It is my release. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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. NBA Referees Directory | Basketball-Reference.com He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. 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. If they had done that and said, Mr. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Check this out. There was an error submitting your subscription. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. Im very grateful. 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 . He goes to IU Health Methodist. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. 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. Look at his scowl. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused his fall at NCAA men He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Todays game is so fast and the players have such a high skill set that its very important to be in the best possible position to judge a play and make a call. They insisted more. Youve probably seen him. Check this out. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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. She said: I got the answer to the question. Smith was taken off the . Oh, Ill be back. Check this out.. To me, he offers an aside: Hes taking advantage of a guy in a weakened position., The doc says, Swing your legs around. I swing my legs around, and they go: Click-click-click-click. 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. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. You could talk to him during a game. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Bert Smith . NCAA ref Bert Smith stretchered out after collapse in Elite Eight - Yahoo! Smith, who'ddriven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Ky., by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. Why cant he catch his breath? Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused his fall at NCAA men Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. He runs. 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. Later, doctors discovered the reason. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Whatsthatfor? No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. All rights reserved. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. 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. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. What happened to ref in Gonzaga game? Referee Bert Smith carried on As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. It puts me in the zone! Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. 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. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Look at those crossed arms. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Video: Referee Collapses In Scary Scene During Gonzaga-USC Game Thats his wife of 33 years. 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. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. We make mistakes but we make them with the honest attempt to be right 100 percent of the time; I like being held to that high standard. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. 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. They strapped me in! The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. 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 . Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. 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 was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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! 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. 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. See Bert Smith? Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. My dad always said, You do not always win, but you can always be a good sport and, You should conduct yourself on the court, the way you would conduct yourself in life. In addition, I have two brothers and a sister who were also officials we were known as the Aldrich Hoop Family.. Look at his scowl. 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. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. 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. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . 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. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Whats he doing on his back? Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. We won't send you spam. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? 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. 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 . 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. Shes an important part of this story.. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. If you saw it, you understand. They were pretty intense, man. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. and would not need hospitalization. "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?" 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. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. It took me a few days, he says. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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 on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. To me, he offers an aside: Hes taking advantage of a guy in a weakened position., The doc says, Swing your legs around. I swing my legs around, and they go: Click-click-click-click. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Why cant he catch his breath? "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?" 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. 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. 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. Jacquie was waiting at the door. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Everyones joking with him now. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 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. 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. Look at those crossed arms. , What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Smiths pausing. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? 200+ "Bert Smith" profiles | LinkedIn WATCH: 'Scary scenes' as basketball referee collapses midway - RT Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. 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. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. They strapped me in! NCAA ref Bert Smith (Buffalo) said to be doing well after collapse - WGRZ 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. Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling. Smiths pausing. Smith, whod driven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Ky., by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. The scary moment was caught. 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. 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 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. 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. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. There is no other avocation that I can think of that requires the level of physical and mental preparation that officiating mandates, and you have to dedicate yourself in order to be successful. 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. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Something doesnt add up. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. Something doesnt add up. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Official collapses during NCAA basketball game | The Hill 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? I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. 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 . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. Moves fast? Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. I continue to coach high school soccer. or redistributed. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Shes an important part of this story.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. Nobody can say. 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. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Check this out. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Then he becomes a basketball official. Thats 1990. 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. Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game And they found out. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. I get to watch the Masters.. Where did it come from? My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. 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 .

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