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After conquering the NFL and Ballroom Dancing, Emmitt Smith turns sites on Poker
By JON MACHOTA
FOXSportsSouthwest.com Special Contributor
March 8, 2011
Emmitt Smith’s talents seem to know no boundaries. The Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer has taken up poker since his retirement – and he’s definitely not bad at it.
The NFL's all-time leading rusher defeated one of poker's best in Las Vegas on March 4 at NBC's seventh annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
Smith showed some of his best moves to defeat David Williams in the first round of the Hearts Bracket at Caesar's Palace Poker Room.
According to OnlinePoker.net, Smith recently joined online poker room Full Tilt and will be representing the site at a selection of live events throughout the year. He’s become a member of the site’s Friends of Full Tilt roster, which is reserved for some of the world’s top entertainers and athletes.
Other celebrity participants include, former IndyCar champion Mario Andretti, tennis star James Blake, ring announcer Bruce Buffer, actors Don Cheadle and Mekhi Phifer and UFC fighter Matt Hughes.
The former running back has already dominated NFL defenses and “Dancing with the Stars.” But perhaps his most surprising achievement occurred when he recorded a heads-up victory over one of the biggest names in poker. Last year, Smith topped Phil Ivey at a Celebrity Invitational Charity Tournament, to win a $10,000 seat to the 2010 WSOP Main Event.
However, three hours into playing at the WSOP tournament, Smith was eliminated when his three tens were topped by three jacks.
After his exit, Smith said: “I’m learning more about the game. From that last hand, I learned a little bit, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. You’ve got to be able to get the cards. You’ve got to be able to understand when to bet, when not to bet. And then you just go from there.”
By JON MACHOTA
FOXSportsSouthwest.com Special Contributor
March 8, 2011
Emmitt Smith’s talents seem to know no boundaries. The Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer has taken up poker since his retirement – and he’s definitely not bad at it.
The NFL's all-time leading rusher defeated one of poker's best in Las Vegas on March 4 at NBC's seventh annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
Smith showed some of his best moves to defeat David Williams in the first round of the Hearts Bracket at Caesar's Palace Poker Room.
According to OnlinePoker.net, Smith recently joined online poker room Full Tilt and will be representing the site at a selection of live events throughout the year. He’s become a member of the site’s Friends of Full Tilt roster, which is reserved for some of the world’s top entertainers and athletes.
Other celebrity participants include, former IndyCar champion Mario Andretti, tennis star James Blake, ring announcer Bruce Buffer, actors Don Cheadle and Mekhi Phifer and UFC fighter Matt Hughes.
The former running back has already dominated NFL defenses and “Dancing with the Stars.” But perhaps his most surprising achievement occurred when he recorded a heads-up victory over one of the biggest names in poker. Last year, Smith topped Phil Ivey at a Celebrity Invitational Charity Tournament, to win a $10,000 seat to the 2010 WSOP Main Event.
However, three hours into playing at the WSOP tournament, Smith was eliminated when his three tens were topped by three jacks.
After his exit, Smith said: “I’m learning more about the game. From that last hand, I learned a little bit, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. You’ve got to be able to get the cards. You’ve got to be able to understand when to bet, when not to bet. And then you just go from there.”
