I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Shes an important part of this story.. Whats he doing on his back? Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. March 30 (UPI) --The No. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? 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. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. 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. 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. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. I hear (other officials) say, I do it for the kids. Im not disagreeing with them when they say that and I enjoy being around the kids too, but theres a hundred other things I could do if I was doing it for the kids. Now he wonders. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Then he becomes a basketball official. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. It took me a few days, he says. 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 . So was Karter. Then he becomes a basketball official. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. or redistributed. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. 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. He rarely uses the elevator. 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.. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. But do we say I love you enough? Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. 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. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. I love being part of the game. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Smith, who'ddriven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic-10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Kentucky, by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. Moves fast, this guy. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. . by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. . Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Dr. And they found out. The support and love was just overwhelming. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Do we give an extra hug enough? You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. 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 reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Might as well walk fast, too. Bert Smith. 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.. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. 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. Medical personnel take care of a NCAA referee after he fell on the court during the first half during the game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the USC Trojans in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA . Now he wonders. Everyones joking with him now. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. 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. 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. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. 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. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. 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. 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. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. He goes to IU Health Methodist. They strapped me in! No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. 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. Thats 1990. Might as well walk fast, too. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? And they found out. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. 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. 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. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 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. I could be involved with 4-H. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Its deep, and its contagious. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. He goes to IU Health Methodist. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. 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. Whats he doing on his back? 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. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Bert Smith told the . The unnecessary replay of Bert. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Jacquie was waiting at the door. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. That is definitely what drives me. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a 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 . 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Look at that picture again. " So when I went off to college I had to work and was asked what I might enjoy doing, I said, Sports. I was hired on the intramural staff and was paid $3 an hour to officiate co-ed flag football, womens basketball and co-ed softball. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Shes an important part of this story.. All rights reserved. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. 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. 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. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Turns out, nope, no concussion. He has been in contact with his family. 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. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Players on both teams returned to their benches. ", 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. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. but never had a chance. 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. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. 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. 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. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. 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 . Thats his wife of 33 years. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. If you saw it, you understand. Im very grateful. Where did it come from? He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Look at those crossed arms. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Just 4 minutes after tipoff in the Elite Eight matchup, Bert Smith crashed to the floor in a terrifying scene -- triggering team trainers and other medical personnel to race to his aid. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. So was Karter. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 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. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. 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. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St 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. 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. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. that carried high into the net. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Something doesnt add up. Why cant he catch his breath? 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. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Whatsthatfor? Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Why cant he catch his breath? In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Please try again. 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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, 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. Look at that picture again. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. CNN . He said he'll be back officiating next season. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. They strapped me in! Smith's fall to the ground. I get to watch the Masters.. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! *. "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?" I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back inand took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Unfortunately we miss plays every night, but the challenge of trying to be perfect and get every play right is why I love it so much. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. 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 . Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? a thrust, a dribble, a power shot This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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
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