He works his first game at age 24. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Do we give an extra hug enough? Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Im very grateful. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Devika Pawar. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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 . Whats that for? They strapped me in! View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Might as well walk fast, too. See Bert Smith? Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. It took me a few days, he says. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. 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. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. They released him to return to his hotel. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. Smiths pausing. I could be involved with 4-H. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Whats he doing on his back? Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. 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. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. 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. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. 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. CNN . Smith, have a good night, I thought they had done a good job, he says, but because she wanted to know why I fell, we got the answer. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. 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. There is no other avocation that I can think of that requires the level of physical and mental preparation that officiating mandates, and you have to dedicate yourself in order to be successful. So was Karter. Look at that picture again. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. March 30 (UPI) --The No. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. Their goalie tried leaping to his left She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. We won't send you spam. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Now he wonders. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Now he wonders. She said: I got the answer to the question. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA . You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. and would not need hospitalization. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. He was released after two days in the hospital. Then he becomes a basketball official. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Moves fast, this guy. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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.. Do we give an extra hug enough? If they had done that and said, Mr. 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. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. That is definitely what drives me. You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. I am also in my first year as the coordinator of officials for the NE-10 Conference, the largest Division II conference in the country. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Nobody can say. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. Thats his wife of 33 years. 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. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. All rights reserved. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. So was Karter. Bert Smith . 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. Written By. 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. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. 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. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Might as well walk fast, too. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. There was an error submitting your subscription. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Players on both teams returned to their benches. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. It is my release. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. The unnecessary replay of Bert. Moves fast? Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Youve probably seen him. 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. 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 . 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. They were pretty intense, man. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. It has put me in the middle of so many exciting situations where my skills and knowledge have been tested and given me and my crewmates the afterglow of satisfaction when you know you nailed it in a championship atmosphere. There were 500 of them. Check this out.. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. you knew we kicked it in together. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 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.. 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. 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. I do it because I love the ballgame. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. 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. See Bert Smith? It goes: You scored, Billy Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dr. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. 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. 6 seed USC. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. Market data provided by Factset. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. They were pretty intense, man. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Look at those crossed arms. 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. Now he wonders. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. He rarely uses the elevator. Being part of the game is a big reason. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. "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?" 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. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. 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!. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Youve probably seen him. You never know whats going to happen. She said: I got the answer to the question. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Rules knowledge is a component of it. 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. OK, so the night of March 29. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives were all guilty of it and we just live, right? Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Nobody can say. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Moves fast? 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. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 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 . 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. Something doesnt add up. Then he becomes a basketball official. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Veteran official Bert Smith hit his head on the baseline and laid face up for about five minutes before being stretchered off with 15:44 remaining in the first half of the 2021 March Madness. 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 game . It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Its the best seat in the house. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. He told the Star he's happy it happened during the Elite Eight when he could get the right help he needed rather than during an instance when he was driving or sleeping. Look at those crossed arms. Legal Statement. He works his first game at age 24. 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. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 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 . OK, so the night of March 29. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 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. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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. 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. Success! Something doesnt add up. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Turns out, nope, no concussion. So was Karter. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. I will, he says. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. 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. 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. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. 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. Where did it come from? 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. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. 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. or redistributed. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Thats 1990. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. 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. 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. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Mar 31st, 2021. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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 . 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 that for? 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. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Smith was taken off the . You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Turns out, it was something worse. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. As you looked toward my approval 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. 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. Whatsthatfor? He runs. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. You could talk to him during a game. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing.