Irvin "nervous" about being on Dancing With the Stars show

SAN ANTONIO -- For the first time in a long time, Michael Irvin is venturing out of his comfort zone.

He’s equal parts nervous and excited about being included in the 2009 lineup of ABC’s Dancing With Stars.
There is no turning back now for the suddenly busier-than-ever Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver.

He’s negotiating a new contract with ESPN Radio 103.3 FM in Dallas while also working on a deal to join the NFL Network as an analyst this fall. This all comes on the heels of the successful 4th and Long reality show on Spike TV that sent receiver Jesse Holley to the Cowboys training camp.

But those deals are part of the norm for Irvin.

The Dancing with the Stars gig is something new.

"I’m excited and I’m scared," Irvin said. "This is something new. But I needed something new. Everything I have done has been around football. Doing something new is scary and exciting. Hopefully, this is a way for me to working out my midlife crisis."

Irvin will join former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay among 15 celebrities on the new season of Dancing With the Stars" in what is the show’s largest cast ever. Also on the show are singers Mya, Macy Gray and Aaron Carter; actors Ashley Hamilton, Melissa Joan Hart and Debi Mazar; and models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; reality stars Mark Dacascos and Kelly Osbourne; entertainer Donny Osmond; mixed martial artist Chuck Liddell ; professional snowboarder Louie Vito and Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin.

The ninth season of the hit show premieres Sept. 21.

Irvin is following in the sweet cleats of former Cowboys teammate Emmitt Smith, the 2003 season winner, and other NFL stars such as Warren Sapp and Jerry Rice. Rice was a finalist in 2006 and Sapp was a finalist last season.
"I didn’t talk to them initially," Irvin said. "I didn’t want them to talk me out of it. I talked to Emmitt after it was announced and got his advice. They did well."

Irvin said he’s worried and nervous because he is not a dancer and doesn’t want to be embarrassed. And never mind his end zone celebrations during his football career, Irvin said nobody ever judged him on his dancing because they were so excited about the touchdowns.

"I can’t dance," Irvin said. "I was always the cool guy in the corner. But these are steps more than dancing. I think I can do this, but I’m worried. I’m going to give it my best."

How Irvin will juggle a daily radio show and possibly the NFL Network gig while doing Dancing With the Stars still needs to be worked out. But he said he’s not looking to do less work.



(star-telegram.com)