Nobody can say. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. He runs. 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. Jacquie was waiting at the door. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. 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. Look at those crossed arms. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? I came off the field and I was so pumped up. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. 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? Referee collapses during USC-Gonzaga Elite Eight matchup - ABC7 Los Angeles People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Check this out. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. Heres why: The doctor said, Listen, tell you what, why dont you just sit on the stretcher? I said OK, I can do that, Smith says and now hes laughing. It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives were all guilty of it and we just live, right? 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 . 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. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. If you saw it, you understand. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? 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. ", 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. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Dr. If you saw it, you understand. Look at that picture again. I do it because I love the ballgame. Note: This article is archival in nature. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his 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 . A pulmonary embolism. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family, one even from an NFL official hed never met. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. She said: I got the answer to the question. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Referee Bert Smith collapses at NCAA men's tournament game between Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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. He rarely uses the elevator. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. and would not need hospitalization. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. Hes a motivational speaker anddiversity recruiterin addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. 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? It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, mens college basketball. 6 seed USC. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. But do we say I love you enough? 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 told the publication the fall might have saved his life. They were pretty intense, man. Look at those crossed arms. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Hes got a wife, Jacquie, of 32 years, two daughters and two more grandchildren. 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! Please try again. They released him to return to his hotel. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. It offers a chance to lead by example. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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.. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Being part of the game is a big reason. Replay Of Referee Bert Smith Collapsing - YouTube I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. NCAA ref Bert Smith says on-court collapse saved his life - Yahoo! Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Smith is back home in Kentucky with his wife, Jacquie, and his grandson, Karter. Whatsthatfor? 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. So when I went off to college I had to work and was asked what I might enjoy doing, I said, Sports. I was hired on the intramural staff and was paid $3 an hour to officiate co-ed flag football, womens basketball and co-ed softball. Moves fast? Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. The clot restricted enough oxygen to Smith that he passed out during the game. That says something about that officiating fraternity.. 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 . I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Now he wonders. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. The NCAA announced later in the night that Smith was "alert and stable" and would not be transported to a hospital. Do we give an extra hug enough? a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Scary moment Gonzaga-USC referee Bert Smith COLLAPSES on court during I love being part of the game. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. It and she have made me a better person. Bad news for ACC basketball: One of the sport's best referees is Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Even though at this point in my career I have the experience and acceptance, there is still that constant challenge from one game to the next because you never know what is going to happen every time you step on the ice. And they found out. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. 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. As you looked toward my approval 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 . Smiths pausing. Does Video Show Athletes Fainting Due to COVID-19 Vaccine?
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