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. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. "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?" Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. I could be involved with 4-H. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. Where did it come from? 1 seed Gonzaga and No. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. " Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Moves fast? I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back inand took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. 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 . Per the Star, he was treated at the stadium for two hours with vital checks on pulse, blood pressure and oxygen level that came back normal. Why cant he catch his breath? Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Add to that the fact that we actually get paid to exercise, and I cant think of a better way to spend a spring afternoon than on a lacrosse field! See Bert Smith? I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. 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. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Do we give an extra hug enough? He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. Its the best seat in the house. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. Whats that for? I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. See Bert Smith? Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. 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 . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Whats he doing on his back? . Thats his wife of 33 years. [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. Look at those crossed arms. Everyones joking with him now. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Im letting the paint dry.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Market data provided by Factset. Nobody can say. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Then he becomes a basketball official. that carried high into the net. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Check this out. 2023 www.indystar.com. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. I'm committed to it year round. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. Bert. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Bert Smith does. 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 . Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. And they found out. 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. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. It is my release. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. It kept me going.. 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. Market data provided by Factset. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. 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. 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. See Bert Smith? 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? You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Please try again. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. ", 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. But slow down, OK? But do we say I love you enough? Something doesnt add up. They were pretty intense, man. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. It goes: You scored, Billy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. Thats 1990. 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. Thats his wife of 33 years. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. 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.. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. It does not store any personal data. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. For now, hes at his home in Florence, Ky., just outside of Cincinnati, relaxing and watching the Masters golf tournament while medicating an ailment that, if not caught after that fall, could have eventually been much worse. He rarely uses the elevator. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. He works his first game at age 24. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Do we give an extra hug enough? Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. After the game, Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he had walked over to Smith to offer his support as Smith was being placed on the stretcher. She said: I got the answer to the question. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Might as well walk fast, too. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. OK, so the night of March 29. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Then he becomes a basketball official. Where did it come from? Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. A pulmonary embolism. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 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. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. Smiths pausing. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Success! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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.. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Bert Smith does. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. 6 seed University of Southern California and No. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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 is the current president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, was the 2020 winner of the National Headliner Award as the country's top sports columnist and has twice been named North. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. So was Karter. Jacquie was waiting at the door. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. Moves fast? The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. If you saw it, you understand. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 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. 1 . 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. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 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. It puts me in the zone! 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. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Rules knowledge is a component of it. 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. 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. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". Smith, whod driven 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. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Why cant he catch his breath? Moves fast, this guy. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. 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.. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. Oh, Ill be back. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. Something doesnt add up. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Nobody can say. 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? Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. I get to watch the Masters.. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Dr. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. They poured into Smiths phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC in a mens Elite Eight game on March 30. 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. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. Bert Smith told the . Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. But first, Smith had to get stretchered off the floor, something he was adamantly against. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; INDIANAPOLIS -- A referee collapsed early in the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC . Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. You could talk to him during a game. Bert Smith does. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. I love being part of the game. I love officiating because it has a Zen aspect to it: for those two hours, you are completely focused on the task at hand. 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. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. 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. They strapped me in! Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. But do we say I love you enough? Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The support and love was just overwhelming. We won't send you spam. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. You never know whats going to happen. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. 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. 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. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. Where did it come from? Legal Statement. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. Turns out, nope, no concussion. 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. 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. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Shes an important part of this story.. Smith told the publication. 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 you saw it, you understand. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. He said no. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. I love being part of the game. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Hospitalized with a blood clot. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. That is definitely what drives me. Being part of the game is a big reason. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Michael Conroy/AP. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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!. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. He works his first game at age 24. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it.
