INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 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. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. The scary scene unfolded with 15:44 to play in the. Theres no room in your head for thinking about cutting the grass, what you need from the store or how you have to finish your taxes. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. You could talk to him during a game. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. All rights reserved. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. Add to that the fact that we actually get paid to exercise, and I cant think of a better way to spend a spring afternoon than on a lacrosse field! A pulmonary embolism. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. The scary moment was caught. 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. It and she have made me a better person. Thats 1990. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 200+ "Bert Smith" profiles | LinkedIn For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Rules knowledge is a component of it. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. "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?" For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Its hard for me to talk about now. Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. It would've been about NCAA basketball official Bert Smith, how he'd been used dishonestly as a pawn by the anti-vaccine movement to prove the unprovable: that COVID vaccines were causing. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . So was Karter. Moves fast, this guy. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. And they found out. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. Everything was normal. He said no. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. So when I went off to college I had to work and was asked what I might enjoy doing, I said, Sports. I was hired on the intramural staff and was paid $3 an hour to officiate co-ed flag football, womens basketball and co-ed softball. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Its the best seat in the house. Smith told the publication. I could be involved with 4-H. March 30 (UPI) --The No. His crew comes back to Le Meridien with a doggy bag of the dinner he missed at the game, and theyre talking and laughing, but theyve seen replays of Smiths fall. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. 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. That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. What happened to ref in Gonzaga game? Referee Bert Smith carried on Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Trammel had seen the video. 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. I get to watch the Masters.. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga 's matchup against USC in the NCAA tournament had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis Star reported on Friday. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. 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. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. 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. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. Market data provided by Factset. Video: Referee Collapses In Scary Scene During Gonzaga-USC Game After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 6 seed USC. Referee Bert Smith collapses on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game (NCD) By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk March 30, 2021 at 8:58 pm CDT There were no signs in the preceding days of this happening, even when he was running up and down three flights of stairs, with a mask, the day before. Do we give an extra hug enough? NCAA Officials Share Fitness Regimens - Referee.com Hed been duped. Thats his wife of 33 years. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. If they had done that and said, Mr. 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. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. My colleagues and I have strong personalities with how were wired so being able to do a job that you know youre in a select company of people is very rewarding. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Michael Conroy/AP. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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 . Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. 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. Why I Love Officiating - Referee.com - Referee.com & Referee Magazine OK, so the night of March 29. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. I do it because I love the ballgame. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. It took me a few days, he says. Then he becomes a basketball official. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports or redistributed. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. 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. He rarely uses the elevator. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. Over the years Ive been blessed with so many highlights but have found a simple phrase that sums it all up: Special Soccer Moments, derived from the poem June Goal, written by my Dad in 1976. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. Per the Star, he was treated at the stadium for two hours with vital checks on pulse, blood pressure and oxygen level that came back normal. It offers a chance to lead by example. The reasons for our joy when we step on the field, court or ice are vast and every reason is forged in the fire of our individual experiences. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. 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. Bert Smith does. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Look at that picture again. 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. 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. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Check this out. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. OK, so the night of March 29. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. Please try again. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Shes an important part of this story.. There was an error submitting your subscription. 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. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! Everyones joking with him now. 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. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . They released him to return to his hotel. For now, hes at his home in Florence, Ky., just outside of Cincinnati, relaxing and watching the Masters golf tournament while medicating an ailment that, if not caught after that fall, could have eventually been much worse. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Thats 1990. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. But slow down, OK? He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Moves fast? 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Where did it come from? By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Im ready to get after it, he says. Smith trains year-round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts, like when the family goes to Disney Worldand Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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 . It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. 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. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. . And they found out. They were pretty intense, man. His crew comes back to Le Meridien with a doggy bag of the dinner he missed at the game, and theyre talking and laughing, but theyve seen replays of Smiths fall. The support and love was just overwhelming. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Referee alert after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga - ESPN.com The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Their goalie tried leaping to his left 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. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga's matchup against USC in the NCAA men's basketball tournament had a blood clot in his lung, The Indianapolis Star reported Friday. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Nobody can say. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. By age 11, I was organizing all the neighborhood kids in pick up games and by age 14, I got certified to referee and started coaching. , Bert Smith. Scary video shows the ref falling backwards and hitting his head on the hardwood floor just four minutes into the March Madness game as other officials pause the match and run to his aid. And after it happens, with a replacement official stepping in for Smith, he spends two hours getting treatment at the stadium, where his vitals are normal pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level and he doesnt have a headache. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. You never know whats going to happen. I love officiating because of the rush of excitement I get every time a player rises over another for a nothing-but-net three-pointer or from two kids diving after a loose ball like its a $1 million bill. Look at those crossed arms. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. 56-year-old Smith was officiating the Gonzaga vs. USC matchup on March 30 when he collapsed to the hardwood a few minutes into the game. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. Whats he doing on his back? 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 . NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life.

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