My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. Market data provided by Factset. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! Whats he doing on his back? I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. 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. If they had done that and said, Mr. Whatsthatfor? Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. He goes to IU Health Methodist. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. But slow down, OK? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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 . 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. Video shows Cowboys Prescott taking snaps, moving well, Thamel: Millers firing tells truth about coaching in NCAA, Former Florida State, Giants WR arrested on murder charges, Rapinoe blasts Warriors Green for takes on womens sports, abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game, Smith told the Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel, later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable. Everything was normal. Thats his wife of 33 years. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? They strapped me in! Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. 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. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Why cant he catch his breath? Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . 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. Smiths pausing. 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? By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. 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 . Everyones joking with him now. Everyones joking with him now. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. Thats 1990. 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. Mar 31st, 2021. 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. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. OK, so the night of March 29. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. All rights reserved. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. All rights reserved. The challenges are different for each level of refereeing and the emotional payoffs vary, but the reason for being in the game is the same: Passion for soccer runs through my veins. You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. 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. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 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. Rules knowledge is a component of it. Their goalie tried leaping to his left You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . . Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. 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. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. He said no. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. It kept me going.. 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 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. If you saw it, you understand. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. 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. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 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. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. 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. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Smith's fall to the ground. Bert Smith does. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Active referees are listed in bold. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. I love that we are the only participants who are not allowed to fail. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. 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 . 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. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. 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. 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 . 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. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. By 1993hes 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 Worldand Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. 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. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Bert. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. 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. Smith, a veteran college basketball official of 28 years, lost consciousness five minutes into the game, falling backward in a scary moment captured on the TBS broadcast and banging his head against the hardwood court. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. As you looked toward my approval The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. But slow down, OK? 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 looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. 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. They strapped me in! 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 . I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? He works his first game at age 24. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. 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. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. Dr. Something doesnt add up. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Please try again. 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. 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. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. Trammel had seen the video. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. 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 . Add to that the fact that we actually get paid to exercise, and I cant think of a better way to spend a spring afternoon than on a lacrosse field! Market data provided by Factset. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. 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. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . 6 seed University of Southern California and No. 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. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. 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. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. 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. 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. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 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 huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Smith does remember the play before it, Gonzagas Andrew Nembhard stealing the ball and going the other way, but now the action is coming back toward the USC basket, where Smith had remained hed been unable to run the court as Nembhard finished at the rim and Smith is wondering whats going on. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. That is definitely what drives me. Check this out.. Youve probably seen him. Look at those crossed arms. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. The unnecessary replay of Bert. Might as well walk fast, too. Youve probably seen him. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Moves fast? Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. He said he'll be back officiating next season. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Bert Smith was involved in a controversial ending to a Kansas and Iowa State game that led to the Big 12 Conference punishing Smith for a call that cost the Cyclones a win against the Jayhawks. 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!. Where did it come from? Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. 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. I ran and grabbed his phone, and he checked his phone and within the first hour, he had 250 texts, and a lot of them from fellow referees. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Legal Statement. You could talk to him during a game. Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Thats his wife of 33 years. Everyones joking with him now. 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!. 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. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. He agreed. 2023 www.indystar.com. We won't send you spam. Moves fast? A pulmonary embolism. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might 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. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Hed been duped. 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. See Bert Smith? Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 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. 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. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. 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. 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. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. CNN . Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. Shes an important part of this story.. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Then he becomes a basketball official. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. All Rights Reserved. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. And they found out. ", 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. It goes: You scored, Billy But slow down, OK? 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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.. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Smith does rememberthe play before it:Gonzagas Andrew Nembhard stealing the ball and going the other way, but now the action is coming back toward the USC basket, where Smith had remained hed been unable to run the court as Nembhard finished at the rim and Smith is wondering whats going on. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. 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. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life.
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