Hospitalized with a blood clot. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. 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. It does not store any personal data. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. He rarely uses the elevator. Where did it come from? 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. 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. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. he told the newspaper. He goes to IU Health Methodist. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. NCAA ref Bert Smith reveals what led to scary fall during men's The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. He goes to IU Health Methodist. You could talk to him during a game. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? I'm committed to it year round. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. 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. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. 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. 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. 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 know his wife is going to be going bananas. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Whatsthatfor? Whats he doing on his back? Bert Smith does. Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images When I became old enough to referee, in my opinion, at the ripe age of nine I told my father my intentions and he explained that I was still too young to take an entry-level class. I get to watch the Masters.. 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 . Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. 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. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 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. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. It and she have made me a better person. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Might as well walk fast, too. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. He runs. Why cant he catch his breath? There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. 2023 www.indystar.com. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Might as well walk fast, too. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. 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. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. 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. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Turns out, nope, no concussion. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Look at his scowl. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube . 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. 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 . When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is The article is made available for educational use by individuals. 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. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Smith's fall to the ground. 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. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. 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. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. 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. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . 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. " 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. Market data provided by Factset. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. That is definitely what drives me. It took me a few days, he says. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Whats he doing on his back? 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. Youve probably seen him. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. College Basketball: NCAA Referees Have Their Own Selection Sunday I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Thats 1990. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. 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? 10,797 Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO basketball referee 10,797 Ncaa Referee Premium High Res Photos Browse 10,797 ncaa referee stock photos and images available, or search for basketball referee to find more great stock photos and pictures. Then he becomes a basketball official. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. I lost it, too. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. So was Karter. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She said: I got the answer to the question. Where did it come from? Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. As you looked toward my approval Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St He said no. Thats his wife of 33 years. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. 1 overall seed Gonzaga Bulldogs remained undefeated and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with a dominant 85-66 win over USC on Tuesday . 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. Whats that for? 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports So was Karter. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. 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. Nobody can say. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They insisted more. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. NCAA Tournament referee Bert Smith collapse during game saved his life Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. She said: I got the answer to the question. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. He works his first game at age 24. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Look at those crossed arms. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Then he becomes a basketball official. Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during Smiths pausing. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. "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?" Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. NCAA Tournament fall didn't kill referee Bert Smith. It saved his life. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KARE 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. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. I ran and grabbed his phone, and he checked his phone and within the first hour, he had 250 texts, and a lot of them from fellow referees. 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.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Legal Statement. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". You meet just about every type of person there is that exists and you have to learn to deal with all of them in a manner that shows that you deserve to be called an official. You meet cheaters, schemers, geniuses and idiots. Just 4 minutes after tipoff in the Elite Eight matchup, Bert Smith crashed to the floor in a terrifying scene -- triggering team trainers and other medical personnel to race to his aid. It saved his life. Everyones joking with him now. 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. Smith, who'ddriven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic-10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Kentucky, by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. You could talk to him during a game. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. He has been in contact with his family. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. March Madness roundup: Gonzaga, UCLA advance to Final Four 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? Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. If they had done that and said, Mr. 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. 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. 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!. If you saw it, you understand. It pushes you to be on top of your game. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game.