We Want to Axe Emmitt Smith a Question About His TV Job

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Oct. 9 2007 at 12:12 PM

If you were too exhausted and/or exhilarated and/or inebriated after last night’s Cowboys comeback to stay up for ESPN’s on-field post-game analysis, shame on you. Because, in his own incredibly awkward way, expert Emmitt Smith was almost as entertaining as the game.

As usual, there were a million hiccups and pratfalls. The best (which is to say, worst) two centered on Emmitt describing Dallas’ grit. He gave credit to, take a guess, Tony Romo? No. Jason Witten? No. Sam Hurd? No. Wade Phillips? No. Terence Newman? No. How about ... would you believe ... Bill Parcells?

Didn’t write the exact quote down because I was too dumbfounded, but it was something about Parcells instilling a no-quit attitude last year. Yep, Smith gave credit to the same Parcells who, after last season’s regular-season ending loss to the lowly Detroit Lions, questioned his team’s effort. To back up his point, Emmitt went and butchered a cliché and mangled one of the most famous, enduring lines in sports.

Trying to quote former North Carolina State basketball coach Jimmy Valvano’s eloquent speech regarding his fight against cancer, Smith said, “The Cowboys are like Jimmy Valvano, they don’t quit.” Memo to Emmitt: Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. Seriously, how does the worldwide leader in sports not immediately axe him? Or is it "ask" him? It’s so easy to get confused. Right, Emmitt? --Richie Whitt

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