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. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. Theres no room in your head for thinking about cutting the grass, what you need from the store or how you have to finish your taxes. They strapped me in! 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. Something doesnt add up. Something doesnt add up. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses On Court During Elite 8 Game, But I love being part of the game. Whats he doing on his back? 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. Im ready to get after it, he says. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Turns out, it was something worse. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot Youve probably seen him. Bert Smith. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. Check this out. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles Jacquie was waiting at the door. See Bert Smith? For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. 1 . I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. It goes: You scored, Billy 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. I lost it, too. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 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. He works his first game at age 24. Might as well walk fast, too. 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. 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. Bert Smith does. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. They strapped me in! 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. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Then he becomes a basketball 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?" 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. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. He rarely uses the elevator. 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!. 200+ "Bert Smith" profiles | LinkedIn I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 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. All rights reserved. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. NCAA Tournament referee Bert Smith collapse during game saved his life Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. But do we say I love you enough? It offers a chance to lead by example. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Please try again. 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. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. 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.. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. 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. 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. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. Im very grateful. 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 . Do we give an extra hug enough? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Look at that picture again. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. 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 collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. Nobody can say. 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? Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". As you looked toward my approval 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. But slow down, OK? Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU WATCH: 'Scary scenes' as basketball referee collapses midway - RT Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. Market data provided by Factset. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. Youve probably seen him. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. I love being part of the game. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 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. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. he told the newspaper. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. Look at his scowl. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. Thats his wife of 33 years. 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. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. NCAA ref Bert Smith stretchered out after collapse in Elite Eight - Yahoo! Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. Whats that for? They insisted more. Look at that picture again. Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between Devika Pawar. Moves fast, this guy. It saved his life. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 56-year-old Smith was officiating the Gonzaga vs. USC matchup on March 30 when he collapsed to the hardwood a few minutes into the game. 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. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Success! Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Video: Referee Collapses In Scary Scene During Gonzaga-USC Game CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KARE I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Dr. NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo! The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. He runs. There were 500 of them. March Madness: Bert Smith diagnosed with - New York Post OK, so the night of March 29. Thats his wife of 33 years. 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? According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. The scary scene unfolded with 15:44 to play in the. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Its the best seat in the house. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. I love officiating because it has a Zen aspect to it: for those two hours, you are completely focused on the task at hand. collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. 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 Smith told the Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel he doesn't remember falling and hasn't seen a replay, but what doctors found that night could have been life-saving. Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game Everyones joking with him now. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Official collapses during NCAA basketball game | The Hill He works his first game at age 24. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Look at those crossed arms. Everyones joking with him now. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. I get to watch the Masters.. After the game, Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he had walked over to Smith to offer his support as Smith was being placed on the stretcher. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. 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. Shes an important part of this story.. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him Thats 1990. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo! 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 . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Shes an important part of this story.. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. Whats that for? 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. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. A pulmonary embolism. or redistributed. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? 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. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Might as well walk fast, too. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. 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 collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KVUE Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW 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. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KUSA.com 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. 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. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. 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 . He has been in contact with his family. 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. ", 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. 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 . 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. But do we say I love you enough? Referee alert after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga - ESPN.com Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused fall at NCAA tourney Youve probably seen him. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. And they found out. If they had done that and said, Mr. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. View. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. Moves fast, this guy. 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. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. It puts me in the zone! That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. Bert Smith does. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Where did it come from? But slow down, OK? If you saw it, you understand. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said.
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ncaa referee bert smith age