The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Youve probably seen him. Everyones joking with him now. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. 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. Why cant he catch his breath? But do we say I love you enough? Whats that for? People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Moves fast, this guy. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. He works his first game at age 24. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. 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. See Bert Smith? The scary moment was caught. Bert Smith does. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . For now, hes at his home in Florence, Ky., just outside of Cincinnati, relaxing and watching the Masters golf tournament while medicating an ailment that, if not caught after that fall, could have eventually been much worse. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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 . 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. It puts me in the zone! By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. 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. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? "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?" Might as well walk fast, too. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Moves fast, this guy. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. 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. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. Jacquie was waiting at the door. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. They were pretty intense, man. Look at that picture again. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. He said he'll be back officiating next season. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. It does not store any personal data. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. 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 flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Everyones joking with him now. 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. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. Thats 1990. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. 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. Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 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. All rights reserved. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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. Rules knowledge is a component of it. I get to watch the Masters.. 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. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. 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. 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. Thats his wife of 33 years. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back inand took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. Smith was taken off the . I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. As you looked toward my approval I could be involved with 4-H. You could talk to him during a game. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Something doesnt add up. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; INDIANAPOLIS -- A referee collapsed early in the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC . Written By. 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. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? Now he wonders. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Being part of the game is a big reason. 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. But do we say I love you enough? After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. Whatsthatfor? Bert Smith told the . As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Turns out, it was something worse. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Why cant he catch his breath? If you saw it, you understand. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. He works his first game at age 24. 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. You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. I'm committed to it year round. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. Moves fast? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. 6 seed USC. You never know whats going to happen. The support and love was just overwhelming. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. 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. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Look at that picture again. 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. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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 was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Look at his scowl. Then he becomes a basketball official. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs.
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