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 . Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. Its not some routine youre doing day in and day out. 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. 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. " 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. 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. It does not store any personal data. No matter what sport or level we work, we are bonded. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. I love being part of the game. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Market data provided by Factset. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors were reportedly unsure whether the clot had anything to do with COVID-19. Something doesnt add up. . He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Mar 31st, 2021. I could be involved with 4-H. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Moves fast? A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. Bert Smith told the . 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. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. Now he wonders. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball. or redistributed. Bert Smith. Later, doctors discovered the reason. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Smiths pausing. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. He works his first game at age 24. 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. He runs. I love officiating because of the challenge. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. 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. 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, 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. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. 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. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The article is made available for educational use by individuals. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. If you saw it, you understand. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? 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. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? But slow down, OK? [1] It was the 68th annual edition of the tournament. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Knowing the rulebook and being able to execute decisions in a split-second. Smiths pausing. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. 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. 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. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. . And they found out. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA men's . Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. A pulmonary embolism. He plans to return as soon as he can to the court, and that includes ref camps this summer. 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! Something doesnt add up. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. 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. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. but never had a chance. We won't send you spam. 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. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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. 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. Its the best seat in the house. 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. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Youve probably seen him. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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.. Smith, 56, regained consciousness, and he was alert as he was carried off the floor on a stretcher. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. He rarely uses the elevator. 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. 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. But slow down, OK? Moves fast, this guy. Do we give an extra hug enough? Do we give an extra hug enough? 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. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that. He runs. Well, says one of the doctors, at least sit on the stretcher. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. 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. and would not need hospitalization. They strapped me in! Smith told the publication. "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice.