Smith, a veteran college basketball official of 28 years, lost consciousness five minutes into the game, falling backward in a scary moment captured on the TBS broadcast and banging his head against the hardwood court. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt , He said he told the doctor at the time, "You little SOB, you tricked me!. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . 1 overall seed Gonzaga Bulldogs remained undefeated and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with a dominant 85-66 win over USC on Tuesday . Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back in, and took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. Its deep, and its contagious. All rights reserved. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. Im ready to get after it, he says. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash - Yahoo! Turns out, it was something worse. the college basketball official who passed out during themen's NCAA Tournamentregional final between Gonzaga and Southern California, Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Youre going to get on one side, hes going to get on the other, were going to wave to the fans, and Im walking out of here.. I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Yeah man, you were staggering like you were fighting Ali., You were asking Mark Few for a job application because you were on his bench., Next thing you know, you were back in the ring again with Ali and you went down like a tree in a forest!. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . . . But slow down, OK? They strapped me in! What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. He is the current president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, was the 2020 winner of the National Headliner Award as the country's top sports columnist and has twice been named North. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. There is no better feeling then walking back into the locker room with your partners and knowing that we worked together as a team and that we gave everything we had for those 48 minutes. Do we give an extra hug enough? As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. 2023 www.indystar.com. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. It offers a chance to lead by example. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. The unnecessary replay of Bert. It does not store any personal data. Todays game is so fast and the players have such a high skill set that its very important to be in the best possible position to judge a play and make a call. " No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. The 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament (officially the 2021 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament Presented by New York Life) was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the Atlantic Coast Conference and held at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, from March 9 to 13, 2021. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses "I mean, I was just shocked and scared for him, but I was able to stick my head in there a little bit and see that he was talking and coherent and tried to say a quick prayer for him and just wished him the best. I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back in, and took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Do we give an extra hug enough? Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. NCAA Referee has SCARY COLLAPSE! Doctor examines WHY?? Referee alert after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga - ESPN.com INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Referee Bert Smith was taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing to the court during the first half of the NCAA men's tournament Elite Eight matchup between USC and Gonzaga on Tuesday. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. and would not need hospitalization. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. They poured into Smiths phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC in a mens Elite Eight game on March 30. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . Where did it come from? Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Smith trains year round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts like when the family goes to Disney World in Florida and Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. The challenges are different for each level of refereeing and the emotional payoffs vary, but the reason for being in the game is the same: Passion for soccer runs through my veins. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. I thought he was a good official, a fair official, and when you saw him at a game, you knew you were going to get a good whistle from him., Smith says well see him at games next season I could work again in seven to 10 days, he says but for now he wants to thank some people publicly. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Referee OK after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight After that he studies business administration at SUNY-Buffalo, gets a job at Avis Budget Group, moves fast up the ranks as his career takes him to Chicago, Houston and finally the Cincinnati area. I ran and grabbed his phone, and he checked his phone and within the first hour, he had 250 texts, and a lot of them from fellow referees. Active referees are listed in bold. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Im very grateful. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil . Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Update provided on status of referee Bert Smith following collapse Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? It and she have made me a better person. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, Amid cancer fight, NBA ref Tony Brown returning to work, Recruiting & Retention: What WorkedWhat Didnt, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series, High School Volleyball Officials Quiz 2023. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. Michael Conroy/AP. "It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives -- we're all guilty of it -- and we just live, right?" They were pretty intense, man. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. 1 . I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive NBA Referees Directory | Basketball-Reference.com Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Check this out. To me, he offers an aside: Hes taking advantage of a guy in a weakened position., The doc says, Swing your legs around. I swing my legs around, and they go: Click-click-click-click. When a situation occurs that brings the temperature of the game up, you have to control your emotions and read the emotions of the players and coaches to restore calm. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Their goalie tried leaping to his left Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Official collapses, wheeled off court on stretcher from NCAA tournament First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. If you saw it, you understand. I do it because I love the ballgame. Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles NCAA Ref Bert Smith Says Blood Clot in Lung Caused Collapse at - TMZ I love the challenge of being in complete control of your emotions, maintaining the calmness and the challenge to make a split-second decision in front of 60,000-100,000 screaming fans and knowing you have six crewmates that have your back in the heat of the battle. