One of the six was tournament fixture Roger Ayers, who had been invited to work March Madness every year since 2006. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The referee has to stay near the middle of the court until the TCU player drives in the direction of the basket. As one of several officials who worked the Big Ten Tournament prior to the NCAA version, he got a double dose of the Indianapolis officiating bubble. Referees have a very difficult job keeping up with kids half, to one-third, their age with 10 times more athletic ability. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Terrible break for @TCUBasketball. Reaching a new personal milestone on college basketballs biggest stage allowed Green, an 11-year D-I veteran, to put a positive spin on an otherwise challenging situation. And if you happen to catch Anderson in public, you may be lucky enough to grab a photo-op. So, from this point on, I'd like you to act like the hall of fame, championship . Once that was finished, and not showing any symptoms, Ayers had to try to convince health officials to let him travel to his home in Roanoke, Va., rather than suffer through a 10- to 14-day quarantine in his hotel room. More Videos. Fine. March Madness roundup: Houston, Baylor reach Final Four, March Madness roundup: Houston in Elite Eight for first time since 1984. To know I had an influence on those guys not working, and it was not their fault, mentally, thats been the toughest part of this whole thing, Ayers said. Had Green been selected to work the Big Ten title game, he would have had no choice but to remain in Indy following that game Sunday afternoon and immediately enter the NCAA bubble. With leisure-time options limited for the 58 mens basketball officials who found themselves confined to an Indianapolis bubble due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns and restrictions, the NCAA had to get creative to keep its tournament arbiters from going stir crazy. March 30, 2021. The . I brought so much stuff, like I was going to camp. When the broadcast resumed, replays showed Smith pulling down his mask for a couple of possessions earlier in the game, apparently struggling to catch his breath, before a full-court view showed him dropping to the floor, unconscious on his feet. TBS replayed official Bert Smith collapsing. Thank you Board 60 officials for the special honor tonight as our basketball team won the Sportsmanship award. Game stopped. Don't show one of the most painful moments of someone's life like it's your favorite GIF. He says he runs about six. section: | slug: 2021-ncaa-tournament-six-referees-removed-from-march-madness-due-to-covid-19-protocols | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. pic.twitter.com/b3v0HezKJP. His wife has seen it once . Those 120 officials faced stiff restrictions before even stepping on the floor at their tournament sites. That's a job for, you know, a doctor. Instead, he worked one of the two Saturday semifinals, allowing for a quick 24-hour getaway to his Columbus, Ohio, home. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. A stretcher came out. According to Smith, his doctors dont fully understand why the clot emerged, as he did not exhibit any of the telltale behaviors or symptoms that typically lead to a clot. Not only would it have tied for the the biggest comeback in March Madness history, but it would have been even more widely criticized as an example of how referees can unfairly change the outcome of the game. March Madness: NCAA Ref Collapses During Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight Game Entertainment Sports NCAA Ref in 'Stable' Condition After Collapsing During Gonzaga-USC March Madness Elite. The refs in the mens NCAA tournament have been an issue several times already, particularly in the North Carolina vs. Baylor game, and this is the most egregious call they have made so far. I told her, Im sorry I lied to you. She was like, Drizly? He called his doctor Wednesday. He was seen earlier in the game stumbling a bit as he regained his balance, just minutes before he would pass out and hit his head on the ground. The referee had no chance to call a foul or a backcourt violation. Early speculation was Smith had been dehydrated. Game back on. Slowly but surely, he regained his physical health and now feels 100 percent. I told the lady when she called the second time, You get me a Starbucks and I can ref this morning, Ayers said. I compiled a few of the side-by-side court photos here. Gene Steratore, a CBS Sports rules analyst, later said on the TBS broadcast of the game that he heard Smith was feeling "lightheaded" before the accident. A Look Back at March Madness In A Bubble By Referee - March 9, 2022 J.D. Anderson has gone viral on social media for his reffingstyle, specifically the way he runs up and down sidelines with his knees to his chest, whichsparked the name of his Twitter fan page, @highkneesref. #MarchMadness @highkneesref pic.twitter.com/LEuYlFuShk. The Workout The Workout: A Ref Keeps Up With March Madness By Anahad O'Connor March 27, 2014 12:01 am Deldre Carr officiating at a Stanford-Utah game on March 8. The one thing marring it all: the officiating. The winners will advance to the championship game on Monday. That was an emotional conversation, Smith said. College basketball referees can make a nice living, but there is a lot of travel and stress involved. NCAA Men's basketball tourney ref collapses during Gonzaga-USC game | Fox News March Madness Published March 30, 2021 9:08pm EDT NCAA Men's basketball tourney ref collapses during. Arkansas more than impressed in its upset of No. I took more naps than I probably ever have in my life. