But slow down, OK? 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. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. that carried high into the net. I love being part of the game. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. " 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. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA men's . Check this out.. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. Smiths pausing. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. 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. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. It goes: You scored, Billy He goes to IU Health Methodist. He rarely uses the elevator. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. 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. 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. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. CNN . The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. Smith told the publication. 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. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. They strapped me in! Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. He agreed. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. He works his first game at age 24. Smiths pausing. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? 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. And they found out. So was Karter. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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 . Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. OK, so the night of March 29. They were pretty intense, man. 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 . For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Thats 1990. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 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. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Players on both teams returned to their benches. Success! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He goes to IU Health Methodist. OK, so the night of March 29. Why I love officiating can be simply put as it has given me the opportunity to work with and be associated with some of the finest individuals that walk the face of this earth. Whatsthatfor? It puts me in the zone! 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Then he becomes a basketball official. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? Youve probably seen him. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. 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. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 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. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. For someone like me who has been in the game for a long time, there is a certain level of expectation on the part of players, coaches and my supervisors. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. And they found out. But do we say I love you 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 . 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. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Jacquie was waiting at the door. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Might as well walk fast, too. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. You could talk to him during a game. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. It does not store any personal data. 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. Bert. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. Devika Pawar. OK, so the night of March 29. He did not go to the hospital. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? "I mean, I was just shocked and scared for him, but I was able to stick my head in there a little bit and see that he was talking and coherent and tried to say a quick prayer for him and just wished him the best. A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. I continue to coach high school soccer. Active referees are listed in bold. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. If you saw it, you understand. 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? There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Then he becomes a basketball official. 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. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. If you saw it, you understand. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? View. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. She said: I got the answer to the question. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. " Nobody can say. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. Rules knowledge is a component of it. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Everything was normal. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. 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. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. He goes to IU Health Methodist. 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 say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Its hard for me to talk about now. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. 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. 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. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Look at his scowl. I love that we are the only participants who are not allowed to fail. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. Being part of the game is a big reason. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. They released him to return to his hotel. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Now he wonders. 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. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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 . March 30 (UPI) --The No. Something doesnt add up. 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. Everyones joking with him now. 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 . Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? It kept me going.. 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. 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 allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. 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. 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. I get to watch the Masters.. 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.. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Whats that for? 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. 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. Now he wonders. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. All Rights Reserved. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Thats 1990. 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. All rights reserved. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Bert Smith does. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. 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 . Check this out. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. he told the newspaper. 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 . We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. 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. Thats 1990. 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. 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. 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. Legal Statement. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. 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. But slow down, OK? Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Then he becomes a basketball official. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Look at those crossed arms. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. See Bert Smith? I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. 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. Soccer has enriched my life ever since that fateful day in 1973 when my brother came home and said he made the high school soccer team. 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 . 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. And they found out. But do we say I love you enough? His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He works his first game at age 24. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. or redistributed. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Moves fast, this guy. 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. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. Hed been duped. 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. I will, he says. It took me a few days, he says. Where did it come from? NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. He was released after two days in the hospital. All rights reserved. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. 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. 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 . 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. The scary moment was caught. You could talk to him during a game. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. It saved his life. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing.