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. " 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. " Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. 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. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Bert Smith told the . 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? 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 . NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. So was Karter. All rights reserved. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 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. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Why cant he catch his breath? Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. But slow down, OK? 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. 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. Shes an important part of this story.. Jacquie was waiting at the door. 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 . 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. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. All rights reserved. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Why cant he catch his breath? Market data provided by Factset. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. 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. collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. 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. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. They strapped me in! 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. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. Legal Statement. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. If you saw it, you understand. After the game, Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he had walked over to Smith to offer his support as Smith was being placed on the stretcher. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Look at that picture again. Smith's fall to the ground. I do it because I love the ballgame. It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. 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. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. See Bert Smith? 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!. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. They released him to return to his hotel. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Active referees are listed in bold. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Hospitalized with a blood clot. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. 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 . If you saw it, you understand. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Michael Conroy/AP. 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. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. 2023 www.indystar.com. 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.. Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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.. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. Even though at this point in my career I have the experience and acceptance, there is still that constant challenge from one game to the next because you never know what is going to happen every time you step on the ice. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. I love officiating because of the challenge. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. It puts me in the zone! He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. He works his first game at age 24. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St *. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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 . He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Hed been duped. 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. Its deep, and its contagious. 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 . 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. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. 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 . What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Players on both teams returned to their benches. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. or redistributed. 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 . There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. 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!. And they found out. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. Shes an important part of this story.. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. 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 always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. I continue to coach high school soccer. 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. All rights reserved. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. I could be involved with 4-H. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt , He said he told the doctor at the time, "You little SOB, you tricked me!. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. Do we give an extra hug enough? Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Note: This article is archival in nature. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. So was Karter. He runs. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. Thats 1990. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. Smith told the publication. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. But do we say I love you enough? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Even after coaches/fans express their disappointment in my calls, I still have the eyes and hearts of the players on the field looking to me for leadership and how to show good character and convictions. 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. Im very grateful. 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. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. They strapped me in! ", NCAA tourney ref who collapsed had blood clot, From bubble struggles to NCAA seed improvement, why these final weekend games matter, Davis 3 shy of Maravich; Detroit eyes CBI bid, Son: Maravich would be 'cheering on' Davis, Vandy's Robbins out rest of season with leg injury, Sources: High Point fires Smith after one season, Davis out as Bucknell coach after 12-20 season, Grill discloses mental illness after Iowa St. exit, No. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Moves fast? First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness 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. NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. The scary moment was caught. I love being part of the game. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Devika Pawar. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. When a situation occurs that brings the temperature of the game up, you have to control your emotions and read the emotions of the players and coaches to restore calm. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. That says something about that officiating fraternity..