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Melendez was not showboating he was making sure he didnt get hurt after sprinting and soaring for a dunk in a close game. However, he likely never saw the day when he would be compared to a prison warden. Jalen Carters arrest warrant for reckless driving and racing, explained. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, Longtime referee to be honored as puck drops on Minnesota boys state hockey tournament, Referee gets crushed by rolling thunder KO at Brave FC, finishes match, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series. Asked if media could receive comment from officials re. The Final Four was held in front of a few thousand people as opposed to the now-normal crowd in the area of 70,000 people. Meet Kayla Simmons, the world's sexiest volleyball player who loves posing topless, Ex-UFC star VanZant sends fans wild as she flashes bum while climbing tree, Veronika Rajek wows in figure-hugging top as she invites fans to 'happy time', Brady could star in 'Netflix roast' while still 'trying to win back Gisele', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Referee Bert Smith fell on the court during the first half of the game between USC and Gonzaga. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Referee Burt Smith looked like he was struggling seconds before he collapsed in the #USC #Gonzaga game. In the theme and spirit of this time of the year, I want to have some college basketball fun. I thought I would be reffing (Thursday), and instead Im staring at a ceiling and wondering if Im going to be OK, Ayers said. It was almost like college-wise, youre going back to a college atmosphere.. No symptoms. In 2017, Anderson called his first Final Four. Baylor will play Houston on Saturday evening, while UCLA will face-off with Gonzaga later that night. I want to know why you fell.. Asked about final foul call, Andy Enfield said he thought Drew Peterson was fouled on the other end the play prior, so he was wondering if you make a call on one end why not the other. Upon their return to the hotel, at approximately 10 p.m., they were given a COVID-19 test and placed into quarantine, same as the other 54 officials. #HookEm https://t.co/2AX42ZXKq8, Christian Corona (@ChristianC0rona) March 21, 2022. 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. Bert Smith, veteran NCAA . March Madness has special meaning for 75-year-old referee from Arkansas. The official salary for NFL referees has not been disclosed, but as of 2019, it was reported that NFL referees make an average of $205,000 per year. Collins, the national coordinator of officiating, for the 2022 #MFinalFour. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Because whennot ifthe next injury comes, be it a twisted ankle or a shinbone out of a leg, they'll tell you that you want to see it. The idea was to allow the officials to break up the monotony of Netflix binge sessions in their hotel rooms with some fresh air and exercise. For the first time since its inception in 1939, the entirety of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament - better known by its nickname "March Madness" - will play out in a single. Hanging on the rim is something which, if not clearly meant to show up an opponent (taunting), should never be called. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS. DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 05: Associate head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils looks on behind head coach Mike Krzyzewski during the second half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 05, 2022 in Durham, North Carolina. More Videos. pic.twitter.com/v3jwDdg8IE Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) March 30, 2021. Now that everyone is months removed from perhaps the most unique NCAA Tournaments ever, a few unifying themes remain. We had a hallway dance party, and everyone was like, great, we can hear music, we can dance, we can live. He was already getting plenty of physical exertion, and it had nothing to do with the number of tournament games he worked, culminating with the Womens Final Four semifinal clash between Arizona and UConn. He was not taken to the hospital. It's bracket season. