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Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. I do it because I love the ballgame. He did not go to the hospital. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Moves fast, this guy. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Look at his scowl. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. And they found out. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Bert. 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. She said: I got the answer to the question. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. Shes an important part of this story.. It puts me in the zone! If you saw it, you understand. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. Active referees are listed in bold. 2023 www.indystar.com. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with 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. 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. 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 . 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. 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.. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Bert Smith . You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. I lost it, too. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. 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! Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. So was Karter. That is definitely what drives me. NCAA Tournament fall didn't kill referee Bert Smith. It saved his life. Rules knowledge is a component of it. 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.. Does Video Show Athletes Fainting Due to COVID-19 Vaccine? 2023 ABG-SI LLC. 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. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. Im letting the paint dry.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Moves fast, this guy. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. 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. Nobody can say. 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. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. The scary scene unfolded with 15:44 to play in the. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. 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. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. Look at that picture again. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. There was an error submitting your subscription. 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. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 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. College Basketball: NCAA Referees Have Their Own Selection Sunday Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Bert Smith told the . Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 6 seed USC. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Now he wonders. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. Look at those crossed arms. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. Turns out, it was something worse. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. . The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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 . Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. They strapped me in! Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. 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. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 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. Official collapses during NCAA tournament, wheeled off court on Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing Swift Highlights 22.9K subscribers Subscribe 393 Share 158K views 1 year ago Replay Of Referee Collapsing Basketball Official Collapses Show more Show. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube Smiths pausing. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. I could be involved with 4-H. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. Where did it come from? She said: I got the answer to the question. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Im very grateful. March Madness: Bert Smith diagnosed with - New York Post Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? It goes: You scored, Billy Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Might as well walk fast, too. It saved his life. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, Amid cancer fight, NBA ref Tony Brown returning to work, Recruiting & Retention: What WorkedWhat Didnt, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series, High School Volleyball Officials Quiz 2023. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. He said no. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. 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. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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. Dr. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. ", 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. 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. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. 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. 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. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. 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. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. or redistributed. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. They were pretty intense, man. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. He has been in contact with his family. Then he becomes a basketball official. Video: Referee Collapses In Scary Scene During Gonzaga-USC Game Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KARE So was Karter. Whatsthatfor? 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. 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!. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. Why I Love Officiating - Referee.com - Referee.com & Referee Magazine 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia All rights reserved. Mar 31st, 2021. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. 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. Whats he doing on his back? The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. 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. 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. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. 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. 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. I love being part of the game. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KVUE 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. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Thats 1990. Do we give an extra hug enough? Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. 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 . Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. They insisted more. Look at those crossed arms. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. If they had done that and said, Mr. 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. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. 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. . The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. We won't send you spam. NCAA ref Bert Smith (Buffalo) said to be doing well after collapse - WGRZ Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. and would not need hospitalization. Smith was taken off the . Might as well walk fast, too. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Their goalie tried leaping to his left NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo!