Thats 1990. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . They strapped me in! Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. 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.. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. " 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. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. 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. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. He goes to IU Health Methodist. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Smiths pausing. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 6 seed USC. 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. OK, so the night of March 29. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. 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. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. He works his first game at age 24. See Bert Smith? Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Look at his scowl. Bert Smith does. 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. 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. 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 gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Smith told the publication. 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. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. They were pretty intense, man. ", 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. Youve probably seen him. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. Where did it come from? I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. 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. Moves fast? Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. 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 Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. 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. I love the challenge of being in complete control of your emotions, maintaining the calmness and the challenge to make a split-second decision in front of 60,000-100,000 screaming fans and knowing you have six crewmates that have your back in the heat of the battle. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. He has been in contact with his family. The support and love was just overwhelming. Moves fast, this guy. Check this out.. 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. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. 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.. I'm committed to it year round. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. But do we say I love you enough? Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. He works his first game at age 24. You never know whats going to happen. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. 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? It puts me in the zone! I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. Legal Statement. 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. Its a wonderful place to be. NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. . [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. They strapped me in! When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". Why cant he catch his breath? Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Whats he doing on his back? 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. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? 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 . Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. 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. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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. Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. If you saw it, you understand. 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. Why cant he catch his breath? 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!. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? 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!. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil . You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. Shes an important part of this story.. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. He runs. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. Look at those crossed arms. Hospitalized with a blood clot. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. She said: I got the answer to the question. It goes: You scored, Billy He was released after two days in the hospital. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. 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? No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. Then he becomes a basketball official. 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. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. All rights reserved. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Youve probably seen him. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. That is definitely what drives me. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. 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. Smith was taken off the . Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Why cant he catch his breath? He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. 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. 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 . Whats he doing on his back? What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga 's matchup against USC in the NCAA tournament had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis Star reported on Friday. It does not store any personal data. CNN . 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? He rarely uses the elevator. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. 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. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. 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 . Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. 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. Whats that for? View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. But do we say I love you enough? 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. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Something doesnt add up. Their goalie tried leaping to his left 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 . 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . or redistributed. Might as well walk fast, too. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. So was Karter. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. 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. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. 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. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. He works his first game at age 24. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. . There was an error submitting your subscription. Check this out. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Michael Conroy/AP. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Mar 31st, 2021. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Now he wonders. 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. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. 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. but never had a chance. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. 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. 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 . Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. 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. Whats he doing on his back? Dr. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. Given time that night on March 30, those around SmithNCAA doctors, his wife and colleaguesthought it best if he at least visited IU Methodist Hotel in Indianapolis to check his head and spine. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. There were 500 of them. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. you knew we kicked it in together. Its hard for me to talk about now. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. Check this out. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. 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. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. Jacquie was waiting at the door. 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. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Nobody can say. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. Might as well walk fast, too. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And they found out. That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Jacquie was waiting at the door. I lost it, too. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me..
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