If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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! And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. 1 . 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. But slow down, OK? Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Do we give an extra hug enough? He works his first game at age 24. 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. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Shes an important part of this story.. She said: I got the answer to the question. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. March 30 (UPI) --The No. or redistributed. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He goes to IU Health Methodist. 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. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. Its the best seat in the house. "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?" The 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament (officially the 2021 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament Presented by New York Life) was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the Atlantic Coast Conference and held at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, from March 9 to 13, 2021. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! 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. 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. Game official Bert Smith collapsed and was taken off the court on a gurney during the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between the USC Trojans . Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back inand took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. 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 . When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Something doesnt add up. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. 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. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? He said he'll be back officiating next season. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . but never had a chance. But slow down, OK? 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. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . All Rights Reserved. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? See Bert Smith? After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. 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. 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 arrival at the arena, the pregame, being with various partners, the competition, the players, coaches, ambience, the focus and concentration needed on each possession. 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. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. I will, he says. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. . 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!. Whats he doing on his back? But do we say I love you enough? I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. Nobody can say. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. So was Karter. If you saw it, you understand. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . 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 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Moves fast? I'm committed to it year round. Check this out. It is my release. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Whats he doing on his back? The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. They strapped me in! As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Being part of the game is a big reason. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. That is definitely what drives me. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. It pushes you to be on top of your game. Their goalie tried leaping to his left Where did it come from? 2023 ABG-SI LLC. We make mistakes but we make them with the honest attempt to be right 100 percent of the time; I like being held to that high standard. Bert. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 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. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. 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? 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. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. See Bert Smith? 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. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Nobody can say. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. The unnecessary replay of Bert. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. You could talk to him during a game. If you saw it, you understand. Dr. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. You could talk to him during a game. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. All rights reserved. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". OK, so the night of March 29. 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. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. You could talk to him during a game. Something doesnt add up. 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. 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Its deep, and its contagious. He said no. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. 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 also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. It kept me going.. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Bert Smith told the . Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. 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. And they found out. Unfortunately we miss plays every night, but the challenge of trying to be perfect and get every play right is why I love it so much. ", 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. Dr. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. 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. 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. CNN . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. I love being part of the game. " He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. 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. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. 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. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Do we give an extra hug enough? Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. They were pretty intense, man. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. It goes: You scored, Billy These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Nobody can say. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Even after coaches/fans express their disappointment in my calls, I still have the eyes and hearts of the players on the field looking to me for leadership and how to show good character and convictions. Since I'm involved in an athletic contest I want to be able to participate to the full, and working out, proper nutrition and recovery allow me to be able to keep up with the players and game. He rarely uses the elevator. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. 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. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. "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?" Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. that carried high into the net. Look at those crossed arms. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. 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.. Then he becomes a basketball official. Just 4 minutes after tipoff in the Elite Eight matchup, Bert Smith crashed to the floor in a terrifying scene -- triggering team trainers and other medical personnel to race to his aid. He was released after two days in the hospital. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". 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. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Michael Conroy/AP. Market data provided by Factset. There was an error submitting your subscription. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. They insisted more. 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. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Moves fast? First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. He rarely uses the elevator. Bert Smith does. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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 his scowl. He did not go to the hospital. Bert Smith . 6 seed USC. Smiths pausing. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! 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. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. 6 seed USC. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. Then he becomes a basketball official. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. The support and love was just overwhelming. 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. 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. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Do we give an extra hug enough? When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. Smiths pausing. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. Moves fast, this guy. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Smiths pausing. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. So was Karter. Whats that for? The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Im letting the paint dry.. 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.. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. 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. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. Everyones joking with him now. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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 . After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Bert Smith. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. It does not store any personal data. 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. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Thats 1990. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". If they had done that and said, Mr. 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 do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? " Bert Smith, an official assigned to work the Gonzaga-Southern California regional final, left tonight's game after a medical issue ," the NCAA said in a statement.

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