Something doesnt add up. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. 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. 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.. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. He runs. CNN . By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. It does not store any personal data. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The unnecessary replay of Bert. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . 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. Smiths pausing. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. When a situation occurs that brings the temperature of the game up, you have to control your emotions and read the emotions of the players and coaches to restore calm. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Video: Referee Collapses In Scary Scene During Gonzaga-USC Game Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. Now he wonders. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. Now he wonders. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. Written By. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. 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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. 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. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Something doesnt add up. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. 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. 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. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused fall at NCAA tourney 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. Nobody can say. A pulmonary embolism. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Oh, Ill be back. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. 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. 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. It kept me going.. You could talk to him during a game. All Rights Reserved. Smiths pausing. 56-year-old Smith was officiating the Gonzaga vs. USC matchup on March 30 when he collapsed to the hardwood a few minutes into the game. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. 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. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Referee OK after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. Its deep, and its contagious. She said: I got the answer to the question. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. He agreed. He said he'll be back officiating next season. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. I love officiating because of the challenge. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KARE Being part of the game is a big reason. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Look at his scowl. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Hed been duped. he told the newspaper. Look at his scowl. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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. 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? The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. And they found out. So was Karter. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Do we give an extra hug enough? Its deep, and its contagious. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. 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 . Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Thats his wife of 33 years. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. If you saw it, you understand. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? 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. Everyones joking with him now. Official collapses during NCAA basketball game | The Hill Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KSDK Game official Bert Smith collapsed and was taken off the court on a gurney during the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between the USC Trojans . Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. 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. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Moves fast? Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. We won't send you spam. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Thats 1990. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! 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. 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. I love being part of the game. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. 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. Might as well walk fast, too. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. NCAA Referee has SCARY COLLAPSE! Doctor examines WHY?? When I became old enough to referee, in my opinion, at the ripe age of nine I told my father my intentions and he explained that I was still too young to take an entry-level class. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. College Basketball: NCAA Referees Have Their Own Selection Sunday 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. They were pretty intense, man. Smiths pausing. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. Look at those crossed arms. 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 . You could talk to him during a game. . 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. collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. 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. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? a thrust, a dribble, a power shot No, he said hed walk off under assistance. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. 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 scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. 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. 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. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. 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. If you saw it, you understand. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Refereeing soccer is more than a hobby or a job; it is my passion and it is ingrained in me so deeply that it is a part of me. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. He said the night before the game, while running the stairs in the hotel to see his buddies or get ice, he was a little out of breath. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. Do we give an extra hug enough? Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. 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. 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. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia You could talk to him during a game. 2023 www.indystar.com. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I love officiating because it has a Zen aspect to it: for those two hours, you are completely focused on the task at hand. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Jacquie was waiting at the door. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. She said: I got the answer to the question. NBA Referees Directory | Basketball-Reference.com Something doesnt add up. 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 huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. " 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. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. 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. 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. See Bert Smith? He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Its hard for me to talk about now. , Dr. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses On Court During Elite 8 Game, But Moves fast? Youve probably seen him. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU 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. 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? Turns out, nope, no concussion. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me.