He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. She said: I got the answer to the question. . According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Then he becomes a basketball official. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. 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? Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? But slow down, OK? Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. It puts me in the zone! Why I love officiating can be simply put as it has given me the opportunity to work with and be associated with some of the finest individuals that walk the face of this earth. 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. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Moves fast, this guy. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Whatsthatfor? 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Michael Conroy/AP. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Moves fast, this guy. Thats his wife of 33 years. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Now Bert Smith is laughing again. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. NCAA Referee has SCARY COLLAPSE! Doctor examines WHY?? Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. He works his first game at age 24. 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. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KVUE Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Smith was taken off the . What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Active referees are listed in bold. Shes an important part of this story.. 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 . 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. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive Smiths pausing. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. 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 . When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. He has been in contact with his family. Youve probably seen him. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Whats that for? Referee alert after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga - ESPN.com INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Something doesnt add up. 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. . You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. Bert. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. It goes: You scored, Billy Check this out.. Why cant he catch his breath? Everyones joking with him now. 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. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. They released him to return to his hotel. Look at his scowl. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Bert Smith: Blood clot caused NCAA tournament ref collapse - Sports I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. They were pretty intense, man. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. He said the night before the game, while running the stairs in the hotel to see his buddies or get ice, he was a little out of breath. 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. Moves fast? NCAA Ref Bert Smith Says Blood Clot in Lung Caused Collapse at - TMZ Being able to participate and watch these young men and women playing the game because they have that desire to play is a joy to me that you cannot experience through a TV or on the sidelines. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. . These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KHOU you knew we kicked it in together. 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. Everyones joking with him now. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. My Investigation into the WVU/Pitt Officiating - Mountaineer Sports If you saw it, you understand. 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. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, Amid cancer fight, NBA ref Tony Brown returning to work, Recruiting & Retention: What WorkedWhat Didnt, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series, High School Volleyball Officials Quiz 2023. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. he told the newspaper. As a note, the first four are crew chiefs in any list. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. It and she have made me a better person. Video: Referee Collapses In Scary Scene During Gonzaga-USC Game No, he said hed walk off under assistance. "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?" Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. Moves fast? So was Karter. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. But do we say I love you enough? , Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KUSA.com Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Market data provided by Factset. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. All rights reserved. Its hard for me to talk about now. They were pretty intense, man. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Thats 1990. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. Smith's fall to the ground. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. 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. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Something doesnt add up. 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. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? Referee Bert Smith in Stable Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga I love that we are the only participants who are not allowed to fail. After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Legal Statement. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Oh, Ill be back. Look at those crossed arms. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Look at that picture again. 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. CNN . Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. I am also in my first year as the coordinator of officials for the NE-10 Conference, the largest Division II conference in the country. 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 whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. If they had done that and said, Mr. 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. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Youre going to get on one side, hes going to get on the other, were going to wave to the fans, and Im walking out of here.. That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. Everyones joking with him now. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Written By. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. He runs. 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. but never had a chance. The support and love was just overwhelming. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Its deep, and its contagious. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. 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. It took me a few days, he says. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. If you saw it, you understand. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Trammel had seen the video. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. 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. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with He said he'll be back officiating next season. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. And they found out. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. Nobody can say. 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. NCAA Officials Share Fitness Regimens - Referee.com 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. I love being part of the game. 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. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused fall at NCAA tourney 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's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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!. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. I love officiating because of the challenge. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. 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. Bert Smith does. They strapped me in! Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo! 6 seed USC. March Madness referee Bert Smith collapses during USC-Gonzaga However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Bert Smith . He rarely uses the elevator. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? NCAA Elite Eight match halted as referee Bert Smith collapses The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. The 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. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KSDK I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. 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. 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 get to watch the Masters.. See Bert Smith? Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. ", 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. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. March 30 (UPI) --The No. There were 500 of them. 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. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. 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. By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. Something doesnt add up. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Success! 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Where did it come from? Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. You could talk to him during a game. Update provided on status of referee Bert Smith following collapse 6 seed USC last month in the men's NCAA tournament. As you looked toward my approval You cant get any closer to the ballgame. Dr. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. Thats 1990. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. 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 arrival at the arena, the pregame, being with various partners, the competition, the players, coaches, ambience, the focus and concentration needed on each possession.