Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Whats he doing on his back? All rights reserved. It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. He runs. For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my masters in nursing and then my doctorate. 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. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Now he wonders. Written By. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. OK, so the night of March 29. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. 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? Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. 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 . Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. He told the Star he's happy it happened during the Elite Eight when he could get the right help he needed rather than during an instance when he was driving or sleeping. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. I love being part of the game. Look at those crossed arms. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly 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. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. I didnt miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy. Legal Statement. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. 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 . Market data provided by Factset. Once hospitalizedat first, he didnt even plan to godoctors discovered a troubling issue: a blood clot in his lungs. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If you saw it, you understand. 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. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. It puts me in the zone! Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. . 6 seed USC. All rights reserved. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. 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. A pulmonary embolism. . 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. Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. She said: I got the answer to the question. 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. Michael Conroy/AP. 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. 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. After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. He has been in contact with his family. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. 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 doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. Everything was normal. I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. 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. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. Why is he lying down near the Gonzaga bench? Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. The confidence I feel on the field has spilled over into almost every aspect of my life, and it has propelled me to believe that any dream is within my grasp. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. 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. It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. I continue to coach high school soccer. Bert Smith told the . 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. Youve probably seen him. 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. I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. 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. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. 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. Active referees are listed in bold. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. 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 . Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. He was surrounded by medical professionals and eventually was helped on to a stretcher. Over the next seven years, Mike rose to become a star for both his high school and college teams, my dad became a coach and my love for the game was cemented. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. 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? More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. It does not store any personal data. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. Something doesnt add up. Trammel was at Methodist the night of 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 . Something doesnt add up. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. Check this out.. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. He said no. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. Thats 1990. And they found out. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! They strapped me in! See Bert Smith? Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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. Legal Statement. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. The unnecessary replay of Bert. The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. Market data provided by Factset. 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. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. Dr. 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. 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. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. 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. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Smiths pausing. Do we give an extra hug enough? 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.. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. "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?" You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. 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. 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. He runs. All Rights Reserved. View. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. Success! 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. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. You never know whats going to happen. 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!. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. 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. There were 500 of them. by Joseph Choi - 03/30/21 9:28 PM ET. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Bert Smith does. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Why cant he catch his breath? Since I'm involved in an athletic contest I want to be able to participate to the full, and working out, proper nutrition and recovery allow me to be able to keep up with the players and game. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. I'm committed to it year round. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Shes an important part of this story.. *. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. 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. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 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. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. I lost it, too. Im ready to get after it, he says. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. He mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Everyones joking with him now. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. And they found out. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Bert Smith NCAA men's basketball official, 27th season My fitness is important to me. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Earlier: Tonight's Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC was stopped momentarily after veteran referee Bert Smith collapsed on the court. Do we give an extra hug enough? You could talk to him during a game. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Nobody can say. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Look at his scowl. Bert Smith does. Then he becomes a basketball official. 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! I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. Do we give an extra hug enough? First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. A scary moment interrupted the Elite Eight on Tuesday, as NCAA official Bert Smith abruptly collapsed during a game between No. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. 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. I love officiating because it has a Zen aspect to it: for those two hours, you are completely focused on the task at hand. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? He goes to IU Health Methodist. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. And they heard the sound his head made I heard it, too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. 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. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Oh, Ill be back. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. 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. Smith told the Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel he doesn't remember falling and hasn't seen a replay, but what doctors found that night could have been life-saving. Everyones joking with him now. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. It offers a chance to lead by example. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. It is my release. And they found out. Where did it come from? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. All rights reserved. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt , He said he told the doctor at the time, "You little SOB, you tricked me!. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job 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. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Thats 1990. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Players on both teams returned to their benches. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. He rarely uses the elevator. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Look at his scowl. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. 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 . The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! Brett Smith, an NCAA college basketball referee, collapsed during a game. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. 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. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. They insisted more. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Something doesnt add up. Referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. but never had a chance. 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. 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 look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. But do we say I love you enough? He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Everyones joking with him now. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. 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. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. 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. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. 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. Hed been duped. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. Smith was taken off the . He said he'll be back officiating next season. Heres where Im tell him about that Kelly Wilkinson picture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. Please try again. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. The minute my stripes are on, Im a part of a crew not an official with a disability. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. I could be involved with 4-H. Whats he doing on his back? He doesnt remember passing out, only that things got foggy, he says, and that his breathing didnt feel normal. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. They released him to return to his hotel. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. If you saw it, you understand. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? "I mean, I was just shocked and scared for him, but I was able to stick my head in there a little bit and see that he was talking and coherent and tried to say a quick prayer for him and just wished him the best. 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. 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 dont know where that clot was going next, he says. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. 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. Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. There was an error submitting your subscription. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him.
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