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. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. 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. a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. 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. Hell just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes theyll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. CNN . The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. Then he becomes a basketball official. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. He runs. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement. Dr. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Dr. Im letting the paint dry.. 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. 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. 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. He said he'll be back officiating next season. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. 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. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun you gotta love it! Look at that picture again. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Shes an important part of this story.. 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. Thats 1990. Hes huffing and puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. It does not store any personal data. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. Where did it come from? 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. Then he becomes a basketball official. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? Hed been duped. Thats normal to huff and puff, right? Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? 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. 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 . OK, so the night of March 29. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. Turns out, nope, no concussion. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. Why cant he catch his breath? and would not need hospitalization. Thats around the time he spilled onto the hardwood, awaking to a semicircle of people surrounding him. If they had done that and said, Mr. OK, so the night of March 29. 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. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of thatand hasn't seen areplay of his fall, though he says he's almost ready to watch. Referee data is available for the 1988-89 through 2022-23 seasons. Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. 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. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Also he mentions NCAA officiating coordinator J.D. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . Moves fast? His crew comes back to Le Meridien with a doggy bag of the dinner he missed at the game, and theyre talking and laughing, but theyve seen replays of Smiths fall. It offers a chance to lead by example. It goes: You scored, Billy The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. 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. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. Were about to put you through the car wash of testing, she said. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. But slow down, OK? Gregg Doyel Indianapolis Star 0:00 0:56 INDIANAPOLIS - Bert Smith hasn't seen the moment that. Check this out. Might as well walk fast, too. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith says the fall and subsequent battery of testing was a life-saving ordeal. Here's where I'mtelling him about thatpicture, how he looks so angry on the stretcher. They were pretty intense, man. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. 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. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. Something doesnt add up. Bert Smith does. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. And they found out. That is definitely what drives me. And they found out. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. He has been in contact with his family. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. By age 11, I was organizing all the neighborhood kids in pick up games and by age 14, I got certified to referee and started coaching. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 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. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. He runs. Veteran college basketball referee Bert Smith collapsed on the floor during the first half of Tuesday night's Elite Eight game between No. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. 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. Im very grateful. 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 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. 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. 1 seed Gonzaga and 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. Look at his scowl. They were supposed to just check my head and spine for a concussion (he didnt have one, by the way), says Smith. There was an error submitting your subscription. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. 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. It saved his life. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. . Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Jacquie was waiting at the door. In a scary moment, Smith passed out cold during a recent Elite Eight game. The NCAA even distributed a statement announcing the news: Smith was O.K. 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. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with . There were 500 of them. Being mentally ready for the game is most important. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. See Bert Smith? 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. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Why cant he catch his breath? And they heard the sound his head made I heard it too, 30 rows away when it slammed onto the court. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. 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. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. Moves fast, this guy. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. She said: I got the answer to the question. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. Moves fast, this guy. 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. 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. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. Later, doctors discovered the reason.
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