Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. Bert. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 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. Active referees are listed in bold. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Then he becomes a basketball official. Now he wonders. Smith, whod driven 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. It goes: You scored, Billy Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. You could talk to him during a game. I continue to coach high school soccer. They strapped me in! It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. You never know whats going to happen. 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. 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 . Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. Im letting the paint dry.. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. But do we say I love you enough? Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Andy Lyons/Getty NCAA Reveals Budget for Men's Basketball Tournament Is Almost Twice as Much the Women's Reporters Ross Dellenger and Jeff Borzello later tweeted that, according. Smith told the publication. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. It is my release. 1 overall seed Gonzaga Bulldogs remained undefeated and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with a dominant 85-66 win over USC on Tuesday . If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Look at those crossed arms. or redistributed. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused fall at NCAA tourney Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. 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. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Trammel had seen the video. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. 10,797 Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO basketball referee 10,797 Ncaa Referee Premium High Res Photos Browse 10,797 ncaa referee stock photos and images available, or search for basketball referee to find more great stock photos and pictures. Do we give an extra hug enough? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. If they had done that and said, Mr. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. 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. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. . Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Whats he doing on his back? She said: I got the answer to the question. 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 doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. " 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. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KSDK I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. 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. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Check this out. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. 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 . Nobody can say. But slow down, OK? that carried high into the net. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Dr. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. 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. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Shes an important part of this story.. 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. 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. Something doesnt add up. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game I love being part of the game. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 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. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. 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 NCAA Tournament official Bert Smith collapses during Elite Eight game I love that we are the only participants who are not allowed to fail. All rights reserved. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo! More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Look at those crossed arms. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. 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. you knew we kicked it in together. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. So was Karter. 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. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Its hard for me to talk about now. Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Moves fast, this guy. 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. 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! You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Update provided on status of referee Bert Smith following collapse I lost it, too. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. The scary scene unfolded with 15:44 to play in the. They strapped me in! I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Bert Smith . When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Why cant he catch his breath? 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia He did not go to the hospital. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. It kept me going.. NBA Referees Directory | Basketball-Reference.com By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Being part of the game is a big reason. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. 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. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU 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. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash - Yahoo! I came off the field and I was so pumped up. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Legal Statement. 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. Smith was taken off the . It saved his life. 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. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 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. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. 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. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 2023 ABG-SI LLC. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. She said: I got the answer to the question. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see 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 flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. 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 . We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. So was Karter. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin.
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