The Emmitt Zone

August 29, 1994
Smith, the Dallas Cowboy running back who has won the NFL rushing title for the past three years and was named most valuable player in both the league and the Super Bowl, is a spectacular player. In this chatty if lackluster autobiography, written with Steve Delsohn (Out of Bounds), we learn the superstar grew up in a supportive lower-middle-class family but made a bad choice in attending the University of Florida, whose football program was in chaos for the three years he played there. When he left he was chosen by the Cowboys. There followed wrangling over his subsequent contracts with owner Jerry Jones, who is depicted as tight-fisted. Under coach Jimmy Johnson, Smith had a major role in lifting a 1-15 team to two Super Bowl wins. Photos. Author tour.

June 1, 1994
The life of Dallas Cowboys star Smith.

June 1, 1995
YA-The Dallas rusher tells of his childhood, family, and football career in a book that's chock-full of old-fashioned values. There's no hot gridiron gossip here, but Smith does lend insight into some of his coaches and teammates. He seems always conscious of his role-model status, but tells his stories in a relaxed, informal way. Order several copies-this book is going to be passed around and around, even among the most reluctant readers.-Linda Diane Townsend, West Potomac High School, Fairfax County, VA

September 15, 1994
The life of Emmitt Smith, star running back of the two-time Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, reads like a Horatio Alger story: Smith grew up in Florida in a poor but loving two-parent family; he stays out of trouble, respects education, and devotes much spare time to charity work. There's nothing not to like about Emmitt Smith unless you're charged with tackling him. So, what does Emmitt have to say about his life? He always loved football. He loves his family, and he works hard and deserves respect and pay commensurate with his performance. We know--because he tells us so--that he's scored many a touchdown in his day. Is this a good sports autobiography? Yes and no. Yes, because Smith's joie de vivre is so evident. No, because he's so young, and his life has been a one-note song of happiness. But one can't expect him to invent tragedy or controversy. He seems like a nice young man, and his book will be in big demand with high-school Emmit-tators. As an author, Emmitt is a fine role model. ((Reviewed September 15, 1994))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1994, American Library Association.)