Emmitt Smith, Kurt Warner at Bookends Tuesday

The big opening game of the long-awaited 2011 football season is on Thursday, but you don't need to wait to meet some football stars right here in Ridgewood.

Emmitt Smith and Kurt Warner will both be at promoting their latest books on Tuesday.

Yes, the man known for his Emmitt-isms as a TV announcer (I.E. "Wade [Phillips] inherit this success"; "I love those style of play that the Tennessee Titans bring to the game") will be bringing his tackle-and-grammar-breaking ability to promote "Game On," his new book about finding purpose in life. When Smith retired, he was the NFL's rushing leader with 18,355 yards and 175 touchdowns.

Smith is also well known as a winner of a Dancing with the Stars season. (It's unknown as of press time if Mayor Keith Killion, who frequently jokes about ending council meetings early to watch Dancing with the Stars with his wife Kathy, will attend the signing.)

Warner, a former MVP quarterback, will help promote his wife Brenda's book, "One Call Away," a memoir about challenges and faith. Brenda is a former Marine Corps. veteran who had two children previous to meeting Kurt; after marriage, Kurt legally adopted the two children.

Warner's story is well documented. He had been bagging groceries when he got the call as a quarterback in Arena football. Soon, he was breaking records with the champion St. Louis Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" offense in 1999. Warner is a devout Christian and says his faith has helped him overcome adversity.

The Warners, both Kurt and Brenda, will be signing copies at 4:00 p.m. and Smith will come by a bit later, at 6:00 p.m.