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? So was Karter. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Look at his scowl. Something doesnt add up. Smith's fall to the ground. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. Players on both teams returned to their benches. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. He said no. Why cant he catch his breath? I get to watch the Masters.. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. He agreed. The confidence I feel on the field has spilled over into almost every aspect of my life, and it has propelled me to believe that any dream is within my grasp. I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. All rights reserved. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during themen's NCAA Tournamentregional final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body prone and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. Its deep, and its contagious. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused his fall at NCAA men Note: This article is archival in nature. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing Swift Highlights 22.9K subscribers Subscribe 393 Share 158K views 1 year ago Replay Of Referee Collapsing Basketball Official Collapses Show more Show. Former NCAA national mens basketball officiating coordinator John Adams says Bert is funny but quiet, not a me-first guy. Adams was one of the 500 who reached out to Smith. Bert. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Why I love officiating can be simply put as it has given me the opportunity to work with and be associated with some of the finest individuals that walk the face of this earth. I love officiating because of the challenge. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Do we give an extra hug enough? Referee Bert Smith is tended to by training staff and medical personnel after collapsing during the first half of the Elite Eight round game between the USC Trojans and the Gonzaga Bulldogs during . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. Whats he doing on his back? I hear (other officials) say, I do it for the kids. Im not disagreeing with them when they say that and I enjoy being around the kids too, but theres a hundred other things I could do if I was doing it for the kids. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Smiths pausing. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". Thats 1990. Being able to participate and watch these young men and women playing the game because they have that desire to play is a joy to me that you cannot experience through a TV or on the sidelines. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. CNN . Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. It saved his life. March 30 (UPI) --The No. Please try again. The arrival at the arena, the pregame, being with various partners, the competition, the players, coaches, ambience, the focus and concentration needed on each possession. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. Now he wonders. Smith was taken off the . Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. Written By. The scary moment was caught. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. After the game, Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he had walked over to Smith to offer his support as Smith was being placed on the stretcher. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Look at that picture again. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. Jacquie was waiting at the door. It pushes you to be on top of your game. Then he becomes a basketball official. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Moves fast, this guy. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? He works his first game at age 24. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. Smith does remember the play before it, Gonzagas Andrew Nembhard stealing the ball and going the other way, but now the action is coming back toward the USC basket, where Smith had remained hed been unable to run the court as Nembhard finished at the rim and Smith is wondering whats going on. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Every chance I get, I want to get my heart rate up, says Smith, 56, who takes the court 90 times a year with elite NCAA athletes. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 10,797 Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO basketball referee 10,797 Ncaa Referee Premium High Res Photos Browse 10,797 ncaa referee stock photos and images available, or search for basketball referee to find more great stock photos and pictures. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree - his description - his body. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Then he becomes a basketball official. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Smiths also grateful that his health scare, if it was going to happen, took place during the NCAA Tournament and not when he was driving or sleeping. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KUSA.com a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Being part of the game is a big reason. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. We make mistakes but we make them with the honest attempt to be right 100 percent of the time; I like being held to that high standard. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. I love that we are the only participants who are not allowed to fail. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga Shes an important part of this story.. Thats his wife of 33 years. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. But slow down, OK? It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Bert Smith. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Moves fast, this guy. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. If they had done that and said, Mr. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. Soccer has enriched my life ever since that fateful day in 1973 when my brother came home and said he made the high school soccer team. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. This article is the copyright of Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. You could talk to him during a game. Bert Smith does. Heres why: The doctor said, Listen, tell you what, why dont you just sit on the stretcher? I said OK, I can do that, Smith says and now hes laughing. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. They strapped me in! But do we say I love you enough? Dr. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. All Rights Reserved. A few hours later, his officiating friends joined him at the hotel and suggested he go to the hospital to be evaluated for a concussion, just in case. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Where did it come from? But do we say I love you enough? Berts on the sixth floor, and hes putting on his mask to run the stairs down to the fifth floor for ice, or to run up to the eighth floor to see his buddies. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? The former NCAA national mens basketball officiating coordinator, John Adams, says Bert is funny but quiet, not a me-first guy. Adams was one of the 500 who reached out to Smith. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning.