Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? 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. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. "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?" He runs. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . They insisted more. Everything was normal. He has been in contact with his family. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. Everyones joking with him now. 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. I get to watch the Masters.. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. 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 scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. He agreed. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. 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. 2023 www.indystar.com. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back in, and took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Dr. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. 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. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 2023 ABG-SI LLC. View. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. The scary scene unfolded with 15:44 to play in the. You could talk to him during a game. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. 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 he becomes a basketball official. Later, doctors discovered the reason. So was Karter. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. 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 felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. If you saw it, you understand. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". Smith was taken off the . I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Look at his scowl. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I will, he says. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. By age 11, I was organizing all the neighborhood kids in pick up games and by age 14, I got certified to referee and started coaching. He said he'll be back officiating next season. Something doesnt add up. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". that carried high into the net. Moves fast, this guy. Moves fast? It is my release. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. 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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Legal Statement. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. He did not go to the hospital. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. But do we say I love you enough? INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. It pushes you to be on top of your game. She said: I got the answer to the question. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. So was Karter. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. Its deep, and its contagious. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. 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. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. OK, so the night of March 29. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Bert Smith does. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. 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. A pulmonary embolism. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. They strapped me in! Shes an important part of this story.. Youve probably seen him. Nobody can say. I love officiating because of the challenge. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. 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. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. And they found out. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. 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. 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. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. 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 saved his life. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Where did it come from? Whats that for? Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. Might as well walk fast, too. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. 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. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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? After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. 1 . You could talk to him during a game. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. 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. Jacquie was waiting at the door. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Everyones joking with him now. Thats his wife of 33 years. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Bert Smith does. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. All Rights Reserved. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. Check this out. Oh, Ill be back. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. 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. Players on both teams returned to their benches. Thats 1990. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 . Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. Its a wonderful place to be. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. If you saw it, you understand. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. All rights reserved. But do we say I love you enough? She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. 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. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. 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. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Smith, have a good night, I thought they had done a good job, he says, but because she wanted to know why I fell, we got the answer. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Success! More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. 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. Bert Smith. The support and love was just overwhelming. Turns out, it was something worse. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Smiths pausing. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. 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 (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Check this out. It kept me going.. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Why cant he catch his breath? Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. Look at those crossed arms. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second.