Wed, 03/09/2011 – 01:15 – PokerPages Staff

NFL running back Emmitt Smith has joined the illustrious Friends of Full Tilt Poker roster.

The three time Super Bowl champion is now set to appear at numerous live events during the remainder of 2011.

Smith’s finest moment in poker came when he bested eight-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Ivey in heads-up play at a Celebrity Invitational Charity Tournament.

Smith won through to the 2010 WSOP Main Event with that performance though he failed to to progress past Day 1 at the Rio in Las Vegas after running a set of tens into trip jacks.

The 41 year-old admitted he had learned a great deal from the hand in the wake of his exit last year.

“I am 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 have got to be able to get the cards. You have got to be able to understand when to bet, when not to bet. And then you just go from there.”

Smith joins Mekhi Phifer, Mario Andretti, Bruce Buffer, James Blake, Don Cheadle, Jim McManus and Matt Hughes on the Friends of Full Tilt list.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer made an appearance at the $25,000 National Heads Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace at the weekend.

Smith bested Team PokerStars Pro David Williams in the first round before falling to Andrew Robl.