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. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. 2023 www.indystar.com. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages.
Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KARE When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . They strapped me in! I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. 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. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien.
Official collapses, wheeled off court on stretcher from NCAA tournament It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. 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.
NCAA Tournament official Bert Smith collapses during Elite Eight game I lost it, too. 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!. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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..
Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? They strapped me in! For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him.
Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. I love being part of the game. You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. 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 is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . he told the newspaper. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. So was Karter. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. 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.
But slow down, OK? In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Hed been duped. 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! In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. And they found out. Bert Smith, the NCAA official who fainted during an Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC last week, said Friday he collapsed over a blood clot in his lung. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. Smith's fall to the ground. I get to watch the Masters.. 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. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Bert Smith . Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Smiths pausing. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Bert Smith does. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. I do it because I love the ballgame. You never know whats going to happen. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. 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. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. I love being part of the game. Whats he doing on his back? But do we say I love you enough? I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 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. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. 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 .
Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. 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. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Shes an important part of this story.. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. They strapped me in! Something doesnt add up. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. 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. I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. Your heart begins to race, the adrenaline begins to run rampant throughout your body, the excitement takes over as you look around the stadium; you take a couple of deep breaths and then everything becomes so clear. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. If you saw it, you understand. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. Then he becomes a basketball official. It and she have made me a better person. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. Im letting the paint dry.. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. The unnecessary replay of Bert.
Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided My feelings about my whistle are still the same. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. 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. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment.
Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. Bert Smith does. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. She said: I got the answer to the question. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 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. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. 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. Look at those crossed arms. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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 . April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Look at his scowl.
Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during Market data provided by Factset. 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 . Being part of the game is a big reason. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Its hard for me to talk about now. Bert Smith. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. I will, he says. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Whats he doing on his back? 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. It does not store any personal data.
March Madness roundup: Gonzaga, UCLA advance to Final Four Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
NCAA Referee has SCARY COLLAPSE! Doctor examines WHY?? Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Something doesnt add up. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. 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 . Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St 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. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. 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? Something doesnt add up. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Dr. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Might as well walk fast, too. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. It offers a chance to lead by example. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls.
Referee alert after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga - ESPN.com Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. 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. " Bert Smith, an official assigned to work the Gonzaga-Southern California regional final, left tonight's game after a medical issue ," the NCAA said in a statement. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Youve probably seen him.
Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash - Yahoo! Per the Star, he was treated at the stadium for two hours with vital checks on pulse, blood pressure and oxygen level that came back normal. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and now does as many as 80 games a year. If you saw it, you understand. Jacquie was waiting at the door. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. 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. 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. See Bert Smith? Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. 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. Referee Bert Smith is tended to by training staff and medical personnel after collapsing during the first half of the Elite Eight round game between the USC Trojans and the Gonzaga Bulldogs during . Written By. Now he wonders.
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WATCH: 'Scary scenes' as basketball referee collapses midway - RT Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. "I mean, I was just shocked and scared for him, but I was able to stick my head in there a little bit and see that he was talking and coherent and tried to say a quick prayer for him and just wished him the best. Its deep, and its contagious. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy.
It pushes you to be on top of your game. They insisted more. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. 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. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing.
Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Whats he doing on his back? He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. 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.. They strapped me in! I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. He works his first game at age 24. 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. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. Success! He told the Star he's happy it happened during the Elite Eight when he could get the right help he needed rather than during an instance when he was driving or sleeping. You could talk to him during a game.
College Basketball: NCAA Referees Have Their Own Selection Sunday Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Do we give an extra hug enough? Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. It kept me going.. He agreed. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. That was one of the few times I remember getting in trouble with my father for kicking his car door as hard as my little legs could out of anger. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Bert Smith does. Whats that for? 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. 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!. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. 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. 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 . The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. View. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. Check this out. And they found out. Look at his scowl. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. 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. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to.
Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. OK, so the night of March 29.