ncaa referee bert smith age

Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. The 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. Turns out, nope, no concussion. After his nationally televised fall, Smith had more than 500 texts, emails and calls to return, and by Wednesday hed returned them all. 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. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. 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. I joined a rec team and Mike spent hours showing me how to play. Success! The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their care, and understands their stretcher subterfuge. OK, so the night of March 29. 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. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. According to kenpom.com, the Gonzaga-USC game was the 70th matchup Smith worked this season. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Referee Bert Smith is tended to by training staff and medical personnel after collapsing during the first half of the Elite Eight round game between the USC Trojans and the Gonzaga Bulldogs during . I was seven years old and wanted to learn everything he learned each day when he got home from practice. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. There is no other avocation that I can think of that requires the level of physical and mental preparation that officiating mandates, and you have to dedicate yourself in order to be successful. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. He did not go to the hospital. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. Soccer has enriched my life ever since that fateful day in 1973 when my brother came home and said he made the high school soccer team. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Im letting the paint dry.. He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. but never had a chance. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. 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. After all, he hit the court hard, so hard that it left a giant bump on the back of his head. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. It saved his life. Im happy I did it around a bunch of people who had the ability to help me.. 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!. 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. View the profiles of professionals named "Bert Smith" on LinkedIn. Trammel wasnt as concerned with a CT scan on his skull as she was on why he fell in the first place. Dr. Katie Trammel, hes wanting me to know, may have saved his life. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. He said no. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. Why I love officiating can be simply put as it has given me the opportunity to work with and be associated with some of the finest individuals that walk the face of this earth. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. The support and love was just overwhelming. 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. But do we say I love you enough? Something doesnt add up. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Look at his scowl. 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. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. It could have been a red flag, he said doctors told him, but then again "sometimes it just hits you.". Something doesnt add up. No one knows where the clot came from, per the Star. Market data provided by Factset. So was Karter. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. Why cant he catch his breath? Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? The reason is Im saying to them, You tricked me, you little SOB!. At the core of the reasons why I love to referee is a passion for the sport of soccer. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. I get to watch the Masters.. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. It pushes you to be on top of your game. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA . I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Immediately after falling, Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd ran to him and the bench waved for doctors. Dr. You cant get any closer to the ballgame. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. 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. They were pretty intense, man. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. We won't send you spam. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. Medical officials tending to him on the floor insisted he be transported off the floor by the stretcher. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. Check this out. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. 6 seed USC at Lucas Oil Stadium in . INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. Game official Bert Smith collapsed and was taken off the court on a gurney during the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between the USC Trojans . Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. A referee has collapsed on court during the opening stages of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball match in Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. 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. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people. he told the newspaper. Moves fast? I love officiating because of the rush of excitement I get every time a player rises over another for a nothing-but-net three-pointer or from two kids diving after a loose ball like its a $1 million bill. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Might as well walk fast, too. ", 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. 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. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Thats 1990. 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. Smith told the publication. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. A replacement official was added to the crew after Smith collapsed. He has been in contact with his family. Its the best seat in the house. What happens next leads to a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Two days later, clot gone, he was discharged. And they found out. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. He rarely uses the elevator. Trammel was at Methodistthe night of March 30. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? OK, so the night of March 29. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. No, he said hed walk off under assistance. 2023 www.indystar.com. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Moves fast, this guy. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. And they found out. Do we give an extra hug enough? By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. You meet just about every type of person there is that exists and you have to learn to deal with all of them in a manner that shows that you deserve to be called an official. You meet cheaters, schemers, geniuses and idiots. Turns out, it was something worse. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. I say, Whats going on, man? And he goes, Bert, you passed out.