rodman cut-out is one of a variety of items the Kurzens have for sale at the swap meet this week. They have the typical fare — engines, tire rims and the like — but Longaberger baskets make up the bulk of their offerings.
“That’s to keep the women happy,” said Shirley. “And you know when I will sell the most is the end of the meet when the men have overbought and they have to take something home to their wife.
“They call them peace offerings.”
The Kurzens, both 69, started coming to Portland about 20 years ago for the Vintage Motorbike Show in July. Since then they’ve added the various Tri-State events to their travel schedule.
They’ve got their Cushman three-wheel scooter with them at the swap meet this week, and sometimes they bring their Harley Davidson motorcycle to take trips over to Grand Lake St. Marys, Berne, Geneva or any of a variety of other stops.
They also enjoy visiting local clubs — they’re members of the American Legion, VFW, Eagles and Moose — and have become friends with Jay County residents over the years.
“Portland is a special place for us,” said Dale, who retired from Ohio Edison (now First Energy) and is also a Vietnam War veteran and a cancer survivor. “There’s just something special about this. Otherwise we wouldn’t keep coming back all these years.”
As for Rodman, they haven’t set a firm price. And they’re well aware that he’s not a typical item for a Tri-State event.
“It’ll sell though,” said Shirley. “Everything at these swap meets sells.”