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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Look at that picture again. 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. Michael Conroy/AP. 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. but never had a chance. Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided But slow down, OK? He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. 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 . All rights reserved. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW So was Karter. NCAA ref Bert Smith stretchered out after collapse in Elite Eight - Yahoo! When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses On Court During Elite 8 Game, But He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Market data provided by Factset. 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. NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses 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. If you saw it, you understand. Moves fast, this guy. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Note: This article is archival in nature. 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. Turns out, nope, no concussion. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. 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!. You never know whats going to happen. It pushes you to be on top of your game. He said he'll be back officiating next season. 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. Smiths pausing. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Active referees are listed in bold. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. So was Karter. He runs. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Your heart begins to race, the adrenaline begins to run rampant throughout your body, the excitement takes over as you look around the stadium; you take a couple of deep breaths and then everything becomes so clear. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. 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. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. OK, so the night of March 29. They were pretty intense, man. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. Dr. 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 . That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube 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 was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Players on both teams returned to their benches. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. OK, so the night of March 29. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. Bert Smith does. 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. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Nobody can say. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during 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. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. 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.. 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. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. CNN . Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Now he wonders. They were pretty intense, man. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Later, doctors discovered the reason. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 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. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. I'm committed to it year round. Medical personnel take care of a NCAA referee after he fell on the court during the first half during the game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the USC Trojans in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA . If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. She said: I got the answer to the question. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. As you looked toward my approval Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. He works his first game at age 24. March Madness: NCAA Ref Collapses During Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Game Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Might as well walk fast, too. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA men's . Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between He agreed. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. Smiths pausing. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. Whatsthatfor? When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Its hard for me to talk about now. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga 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. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports No, he said hed walk off under assistance. Bert Smith was involved in a controversial ending to a Kansas and Iowa State game that led to the Big 12 Conference punishing Smith for a call that cost the Cyclones a win against the Jayhawks. But do we say I love you enough? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. She said: I got the answer to the question. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. NCAA ref Bert Smith reveals what led to scary fall during men's Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KVUE 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. Written By. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Nobody can say. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . Why cant he catch his breath? When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Bert Smith does. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Look at his scowl. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. Look at those crossed arms. 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.
