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. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. OK, so the night of March 29. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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. And they found out. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. For someone like me who has been in the game for a long time, there is a certain level of expectation on the part of players, coaches and my supervisors. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. They strapped me in! 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. He runs. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. And they found out. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. 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. I continue to coach high school soccer. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. 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. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Oh, Ill be back. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. 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. . My feelings about my whistle are still the same. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. 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. I love officiating because of the rush of excitement I get every time a player rises over another for a nothing-but-net three-pointer or from two kids diving after a loose ball like its a $1 million bill. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. " 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. It and she have made me a better person. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. Look at those crossed arms. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. 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. If you saw it, you understand. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. The unnecessary replay of Bert. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. Nobody can say. Thats his wife of 33 years. that carried high into the net. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. I could be involved with 4-H. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. 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. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. And they found out. March 30 (UPI) --The 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 . Being part of the game is a big reason. Then he becomes a basketball official. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. Might as well walk fast, too. 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. 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 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. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! That was one of the few times I remember getting in trouble with my father for kicking his car door as hard as my little legs could out of anger. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. 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. Bert Smith. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. I love officiating because of the challenge. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Ref alert after collapsing during Gonzaga-USC, Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato. 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. 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. CNN . 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. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. 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. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. 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. Mar 31st, 2021. 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. 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 literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Moves fast, this guy. But do we say I love you enough? 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. 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. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. . I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . 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, this guy. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Check this out. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. I get to watch the Masters.. 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. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. "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?" When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. There were 500 of them. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He agreed. I love that we are the only participants who are not allowed to fail. Bert Smith does. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. Legal Statement. He rarely uses the elevator. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Why cant he catch his breath? Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. All rights reserved. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. They strapped me in! Moves fast, this guy. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. A pulmonary embolism. 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. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. 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. Check this out. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. "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?" My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Active referees are listed in bold. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. 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. 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. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. They released him to return to his hotel. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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. Smith told the publication. Look at his scowl. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. 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. Whats that for? The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. Its deep, and its contagious. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. If they had done that and said, Mr. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. " I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Look at his scowl. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Bert Smith . 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!. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials.
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