In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Check this out.. They released him to return to his hotel. 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. Whats he doing on his back? 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. Smith, who'ddriven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Ky., by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. 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!. Look at that picture again. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Whats that for? Do we give an extra hug enough? The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. Hospitalized with a blood clot. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KVUE Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Smiths pausing. Nobody can say. Bert Smith does. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Dr. He runs. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. A pulmonary embolism. 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. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Legal Statement. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. My dad always said, You do not always win, but you can always be a good sport and, You should conduct yourself on the court, the way you would conduct yourself in life. In addition, I have two brothers and a sister who were also officials we were known as the Aldrich Hoop Family.. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? But do we say I love you enough? There were 500 of them. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. It goes: You scored, Billy Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Look at his scowl. 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. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and now does as many as 80 games a year. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. NCAA Referee has SCARY COLLAPSE! Doctor examines WHY?? but never had a chance. Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during Players on both teams returned to their benches. Might as well walk fast, too. Even though at this point in my career I have the experience and acceptance, there is still that constant challenge from one game to the next because you never know what is going to happen every time you step on the ice. Then he becomes a basketball official. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Check this out. Thats 1990. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. *. 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? And they found out. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. Then he becomes a basketball official. Where did it come from? 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. 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 It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. Might as well walk fast, too. March Madness roundup: Gonzaga, UCLA advance to Final Four 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. Dr. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. It took me a few days, he says. College Basketball: NCAA Referees Have Their Own Selection Sunday 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. 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. March Madness: Bert Smith diagnosed with - New York Post Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. 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. 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. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? and would not need hospitalization. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Check this out. 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 . 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He rarely uses the elevator. The scary moment was caught. Bert Smith told the . 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. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. 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. That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. 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. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? That says something about that officiating fraternity.. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? Thats his wife of 33 years. Mar 31st, 2021. If they had done that and said, Mr. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. Later, doctors discovered the reason. . 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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with 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!. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thats his wife of 33 years. All rights reserved. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. Its a wonderful place to be. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 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 doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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.. 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. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Now he wonders. It was a scary moment as an audible thud was heard throughout Lucas Oil Stadium, and the official was taken off the court on a stretcher, though he was awake and alert. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. you knew we kicked it in together. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. 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. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. When he retired as an official to take the ACC job in 2016, he immediately had to replace one of the conference's best referees: himself. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He said he'll be back officiating next season. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Bert. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Bert Smith does. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. All rights reserved. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 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 cant get any closer to the ballgame. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. NCAA Tournament referee Bert Smith collapse during game saved his life . Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. We won't send you spam. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . For someone like me who has been in the game for a long time, there is a certain level of expectation on the part of players, coaches and my supervisors. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. What happened to ref in Gonzaga game? Referee Bert Smith carried on 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It puts me in the zone! Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; INDIANAPOLIS -- A referee collapsed early in the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC . I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. View. He works his first game at age 24. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. It saved his life. 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. he told the newspaper. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. Look at that picture again. I get to watch the Masters.. Do we give an extra hug enough? I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. 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. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. "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?" But do we say I love you enough? Bert Smith. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. OK, so the night of March 29. Whats he doing on his back? Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. They insisted more. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Smith's fall to the ground. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. See Bert Smith? I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Bert Smith . I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Why cant he catch his breath? Look at those crossed arms. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? He goes to IU Health Methodist. He runs. 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. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. It is my release. The unnecessary replay of Bert. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Something doesnt add up. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. Official collapses, wheeled off court on stretcher from NCAA tournament 6 seed USC. 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. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? Given time that night on March 30, those around SmithNCAA doctors, his wife and colleaguesthought it best if he at least visited IU Methodist Hotel in Indianapolis to check his head and spine. ", NCAA tourney ref who collapsed had blood clot, From bubble struggles to NCAA seed improvement, why these final weekend games matter, Davis 3 shy of Maravich; Detroit eyes CBI bid, Son: Maravich would be 'cheering on' Davis, Vandy's Robbins out rest of season with leg injury, Sources: High Point fires Smith after one season, Davis out as Bucknell coach after 12-20 season, Grill discloses mental illness after Iowa St. exit, No. 2023 www.indystar.com. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Look at his scowl. Referee OK after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. "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. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. Moves fast? There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. He did not go to the hospital. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. 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. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. NCAA Officials Share Fitness Regimens - Referee.com , It pushes you to be on top of your game. Smith, whod driven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Ky., by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. Youve probably seen him. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Smith does rememberthe 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. Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports There was an error submitting your subscription.
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