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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. 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. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. See Bert Smith? You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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.. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. 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. 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. All rights reserved. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Rules knowledge is a component of it. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". Bert Smith does. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. 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.. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. 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. Moves fast? 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. 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. Its deep, and its contagious. 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 . That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Moves fast, this guy. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. You never know whats going to happen. He goes to IU Health Methodist. 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. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. 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 . You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. 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. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. You meet just about every type of person there is that exists and you have to learn to deal with all of them in a manner that shows that you deserve to be called an official. You meet cheaters, schemers, geniuses and idiots. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Its hard for me to talk about now. I lost it, too. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Why I love officiating can be simply put as it has given me the opportunity to work with and be associated with some of the finest individuals that walk the face of this earth. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. Youve probably seen him. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. He was released after two days in the hospital. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. It took me a few days, he says. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Then he becomes a basketball official. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. You could talk to him during a game. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. She said: I got the answer to the question. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. 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. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. When he retired as an official to take the ACC job in 2016, he immediately had to replace one of the conference's best referees: himself. Something doesnt add up. They were pretty intense, man. 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. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Referee Bert Smith was taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing to the court during the first half of the NCAA men's tournament Elite Eight matchup between USC and Gonzaga on Tuesday. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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!. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. Smiths pausing. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . It 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? Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. Look at that picture again. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. 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 . 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 . Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Its deep, and its contagious. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. 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. He rarely uses the elevator. Bert Smith told the . Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. 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. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. He is the current president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, was the 2020 winner of the National Headliner Award as the country's top sports columnist and has twice been named North. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". 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. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. 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. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. 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. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. Smiths pausing. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. March 30 (UPI) --The No. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Its deep, and its contagious. Written By. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. As you looked toward my approval by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. or redistributed. Whats he doing on his back? Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Check this out. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. They strapped me in! He has been in contact with his family. 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. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. It does not store any personal data. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Do we give an extra hug enough? You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. . Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. 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. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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!. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Please try again. It is my release. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. Whatsthatfor? 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. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. So was Karter. Market data provided by Factset. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. They released him to return to his hotel. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga 's matchup against USC in the NCAA tournament had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis Star reported on Friday. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. He rarely uses the elevator. Moves fast? "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?" All rights reserved. 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. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. 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. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. but never had a chance. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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 . That says something about that officiating fraternity.. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. 2023 www.indystar.com. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. 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. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. *. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. 1 . Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. Bert Smith does. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Thats 1990. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. Smith's fall to the ground. 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? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. Look at his scowl. The scary moment was caught. Its a wonderful place to be. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. 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. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. 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. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. Over the next seven years, Mike rose to become a star for both his high school and college teams, my dad became a coach and my love for the game was cemented. Might as well walk fast, too. Everyones joking with him now. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; INDIANAPOLIS -- A referee collapsed early in the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC . Check this out. 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. 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. Moves fast, this guy. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. 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. They insisted more. It kept me going.. 6 seed USC. Dr. He works his first game at age 24. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Now he wonders. Do we give an extra hug enough? Everyones joking with him now. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. Youve probably seen him. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Legal Statement. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Shes an important part of this story.. She said: I got the answer to the question. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Moves fast, this guy. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. OK, so the night of March 29. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. You could talk to him during a game. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Im letting the paint dry.. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Thats his wife of 33 years. Check this out.. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? Bert. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. He rarely uses the elevator. 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. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. He runs. They strapped me in! Jacquie was waiting at the door. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Thats normal to huff and puff, right? 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. 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. 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. Now he wonders.
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