Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 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. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. 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. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? 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. 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. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Oh, Ill be back. I love being part of the game. I lost it, too. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. If you saw it, you understand. The support and love was just overwhelming. Smith trains year round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts like when the family goes to Disney World in Florida and Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. 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. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. 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 . The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Why cant he catch his breath? A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? 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. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. As a person with a disability, Im pleased to be a part of a profession that doesnt discriminate against what I cant do and emphasizes what I can. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. And they found out. 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. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. 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. Now he wonders. I'm committed to it year round. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. But slow down, OK? Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. See Bert Smith? Later, doctors discovered the reason. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. Even after coaches/fans express their disappointment in my calls, I still have the eyes and hearts of the players on the field looking to me for leadership and how to show good character and convictions. 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. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Do we give an extra hug enough? The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. ", 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. 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. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. He runs. 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? She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Legal Statement. 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. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 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. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. I ran and grabbed his phone, and he checked his phone and within the first hour, he had 250 texts, and a lot of them from fellow referees. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. Thats his wife of 33 years. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. 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. Turns out, it was something worse. "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. 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. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. Something doesnt add up. or redistributed. 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. Youve probably seen him. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? 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. 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. 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. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Michael Conroy/AP. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Its deep, and its contagious. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Smith was taken off the . You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. Bert Smith does. 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.. And they found out. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Youve probably seen him. 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. 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. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Shes an important part of this story.. Trammel had seen the video. Bert. 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. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. 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. Check this out. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. Whats he doing on his back? CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. He works his first game at age 24. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. I love officiating because of the challenge. Bert Smith . Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Check this out.. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. 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. Smiths pausing. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Look at those crossed arms. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. Thats 1990. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. "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?" Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. 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 . The unnecessary replay of Bert. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Thats 1990. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Look at those crossed arms. Bert Smith does. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. There was an error submitting your subscription. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. 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 . When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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 look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. But slow down, OK? He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. 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. Whats that for? This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Moves fast? Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Look at his scowl. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 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. 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. Why cant he catch his breath? Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. But do we say I love you enough? Jacquie was waiting at the door. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Its deep, and its contagious. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. *. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. And they found out. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. 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!. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, I know his wife is going to be going bananas. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. 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!. [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. He goes to IU Health Methodist. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. 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. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. See Bert Smith? And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. . Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. Its the best seat in the house. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. So was Karter. Being able to participate and watch these young men and women playing the game because they have that desire to play is a joy to me that you cannot experience through a TV or on the sidelines. Its hard for me to talk about now. Moves fast? This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Look at those crossed arms. It saved his life. 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. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. She said: I got the answer to the question. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. 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. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. Nobody can say. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. 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. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It offers a chance to lead by example. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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.