ncaa referee bert smith age
Moves fast, this guy. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. 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. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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? You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Check this out. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Bert Smith. Youve probably seen him. If you saw it, you understand. Devika Pawar. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. It goes: You scored, Billy People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. He agreed. Dr. So was Karter. Now he wonders. Something doesnt add up. Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. I love being part of the game. 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 you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. But do we say I love you enough? I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. that carried high into the net. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. . 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!. Bert Smith (56) NCAA men's basketball Referee collapsed due to a blood clot in his lung during a tournament News Story. Im ready to get after it, he says. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. But slow down, OK? Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/gregg.doyel. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. Success! My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! He was released after two days in the hospital. "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?" 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. 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. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. My feelings about my whistle are still the same. The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. Smith collapsed just over four minutes into the Elite Eight game between USC. They strapped me in! "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. Look at his scowl. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. More Doyel:Referee Bert Smith got to hear ovation of a lifetime. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Where did it come from? No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. I cant find that feeling anywhere else. 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. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Mar 31st, 2021. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Later during the broadcast, they announced he was feeling OK and resting in the arena. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Being part of the game is a big reason. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Do we give an extra hug enough? I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. 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. 1 . Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Dr. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, Amid cancer fight, NBA ref Tony Brown returning to work, Recruiting & Retention: What WorkedWhat Didnt, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series, High School Volleyball Officials Quiz 2023. Whats he doing on his back? Hospitalized with a blood clot. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Medical personnel at Lucas Oil Stadium treated Smith, who later went to a local hospital. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. 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. Whatsthatfor? The scary moment was caught. 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. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. . 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. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. The challenges are different for each level of refereeing and the emotional payoffs vary, but the reason for being in the game is the same: Passion for soccer runs through my veins. 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. Smiths pausing. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Its hard for me to talk about now. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. Medical personnel take care of a NCAA referee after he fell on the court during the first half during the game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the USC Trojans in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA . Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. A pulmonary embolism. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. I'm committed to it year round. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Look at that picture again. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. Official Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the game, immediately being carried away in a stretcher. Where did it come from? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I get to watch the Masters.. 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. Whats that for? This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Look at those crossed arms. 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. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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. He said no. 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. And they found out. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St 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. Do we give an extra hug enough? Thats normal to huff and puff, right? Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? 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. I do it because I love the ballgame. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Moves fast? He said he'll be back officiating next season. 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. They insisted more. 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. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". As you looked toward my approval What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. I could be involved with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. Youve probably seen him. Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. 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 . Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. It is my release. 1 overall seed Gonzaga Bulldogs remained undefeated and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with a dominant 85-66 win over USC on Tuesday . Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. He's grumpy in the now-famous photo of him on it and told Doyel he was tricked. 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. 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. Nobody can say. The action was moving away from his baseline position after a Gonzaga steal, but he said he couldn't move or catch his breath. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. 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! The passion I felt when I played is still there for me when I officiate and I can feel that passion on the court. Turns out, it was something worse. 2 Alabama erases 17-point deficit, wins SEC, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Smith revealed in a lengthy interview with the Indianapolis Star the fall may have saved him. Bert Smith does. Youve probably seen him. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. Jacquie was waiting at the door. It pushes you to be on top of your game. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. Fox News' Daniel Canova contributed to this report. Smith was taken off the . Moves fast? 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. Something doesnt add up. 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. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Do you know you went viral? she playfully asked. Smith fell and was immediately attended to by medical personnel. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. It puts me in the zone! I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Bert Smith . They strapped me in! Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. 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. There are 200+ professionals named "Bert Smith", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. Might as well walk fast, too. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me..
