2021 ACC men's basketball tournament - Wikipedia It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. Check this out. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. the college basketball official who passed out during themen's NCAA Tournamentregional final between Gonzaga and Southern California, Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. 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 . After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. 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. 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 . Thats his wife of 33 years. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KVUE I get to watch the Masters.. They strapped me in! Its deep, and its contagious. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. He works his first game at age 24. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Check this out. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KSDK The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. But do we say I love you enough? 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. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? 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. 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!. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. 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. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. Thats 1990. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. 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. If you saw it, you understand. Moves fast, this guy. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Moves fast? Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with Smiths pausing. Turns out, nope, no concussion. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 56-year-old Smith was officiating the Gonzaga vs. USC matchup on March 30 when he collapsed to the hardwood a few minutes into the game. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . Might as well walk fast, too. 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. , The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Look at those crossed arms. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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 . You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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 appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. 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. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. Scary video shows the ref falling backwards and hitting his head on the hardwood floor just four minutes into the March Madness game as other officials pause the match and run to his aid. The scary moment was caught. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". 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. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. My Investigation into the WVU/Pitt Officiating - Mountaineer Sports I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Check this out.. Where did it come from? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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.. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Youve probably seen him. *. 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. He rarely uses the elevator. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. 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 . I do it because I love the ballgame. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. 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. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Then he becomes a basketball official. But do we say I love you enough? Im very grateful. Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive Smith was taken off the . I love officiating because of the challenge. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. All rights reserved. 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. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Legal Statement. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Look at that picture again. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. 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. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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 . Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Update provided on status of referee Bert Smith following collapse Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Referee OK after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Look at his scowl. It is my release. 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. If they had done that and said, Mr. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. and would not need hospitalization. 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. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. 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. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. 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. Todays game is so fast and the players have such a high skill set that its very important to be in the best possible position to judge a play and make a call. Bert Smith told the . 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. But slow down, OK? They strapped me in! Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Bert Smith . . If you saw it, you understand. Whats that for? My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. 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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. 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. 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. NCAA Tournament fall didn't kill referee Bert Smith. It saved his life. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Mar 31st, 2021. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. They were pretty intense, man. See Bert Smith?