Dennis Rodman wasn’t much of a father to daughter Trinity, she admitted in a heartbreaking interview Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper. On the contrary, the five-time NBA champion’s interest in being a parent was virtually non-existent when the cameras weren’t there.
“He’s not a father,” Trinity, the 22-year-old soccer star and Olympic gold medalist, told Cooper. ‘Maybe by blood, but nothing else.
“We tried to live with him,” she added, likely referring to herself and brother DJ. ‘But he throws parties 24/7 and brings in random b****es. He likes the spotlight
Much of Cooper’s interview focused on 63-year-old Dennis and his frequent absences from Trinity’s life.
The elder Rodman, of course, was known as much for his partying as he was for his defense and rebounding over two decades in professional basketball. But when he finally left the game in 2006 after a stint with a British team, Dennis didn’t slow down and has since sought treatment for alcohol abuse.
In a conversation with Cooper, Trinity didn’t hesitate to call her father an “alcoholic.” But despite all the drama surrounding Dennis’ personal life, Trinity said she still felt the need to protect his public image, no matter how tarnished it was.
Dennis Rodman wasn’t really a father to daughter Trinity (pictured), she admitted in a heartbreaking interview with Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper
Dennis Rodman had not been to one of Trinity’s NWSL games until late in her rookie season
“We never want to make him look bad,” Trinity told Cooper. ‘And that comes at the expense of retaining a lot. I think it’s like the anger that I haven’t really been able to express is hard for me.”
Dennis was noticeably absent from Trinity’s matches, albeit during one NWSL quarterfinal in 2021.
The problem was that the Worm didn’t tell anyone he would be there, as the Washington Spirit star recalled.
“He came to my game, I was so angry,” Trinity said. “My mom had no idea until he was like, there. And I think she got a call or something. But they were in a suite, field side. And again, going into my rookie year and going into a quarterfinal, I’m already fucking in my pants. I’m stressed and saying, ‘Oh my God, we have to win.’
“We’re going, I’m playing… and I hear it,” said Trinity, who had not seen her father for months before that. “And his voice says to me, (makes a high-pitched ringing noise) so I hear him say, ‘Let’s go Rodman, let’s go to Trinity.’
“And I’m like, ‘oh my fucking god.’ There is no way this is happening now.”
Trinity soon found herself crying on the court as teammates huddled for a water break. Her absent father suddenly occupied her thoughts during the biggest match of her young career.
Teammate and good friend Ashley Sanchez quickly noticed the problem.
“And she knew right away,” Trinty continued. ‘She said, ‘Oh f***. She gave me a hug and said, ‘It’s okay. Let’s just finish this half, we’ll talk in the locker room at half time. Just finish this half. Don’t think about it. ”
“I thought, ‘Sure, let me just forget about it,’” Trinity laughed. ‘Easy advice.’
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) with her father Dennis after a 2021 playoff game
Rodman (left) won two titles with the Pistons before moving on to San Antonio and Chicago
Trinity Rodman of the United States takes a stab at USWNT training in July
Washington ultimately won the match, but headlines then focused on an emotional moment she shared with Dennis after the final whistle.
The image of Dennis hugging Trinity went viral, as did her post-match comments about her hopes for their relationship.
But the reality of the situation was very different.
‘The whistle blew and I was so angry. I thought, ”You took this happy moment away from me.” You messed with my head again,” she told Cooper. ‘And he did it so often. I think he knows what he’s doing.’
But when she went to confront Dennis, her 6-foot-2 father pulled her close and offered her a fatherly hug.
“I walk over and he grabs my head and I just start balling in his arms like daddy-daughter, like…” Trinity said, trailing off.
Dennis offered to contact her in Washington.
“He said, ‘I want to see you soon, I’m in DC,’” she said. “I was like, ‘Okay.’ And then radio silence. I didn’t see him again until this year. I only spoke to him or saw him, I think, just after the World Cup.’
Once again, Trinity felt foolish for hoping to have a relationship with Dennis.
“Stupid for me to think this would be a new spark,” she said. ‘That was me every time. He’d come over, I’d say, ‘Okay, here it is again. We’re going to start something. He’ll be around.’ Boom, months and months and months. This time it was years. And I thought, OK, cool.’
These days, Trinity doesn’t even have her father’s number, partly because it’s always changing, but also because she doesn’t feel pressured to keep it up.
Dennis has tried to reach out, but Trinity isn’t exactly waiting for him.
“He had been calling me, even in the last few weeks he was trying to call me,” she said. “And it was a Texas song. Didn’t know he lived in Texas. So that’s news to me.’