We won't send you spam. Legal Statement. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. 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. You never know whats going to happen. They strapped me in! Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. Devika Pawar. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 6 seed USC. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 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. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Refereeing soccer is more than a hobby or a job; it is my passion and it is ingrained in me so deeply that it is a part of me. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. But slow down, OK? "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. 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. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. That was one of the few times I remember getting in trouble with my father for kicking his car door as hard as my little legs could out of anger. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between Whatsthatfor? Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Shes an important part of this story.. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Look at his scowl. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. A pulmonary embolism. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. NCAA ref Bert Smith (Buffalo) said to be doing well after collapse - WGRZ 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. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St So was Karter. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. NCAA ref Bert Smith reveals what led to scary fall during men's I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. He said no. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 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 . Im letting the paint dry.. 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. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. 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.. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. 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. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. Then he becomes a basketball official. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. When I became old enough to referee, in my opinion, at the ripe age of nine I told my father my intentions and he explained that I was still too young to take an entry-level class. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. 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! 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. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. There were 500 of them. NCAA Tournament official Bert Smith collapses during Elite Eight game 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. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. , Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. 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. As you looked toward my approval Youve probably seen him. As a person with a disability, Im pleased to be a part of a profession that doesnt discriminate against what I cant do and emphasizes what I can. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. Check this out. Check this out. See Bert Smith? What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 200+ "Bert Smith" profiles | LinkedIn Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. 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 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. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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 flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. Smith, who'ddriven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic-10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Kentucky, by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. 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.. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. NBA Referees Directory | Basketball-Reference.com Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! He said the night before the game, while running the stairs in the hotel to see his buddies or get ice, he was a little out of breath. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. Where did it come from? Youve probably seen him. Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Im very grateful. Market data provided by Factset. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. 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 know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles Being part of the game is a big reason. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". March Madness referee Bert Smith collapses during USC-Gonzaga Its a wonderful place to be. 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. Smiths pausing. It is my release. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. He works his first game at age 24. March Madness roundup: Gonzaga, UCLA advance to Final Four He agreed. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. 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. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Moves fast? Everything was normal. 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. Andy Lyons/Getty NCAA Reveals Budget for Men's Basketball Tournament Is Almost Twice as Much the Women's Reporters Ross Dellenger and Jeff Borzello later tweeted that, according. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Over the next seven years, Mike rose to become a star for both his high school and college teams, my dad became a coach and my love for the game was cemented. Update provided on status of referee Bert Smith following collapse Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. 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. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. Whats he doing on his back? Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Bert Smith told the . Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Rules knowledge is a component of it. 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. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Bert Smith. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. But do we say I love you enough? Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Its the best seat in the house. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. 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. Video shows Cowboys Prescott taking snaps, moving well, Thamel: Millers firing tells truth about coaching in NCAA, Former Florida State, Giants WR arrested on murder charges, Rapinoe blasts Warriors Green for takes on womens sports, abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game, Smith told the Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel, later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. OK, so the night of March 29. Why cant he catch his breath? But slow down, OK? by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. 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. 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 flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. They insisted more. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. 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 pushes you to be on top of your game. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Might as well walk fast, too. collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Note: This article is archival in nature. They were pretty intense, man. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Nobody can say. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Now he wonders. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Moves fast? He rarely uses the elevator. 6 seed USC. 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. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. Bert Smith, the NCAA official who fainted during an Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC last week, said Friday he collapsed over a blood clot in his lung. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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. 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. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. Might as well walk fast, too. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? You could talk to him during a game. 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. Hospitalized with a blood clot. Do we give an extra hug enough? I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? Something doesnt add up. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Later, doctors discovered the reason. 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. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. I get to watch the Masters.. Do we give an extra hug enough? All rights reserved. Not one of these men or women is without the utmost class and integrity, and I hope by associating with them some of their class and integrity has rubbed off on me and made me a better person. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. 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!. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. It kept me going.. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. Look at his scowl. Where did it come from? Whats that for? See Bert Smith? Thats 1990. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball.