Emmitt Smith's favorite memories

FILE 1994/The Associated Press
FILE 1994
A hard hit in 1994 required Smith to wear a device that delivered electric shocks intended to heal his dislocated shoulder.
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Emmitt Smith relives moments from his brilliant career. Some of his choices may surprise you.

Heart showed in San Francisco

Breaking Walter Payton's rushing record? The Cowboys' three Super Bowl championships?


"The loss to San Francisco," Smith said without hesitation.

The Cowboys faced San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game in January 1995. Three quick turnovers allowed the 49ers to jump to a 21-0 lead with 7:33 left in the first quarter.

The Cowboys fought back and extended the 49ers into the fourth quarter, but eventually fell, 38-28, ending their two-year championship reign. The Cowboys came back the next season to win their third title in four years.

"Yeah, we won three, but it's the fourth one that got away," Smith said. "How about that one?

"We go out there and turn the ball over and fall behind fairly quickly. To see the heart of that ball club, to fight and claw and do everything in our power to get back in position and try to win that game, it's really, truly what football is all about."

Shouldering the load: The Giants game

The Cowboys faced the New York Giants in the final week of the '93 regular season with a division title and first-round bye on the line.

Smith took a hard hit late in the first half that sprained and separated his right shoulder. He stayed in the game and finished with 168 yards rushing and 61 yards receiving in the Cowboys' 16-13 victory.

"They cut a hole in some knee pads and made donut out of it," Smith said. "That way the injury could go through the hole, and they taped it to my shoulder. Then they gave me some medicine. It was supposed to help me with the pain, but it didn't.

"What helped me get through that game was the fact my teammates were counting on me. When I came to the huddle and looked the guys in the face, I could see their concern for me, but I also knew how important the game was. There was a lot at stake.

"I went back to my youth. When I was 6 or 7 and would get knocked down and cry, my cousin would say, 'You can't play the game if you can't play with pain.'

"I kept saying that in my mind the whole time I was playing that game."

The bye was significant because Smith would not have been able to play if the Cowboys had a first-round game. The team went on to win its second consecutive Super Bowl.

De-cleating a Bears blitzer

Smith's skills as a runner are evident. But he was also a good blocker.

Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson still talks about a block Smith made early in his career on a blitzing Chicago defender named John Mangum.

"I played against him in high school," Smith said of Mangum. "I wanted to make sure he knew that if he was coming in to get my quarterback, he had to come through me. I wanted to deliver a blow. I hit him so good, I knocked him off his feet.

"Woodson, that's all he ever talks about. But I had another good block in that game as well."

A bad break

The 237 yards rushing Smith had against Philadelphia in October 1993 ranks as his best statistical game. But there was a game six years later when he could have had more.

Smith rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota in November 1999. What's the big deal? All of that came on 13 carries. Smith broke his hand on one of his touchdown runs and was forced to leave the game midway through the second quarter.

"That game was crazy," Smith said. "Who knows how many yards I would have had if I didn't break my hand?"

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