Look at that picture again. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. We make mistakes but we make them with the honest attempt to be right 100 percent of the time; I like being held to that high standard. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. Everyones joking with him now. Who will win each 2023 conference tournament? Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Smiths pausing. 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. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. 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. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. 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. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Look at his scowl. Moves fast, this guy. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. 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 . Shes an important part of this story.. 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. 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? Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . Everything was normal. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. Something doesnt add up. Its deep, and its contagious. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. A pulmonary embolism. 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. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. Your heart begins to race, the adrenaline begins to run rampant throughout your body, the excitement takes over as you look around the stadium; you take a couple of deep breaths and then everything becomes so clear. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". Something doesnt add up. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Why cant he catch his breath? 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. 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. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. You meet just about every type of person there is that exists and you have to learn to deal with all of them in a manner that shows that you deserve to be called an official. You meet cheaters, schemers, geniuses and idiots. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. He did not go to the hospital. There were 500 of them. " Bert is alert and stable and will not be transported to a hospital. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Then he becomes a basketball official. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. 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. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 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. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. It saved his life. 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? 6 seed USC. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. 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. If they had done that and said, Mr. " 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Do we give an extra hug enough? Mar 31st, 2021. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. 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. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dr. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Legal Statement. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. 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. 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. Something doesnt add up. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. There were no signs in the preceding days of this happening, even when he was running up and down three flights of stairs, with a mask, the day before. March 30 (UPI) --The No. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. 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 came off the field and I was so pumped up. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. There is no other avocation that I can think of that requires the level of physical and mental preparation that officiating mandates, and you have to dedicate yourself in order to be successful. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. Legal Statement. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. It and she have made me a better person. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. See Bert Smith? Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Its the best seat in the house. Jacquie was waiting at the door. I get to watch the Masters.. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. I could be involved with 4-H. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. Smith, who'ddriven a rental car into town after working the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, was driven to his home in Florence, Ky., by Eric Lowe, a Central Indiana-based referee. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. Written By. The support and love was just overwhelming. 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. Smith's fall to the ground. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. 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 . 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.. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. Bert. Bert Smith does. The scary moment was caught. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Its hard for me to talk about now. 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 . By 1993hes an NCAA Division I official. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. 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. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. 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 have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. It puts me in the zone! 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. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Market data provided by Factset. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. Might as well walk fast, too. 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. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. 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. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. By age 11, I was organizing all the neighborhood kids in pick up games and by age 14, I got certified to referee and started coaching. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. But slow down, OK? 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. 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. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. 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. but never had a chance. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. Players on both teams returned to their benches. Then he becomes a basketball official. 1 . Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. 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. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. It has put me in the middle of so many exciting situations where my skills and knowledge have been tested and given me and my crewmates the afterglow of satisfaction when you know you nailed it in a championship atmosphere. Bert Smith, the NCAA official who fainted during an Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC last week, said Friday he collapsed over a blood clot in his lung. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. He goes to IU Health Methodist. 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. Nobody can say. 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. There was an error submitting your subscription. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? 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. There is no better feeling then walking back into the locker room with your partners and knowing that we worked together as a team and that we gave everything we had for those 48 minutes. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. Look at those crossed arms. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. 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. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Why cant he catch his breath? Moves fast? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. 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. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Check this out. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. *. I will, he says. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. Youve probably seen him. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. "But do we say 'I love you' enough?
Abandoned Places In Murray Ky, The Tale Of Genji Moral Lesson, Articles N