Shes an important part of this story.. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. ", 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. 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. Being part of the game is a big reason. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. Everyones joking with him now. or redistributed. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. He agreed. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Check this out. 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! Look at his scowl. Do we give an extra hug enough? I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. 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. 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. 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. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. He goes to IU Health Methodist. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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 . I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Do we give an extra hug enough? After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. 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. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. 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. So was Karter. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. 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. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Where did it come from? It saved his life. 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. 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. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Bert. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". 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!. 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. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. 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 . Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. He did not go to the hospital. Bert Smith told the . He said he'll be back officiating next season. 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. 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Why cant he catch his breath? 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 continue to coach high school soccer. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. He has been in contact with his family. 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. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. "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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. It puts me in the zone! Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. They released him to return to his hotel. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. Now he wonders. Jacquie was waiting at the door. 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. 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 . I know his wife is going to be going bananas. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. 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. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. 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 . Something doesnt add up. He goes to IU Health Methodist. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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 . He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. " He goes to IU Health Methodist. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Where did it come from? 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. 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. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Moves fast, this guy. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? So was Karter. There was an error submitting your subscription. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. 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. Moves fast? After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. I do it because I love the ballgame. He runs. But slow down, OK? 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. I came off the field and I was so pumped up. I lost it, too. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Whats he doing on his back? The scary moment was caught. Look at those crossed arms. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. All rights reserved. Check this out. 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. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Michael Conroy/AP. Everyones joking with him now. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. All rights reserved. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. you knew we kicked it in together. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. 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. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. But slow down, OK? He told the Star he's happy it happened during the Elite Eight when he could get the right help he needed rather than during an instance when he was driving or sleeping. 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? You could talk to him during a game. 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. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge.
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