Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - WCNC-TV I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. They strapped me in! March Madness: Bert Smith diagnosed with - New York Post Legal Statement. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Referee 'alert and stable' after collapsing during - oregonlive Thats his wife of 33 years. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. The 56-year-old veteran referee was carried off the court on a stretcher. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. Referee Bert Smith collapses on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game (NCD) By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk March 30, 2021 at 8:58 pm CDT Jacquie was waiting at the door. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. Why I Love Officiating - Referee.com - Referee.com & Referee Magazine What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. 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. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Look at his scowl. It would've been about NCAA basketball official Bert Smith, how he'd been used dishonestly as a pawn by the anti-vaccine movement to prove the unprovable: that COVID vaccines were causing. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. I love being part of the game. 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. Look at those crossed arms. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. I lost it, too. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Bert Smith does. NCAA ref Bert Smith reveals what led to scary fall during men's Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. OK, so the night of March 29. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Everyones joking with him now. Its deep, and its contagious. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. 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. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. 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. We are drawn together by a passion for officiating those outside the industry cant understand. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. 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? NBA Referees Directory | Basketball-Reference.com 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. A former employee at Avis Car Rental, he dropped that job to officiate full time in 2010. 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 flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Official collapses, wheeled off court on stretcher from NCAA tournament Their goalie tried leaping to his left He goes to IU Health Methodist. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Bert Smith . Thats 1990. If you saw it, you understand. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Turns out, nope, no concussion. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? I cant find that feeling anywhere else. that carried high into the net. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. 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. Look at his scowl. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. They were pretty intense, man. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. I love officiating because of the challenge. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Active referees are listed in bold. Whats he doing on his back? After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during themen's NCAA Tournamentregional final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body prone and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. He runs. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KGW I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the Aldrich Hoop Family tradition. What happened to ref in Gonzaga game? Referee Bert Smith carried on Hed been duped. 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 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. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Then he becomes a basketball official. Off the court, doctors checked his vitals: blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Smith was taken off the . Referee Bert Smith collapses at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game - KSDK He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. 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. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. 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. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Check this out. NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo! Everyones joking with him now. But slow down, OK? but never had a chance. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. A pulmonary embolism. I could be involved with 4-H. 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. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. 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. Nobody can say. When he retired as an official to take the ACC job in 2016, he immediately had to replace one of the conference's best referees: himself. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. 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. Youve probably seen him. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. 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. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. 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. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. 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. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. And they found out. 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? NCAA Tournament Basketball Referee Bert Smith suffered a scary collapse during the 2022 NCAA March Madness Tournament Gonzaga vs. USC basketball game.I bre. Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Players on both teams returned to their benches. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. Don't let anti-vaxxers lie to you about Damar Hamlin like they did with 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. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. Turns out, it was something worse. 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. 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 flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. NCAA Ref Bert Smith Says Blood Clot in Lung Caused Collapse at - TMZ 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. Referee Bert Smith says blood clot in lung caused his fall at NCAA men He runs. See Bert Smith? 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. Shes an important part of this story.. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. 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. Dr. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. you knew we kicked it in together. Check this out. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. They released him to return to his hotel. She said: I got the answer to the question. March 30 (UPI) --The No. 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. 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. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. But do we say I love you enough? Its deep, and its contagious. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. 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. We won't send you spam. Youve probably seen him. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . He goes to IU Health Methodist. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. Theres no room in your head for thinking about cutting the grass, what you need from the store or how you have to finish your taxes. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. NCAA Tournament official Bert Smith collapses during Elite Eight game More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. 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. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. 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. NCAA Tournament fall didn't kill referee Bert Smith. It saved his life. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him Its deep, and its contagious. CNN . Referee OK after collapsing on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. 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. He rarely uses the elevator. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses On Court During Elite 8 Game, But Do we give an extra hug enough? You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . 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. Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. One of those people was Mike Fox, an independent contractor hired by the NCAA to help run the tournament and a basketball official himself. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Legal Statement. That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? And they found out. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA . They insisted more. Look at that picture again. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. 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. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. Look at that picture again. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. He did not go to the hospital. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . Mar 31st, 2021. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It is my release. a thrust, a dribble, a power shot 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 . But do we say I love you enough? Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. He said no. 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. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. Then he becomes a basketball official. Where did it come from? 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. 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 . 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. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. 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. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. , Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? 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. It would've been about NCAA basketball official Bert Smith, how he'd been used dishonestly as a pawn by the anti-vaccine movement to prove the unprovable: that COVID vaccines were causing. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Bert Smith told the . Thats 1990. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Whatsthatfor? 29/08/21, Germany (unknown age) Unnamed Germany C-League Dillenburg a player from Hirzenhain collapses, game . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now.