Moves fast, this guy. He goes to IU Health Methodist. He runs. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Im very grateful. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Check this out. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. It puts me in the zone! She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. 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. Turns out, nope, no concussion. Where did it come from? 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. 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!. Official collapses during NCAA men's tournament game He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. Check this out. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Note: This article is archival in nature. Legal Statement. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. he told the newspaper. It pushes you to be on top of your game. Look at those crossed arms. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Being part of the game is a big reason. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Game official Bert Smith collapsed and was taken off the court on a gurney during the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between the USC Trojans . You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Bert Smith does. Legal Statement. Why cant he catch his breath? Thats 1990. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Might as well walk fast, too. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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!. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Look at his scowl. Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? He works his first game at age 24. Now he wonders. What happened to ref in Gonzaga game? Referee Bert Smith carried on Do we give an extra hug enough? You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. Smith's fall to the ground. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. Smiths pausing. Dr. Look at that picture again. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Referee Bert Smith collapses during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game - FanSided More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Bert Smith told the . If you saw it, you understand. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. She said: I got the answer to the question. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. 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. I get to watch the Masters.. 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. 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Then he becomes a basketball official. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga 's matchup against USC in the NCAA tournament had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis Star reported on Friday. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with Moves fast, this guy. It and she have made me a better person. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses On Court During Elite 8 Game, But That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. 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. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. 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 looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Its deep, and its contagious. 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. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. 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. Look at those crossed arms. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. 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. The scary moment was caught. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. NCAA ref Bert Smith reveals what led to scary fall during men's Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. That is definitely what drives me. Check this out. Smith was taken off the . My Investigation into the WVU/Pitt Officiating - Mountaineer Sports Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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. , 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. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. Players on both teams returned to their benches. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. 2023 www.indystar.com. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. 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. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. 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. 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. Its deep, and its contagious. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KUSA.com He goes to IU Health Methodist. But slow down, OK? Thats his wife of 33 years. 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. 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. 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. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I could be involved with 4-H. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. He said no. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. 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. They strapped me in! The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. If you saw it, you understand. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight.