The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. He rarely uses the elevator. Its deep, and its contagious. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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.. All rights reserved. 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. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. They strapped me in! A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. 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. It is my release. Market data provided by Factset. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Im ready to get after it, he says. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. He rarely uses the elevator. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. 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 Bert Smith is laughing again. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. Moves fast? She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Oh, Ill be back. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Im letting the paint dry.. 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. Everything was normal. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Smith, have a good night, I thought they had done a good job, he says, but because she wanted to know why I fell, we got the answer. 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. Look at that picture again. . He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Thats his wife of 33 years. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. NCAA ref Bert Smith reveals what led to scary fall during men's Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. 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 . Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. Bert Smith. I'm committed to it year round. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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 . By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. College Basketball: NCAA Referees Have Their Own Selection Sunday Its the best seat in the house. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. You could talk to him during a game. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Look at those crossed arms. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 6 seed USC. Then he becomes a basketball official. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. NCAA ref Bert Smith stretchered out after collapse in Elite Eight - Yahoo! Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU Thats his wife of 33 years. Why cant he catch his breath? It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Thats 1990. The reasons for our joy when we step on the field, court or ice are vast and every reason is forged in the fire of our individual experiences. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. But slow down, OK? Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? He agreed. Hospitalized with a blood clot. Do we give an extra hug enough? Moves fast? by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. 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. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Then he becomes a basketball official. 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. 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 . There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. He works his first game at age 24. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. We won't send you spam. Nobody can say. 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. 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 . The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Having to make those decisions in a split second is a challenge I enjoy. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. The support and love was just overwhelming. 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. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Dr. 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. Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during Smiths pausing. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. 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. 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. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. My Investigation into the WVU/Pitt Officiating - Mountaineer Sports 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. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. They strapped me in! The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. He has been in contact with his family. NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. 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. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. 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. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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 . Shes an important part of this story.. " That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Might as well walk fast, too. 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. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. It puts me in the zone! Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Smith's fall to the ground. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. He works his first game at age 24. Official collapses during NCAA basketball game | The Hill you knew we kicked it in together. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game 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. March Madness referee Bert Smith collapses during USC-Gonzaga Everyones joking with him now. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. You could talk to him during a game. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Do we give an extra hug enough? For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused fall at NCAA tourney Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Devika Pawar. Check this out. 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. They were pretty intense, man. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. OK, so the night of March 29. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash - Yahoo! Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. 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. If they had done that and said, Mr. Whats that for? I could be involved with 4-H. 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 could talk to him during a game. March Madness: Bert Smith diagnosed with - New York Post NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Hed been duped. 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. Whats he doing on his back? Veteran official Bert Smith hit his head on the baseline and laid face up for about five minutes before being stretchered off with 15:44 remaining in the first half of the 2021 March Madness. They strapped me in! Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. I do it because I love the ballgame. 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 . Smiths pausing. NCAA Officials Share Fitness Regimens - Referee.com This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. All rights reserved. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. *. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Referee Bert Smith was taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing to the court during the first half of the NCAA men's tournament Elite Eight matchup between USC and Gonzaga on Tuesday. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. NCAA Tournament referee Bert Smith collapse during game saved his life Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. But do we say I love you enough? Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. He runs. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. So was Karter. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . Referee OK after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. Whatsthatfor? 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. 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!. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. 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 . 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 . There were 500 of them. Bert Smith does. 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. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. Moves fast, this guy. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. OK, so the night of March 29. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 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. 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. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. WATCH: 'Scary scenes' as basketball referee collapses midway - RT And they found out. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Smith told the publication. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Turns out, it was something worse. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Over the years Ive been blessed with so many highlights but have found a simple phrase that sums it all up: Special Soccer Moments, derived from the poem June Goal, written by my Dad in 1976. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. Does Video Show Athletes Fainting Due to COVID-19 Vaccine? Its a good week to be getting sympathy from the wife, he says, chuckling.