Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. Their goalie tried leaping to his left You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. See Bert Smith? But do we say I love you enough? 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!. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying 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 . 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. Look at that picture again. He did not go to the hospital. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. Look at those crossed arms. Check this out. See Bert Smith? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 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 . First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Nobody can say. 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. So was Karter. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Shes an important part of this story.. Thats his wife of 33 years. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. 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. 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. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Smiths pausing. 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. 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. 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? OK, so the night of March 29. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. 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. 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? 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. 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. Everyones joking with him now. Everyones joking with him now. 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. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. 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. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. He has been in contact with his family. 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. A pulmonary embolism. 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. Smiths pausing. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. It puts me in the zone! This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot Written By. Market data provided by Factset. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. " 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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 . OK, so the night of March 29. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 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. Its the best seat in the house. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. 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. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. 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. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. 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. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. But do we say I love you enough? Bert Smith does. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. 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 how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Thats 1990. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. He said no. They insisted more. I continue to coach high school soccer. 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. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Mar 31st, 2021. Why cant he catch his breath? Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. He runs. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Something doesnt add up. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. 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. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Where did it come from? Do we give an extra hug enough? Then he becomes a basketball official. . All rights reserved. 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. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. 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. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Moves fast? Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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. Success! Jacquie was waiting at the door. Thats 1990. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. He rarely uses the elevator. Do we give an extra hug enough? Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. he told the newspaper. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. "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?" You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. 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. 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. 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 . Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. 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. They were pretty intense, man. Why cant he catch his breath? There were no signs in the preceding days of this happening, even when he was running up and down three flights of stairs, with a mask, the day before. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. 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. 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 . Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. Whats he doing on his back? Look at that picture again. Market data provided by Factset. 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. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. 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!. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. 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. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. ", 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. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. If you saw it, you understand. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. The support and love was just overwhelming. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Where did it come from? The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. Referee Bert Smith was taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing to the court during the first half of the NCAA men's tournament Elite Eight matchup between USC and Gonzaga on Tuesday. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. Moves fast? 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 . 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. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. They strapped me in! I love officiating because of the challenge. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Look at that picture again. 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. . 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!. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. 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.. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. . Jacquie was waiting at the door. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Might as well walk fast, too. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Dr. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. Might as well walk fast, too. But slow down, OK? and would not need hospitalization. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. 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. If you saw it, you understand. 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 . CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. Smith's fall to the ground. 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. So was Karter. You could talk to him during a game. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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. 2023 www.indystar.com. We make mistakes but we make them with the honest attempt to be right 100 percent of the time; I like being held to that high standard. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. 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. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. 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. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. You never know whats going to happen. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. 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. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. 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 . He said he'll be back officiating next season. 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. Bert Smith. I love being part of the game. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Bert Smith does. Dr. 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. You could talk to him during a game. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. 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.. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? That says something about that officiating fraternity.. 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? 6 seed USC. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. If they had done that and said, Mr. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. It does not store any personal data. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena.