Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. He agreed. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. 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. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. 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. 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. 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? Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. 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? Dr. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. All rights reserved. "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?" Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. All rights reserved. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. 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 . 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. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . See Bert Smith? REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. 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. The unnecessary replay of Bert. 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. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. See Bert Smith? And they found out. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. 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 . You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Smith told the publication. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St I love being part of the game. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Michael Conroy/AP. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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 . Active referees are listed in bold. 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Its hard for me to talk about 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. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. All Rights Reserved. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. He was released after two days in the hospital. Look at that picture again. Its deep, and its contagious. Scary video shows the ref falling backwards and hitting his head on the hardwood floor just four minutes into the March Madness game as other officials pause the match and run to his aid. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We won't send you spam. . The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Its deep, and its contagious. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. 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. 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? And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. 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 . 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. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Look at his scowl. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. He works his first game at age 24. 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. There were 500 of them. Im very grateful. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Whats he doing on his back? Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA men's . The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. 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. 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. I love officiating because of the challenge. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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. Whats that for? What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Where did it come from? Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. She said: I got the answer to the question. Its deep, and its contagious. Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. It took me a few days, he says. A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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. There was an error submitting your subscription. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. CNN . 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Now he wonders. Its a wonderful place to be. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. 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. All rights reserved. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Do we give an extra hug enough? The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Check this out. 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. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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 . And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Everyones joking with him now. 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. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. 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 appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. 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. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. 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. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. " See Bert Smith? Look at those crossed arms. 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. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal.
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