See Bert Smith? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Where did it come from? "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. Andy Lyons/Getty NCAA Reveals Budget for Men's Basketball Tournament Is Almost Twice as Much the Women's Reporters Ross Dellenger and Jeff Borzello later tweeted that, according. 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. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. It took me a few days, he says. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. "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. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - WCNC-TV 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. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. They poured into Smiths phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC in a mens Elite Eight game on March 30. 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. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. March Madness: NCAA Ref Collapses During Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Game 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. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. They released him to return to his hotel. Bert. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. he told the newspaper. 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. And they found out. 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. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. I do it because I love the ballgame. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. All Rights Reserved. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. He works his first game at age 24. 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. I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. If you saw it, you understand. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Do we give an extra hug enough? [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. WATCH: 'Scary scenes' as basketball referee collapses midway - RT Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. 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. Official collapses during NCAA tournament, wheeled off court on He works his first game at age 24. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. She said: I got the answer to the question. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. You could talk to him during a game. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. NCAA Ref Bert Smith Says Blood Clot in Lung Caused Collapse at - TMZ Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. 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. Smith was taken off the . 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. 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. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW 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. Moves fast? 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 . 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. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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. 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.. . Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. I lost it, too. 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. 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. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. So was Karter. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Whats that for? collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. Nobody can say. I'm committed to it year round. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. 2023 www.indystar.com. Its deep, and its contagious. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. So was Karter. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Now he wonders. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. 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. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. All rights reserved. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Im ready to get after it, he says. Bert Smith. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. The confidence I feel on the field has spilled over into almost every aspect of my life, and it has propelled me to believe that any dream is within my grasp. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. or redistributed. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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!. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. 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. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. 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. Something doesnt add up. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. 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. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I get to watch the Masters.. 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! 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. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Thats 1990. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Turns out, it was something worse. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses On Court During Elite 8 Game, But Thats his wife of 33 years. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided Shes an important part of this story.. 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. It pushes you to be on top of your game. Its deep, and its contagious. Moves fast, this guy. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. 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. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. 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. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Nobody can say. 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. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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.. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. Everything was normal. 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. 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. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. I will, he says. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Shes an important part of this story.. NCAA Tournament fall didn't kill referee Bert Smith. It saved his life. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows.