You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. Might as well walk fast, too. Hospitalized with a blood clot. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. The unnecessary replay of Bert. 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. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. I do it because I love the ballgame. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. 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. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Here's where I'mtell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and officials when the game is on the line requires great skill and finesse. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit. 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 don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! Rules knowledge is a component of it. When a situation occurs that brings the temperature of the game up, you have to control your emotions and read the emotions of the players and coaches to restore calm. Check this out.. 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. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. Do we give an extra hug enough? She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. He goes to IU Health Methodist. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. They strapped me in! He said no. Shes an important part of this story.. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. 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. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. 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. 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. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. 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. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. See Bert Smith? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. It saved his life. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. 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. 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. Its deep, and its contagious. Referee Bert Smith was taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing to the court during the first half of the NCAA men's tournament Elite Eight matchup between USC and Gonzaga on Tuesday. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. " 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. Look at that picture again. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. 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 telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Jacquie was waiting at the door. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. And when next season arrives, you can expect to find Bert Smith on the hardwood. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. 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. Theres video of me with my arms crossed on the stretcher, he says. 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!. . 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 . Players on both teams returned to their benches. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. 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. Even after coaches/fans express their disappointment in my calls, I still have the eyes and hearts of the players on the field looking to me for leadership and how to show good character and convictions. Then he becomes a basketball official. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? I will, he says. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. Andy Lyons/Getty NCAA Reveals Budget for Men's Basketball Tournament Is Almost Twice as Much the Women's Reporters Ross Dellenger and Jeff Borzello later tweeted that, according. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Whatsthatfor? Look at his scowl. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. See Bert Smith? Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? My feelings about my whistle are still the same. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. "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?" 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 . She said: I got the answer to the question. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Moves fast? He works his first game at age 24. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Smith does remember the 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 hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. 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.. 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. I love officiating because it has a Zen aspect to it: for those two hours, you are completely focused on the task at hand. Bert. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. Do we give an extra hug enough? It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. 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. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. 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. He said he'll be back officiating next season. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. 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. He did not go to the hospital. Dr. Everyones joking with him now. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. He rarely uses the elevator. 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. Bert Smith . He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. 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. 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. . Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. 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. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. I'm committed to it year round. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. A pulmonary embolism. 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. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. *. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Smith told the publication. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. 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. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Thats 1990. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. or redistributed. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. 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. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. It goes: You scored, Billy Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Thats his wife of 33 years. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. At IU Health Methodist, the 56-year-old Smith was treated by Dr. Katie Trammel, "an important part of this story.". First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball.