Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. 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. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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. 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 . SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Do we give an extra hug enough? Video shows Cowboys Prescott taking snaps, moving well, Thamel: Millers firing tells truth about coaching in NCAA, Former Florida State, Giants WR arrested on murder charges, Rapinoe blasts Warriors Green for takes on womens sports, abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game, Smith told the Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel, later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable. But do we say I love you enough? Bert Smith does. "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?" Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Look at that picture again. 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. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Check this out. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Legal Statement. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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 that picture 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. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. OK, so the night of March 29. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. It was a scary moment as an audible thud was heard throughout Lucas Oil Stadium, and the official was taken off the court on a stretcher, though he was awake and alert. or redistributed. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. ", 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. 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. Shes an important part of this story.. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. 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. 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. Smith does rememberthe 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. All rights reserved. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. 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 . There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. It and she have made me a better person. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Please try again. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. 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. 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. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. 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. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Bert Smith. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. And they found out. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Moves fast, this guy. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". 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 . Everyones joking with him now. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. She said: I got the answer to the question. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. "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?" After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. He runs. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Shes an important part of this story.. Check this out. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. Smith was taken off the . Legal Statement. The unnecessary replay of Bert. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. There is no better feeling then walking back into the locker room with your partners and knowing that we worked together as a team and that we gave everything we had for those 48 minutes. 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. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. 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. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. He did not go to the hospital. Smith told the publication. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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. Look at his scowl. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. 2023 www.indystar.com. 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. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Its a wonderful place to be. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. He goes to IU Health Methodist. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. 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. 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? 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. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. He rarely uses the elevator. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. 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 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. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Thats 1990. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. I love being part of the game. 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. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Everyones joking with him now. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. 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! Active referees are listed in bold. 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? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Being part of the game is a big reason. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Hed been duped. It saved his life. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Turns out, it was something worse. Moves fast, this guy. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. I will, he says. Its deep, and its contagious. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 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. They were pretty intense, man. 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. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Moves fast? So was Karter. Jacquie was waiting at the door. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Something doesnt add up. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. The challenges are different for each level of refereeing and the emotional payoffs vary, but the reason for being in the game is the same: Passion for soccer runs through my veins. They were pretty intense, man. 1 . When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. He goes to IU Health Methodist. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. 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. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Written By. But slow down, OK? Look at those crossed arms. If you saw it, you understand. Its the best seat in the house. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. See Bert Smith? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. They poured into Smiths phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC in a mens Elite Eight game on March 30. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in..
Are Capybaras Legal In Illinois,
When Can You See Lyra The Constellation,
What Can I Catch From Sharing Drinks,
Articles N