GAA ace hopes to inspire his children
DENIS Bastick has admitted he was worried appearing on Dancing With The Stars might damage his reputation as a sportsman.
But the Dublin GAA hero said he wanted to show his two children you can achieve many goals in life.
Denis told the Irish Mirror: “I was With his son Aidan and dad Denis definitely worried about this as being seen more as a light-hearted entertainment show and maybe not taken as seriously.
“But hopefully that isn’t the case. This is one element I’m trying new for myself.
“I’m doing it because I want to be pigeon-holed Denis Bastick, the footballer.
“I want to show my kids you should want to try new stuff or go outside your comfort zone.
“It is part of the reason why I did it. If I have to take some reputational damage on the sporting front, then it’ll be up to me to try and get it back.”
No stranger to reality TV, the 37-year-old also featured on Brides Of Franc in 2012 when don’t into he tied the knot with barrister Jody Hannon.
And Denis said his wife is getting a kick out of his stint on the show. He added: “Last night I was practising and she took out the phone to have a good laugh at me.
“I was doing these drunken sailor steps I was trying to learn all week. She’s having great fun.” The All-ireland champ is clocking up a fan base but he joked most of his female admirers are old enough to draw their pension.
Denis said: “I was at a show called Motown during the week and a couple of rows from the front there was three women, probably in their 60s, but they turned around and waved. That is my fan base. Obviously I am m a r r i e d , there is no one sliding into my DMS.”
The sports ace admitted the competition on the dance floor is “ramping up” and he’s worried the notorious non-voting Dubs will scupper his chances of taking home the Glitterball trophy.
And when asked how DWTS judge Brian Redmond compares to Dublin senior football manager Jim Gavin, Denis said: “There is not much hiding from either of them really.
“You get through a dance and you know you’ve made a few mistakes and Brian would pick it up straight away. Jim Gavin is the same. There is no