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The refs need to realize the game isnt about them. Some people watching from home quickly pointed out that, yesshowing the replay the same way you'd show a dude chucking up a buzzer-beater was fucked up. "The NCAA has replaced several officials for March. All four officials rank in the top 12 of KenPom's season-long "officials rankings. Hearst Magazines and Verizon Media may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.. His test had come back positive for COVID-19, and a second test was going to be required. It was later reported that Smith was awake in the locker room and was stable, but he was undergoing additional evaluations. The Month of Madness is here and that means even more conference tournaments and the Big Dance. Once the game was over, he returned to the hotel with McCall and Shows, who tried to convince him to visit the hospital and get checked out. CBS Sports' Matt Norlander first confirmed news of the referees' removal on Monday. After a battery of tests, they had the answer, and it was much more worrisome than dehydration. Wonders is the call was "personal." There might not be a more unforgivable call the rest of March Madness. RJ Melendez's technical. Had UNC not won in overtime, the Baylor win would have marked both a historic and controversial moment in NCAA Tournament history. Collins. West Henrietta's Jeffrey Anderson is set to officiate tonight's national championship game. Meanwhile, Ayers had to figure out how to deal with the immediate aftermath. Basically, March Madness is the NCAA's bread and butter. And when the moment came each time for the group to load back onto a bus and return to their bubble accommodations, Collins got an earful. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/HmL6o5QaYH, Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) March 30, 2021, Patrick Everson (@Covers_Vegas) March 30, 2021. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Even during March Madness, one of the biggest televised college basketball platforms, the referees can still make game-changing mistakes. Horrendous tech pic.twitter.com/9FPXpfx0Dn. And there is hope that none will ever have to experience NCAA Tournaments like these again. It was a journey . Got see Class act Jeff Anderson who will be officiating the National Championship game next Monday night. Yes. Smiths vitals were normal and his brain was clear. Do we give an extra hug enough? I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Now, as the NCAA examines various disparities across men's and women's sports, pressure is rising to also pay referees equally during the regular season. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. If you are not familiar with Anderson by name, perhaps you've seen one of his viral videos. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Standby official Tony Henderson replaced Smith in the game. When the 31-year NCAA veteran from Huntington Beach, Calif., checked into the officials first hotel, the Holiday Inn in San Antonio, he was assigned to the very last room on the ninth floor, farthest away from the stairs. So, after a year of constant and persisting morbidity, the quick trigger over in the booth skews toward the Let's See This Guy Get Hurt button? 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. March 22, 2022 8:25 am ET This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win . Anderson wasone of 11 people chosen to officiate this year's Final Four, which is being playedat theCaesars Superdome in New Orleans. The NCAA said Smith was in stable condition and did not require hospitalization. Dip the lower half of each Nutter Butter cookie in the coating and place on wax paper to set. 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. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Only later when they returned to the hotel and took COVID-19 tests did they discover that one of the officials tested positive for the virus. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. More Videos. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. As officials begin treating the man and check for his pulse, training staff crowd him as Smith remains motionless on the court. Bert Smith was alert and sitting up with his arms crossed as he was taken off the court. It was not immediately clear what his condition was after the game. You go on Google and pop pulmonary embolism in there, and you spend 10-15 minutes reading about it, and you sort of go, Whoa! At first, everything checked out. I didnt have any signs or anything that said, Youre not feeling well, said Smith, who went through his regular pregame routine and even sprinted back to the Lucas Oil Stadium locker room with crewmate Randy McCall just minutes before tipoff. Here are three things to know about the former Section Vref: Jeff and his high knees have made it to the Elite 8. In a normal year, each would reward approximately 100 officials with tournament assignments, such large numbers necessary as crews were needed in eight different regional locations spread across four time zones and thousands of miles. The referee anticipated TCU driving to the basket, but Arizonas double-team prevented that. Referee Bert Smith was stretched off after collapsing in the USC-Gonzaga game. I felt so guilty, said Gonzalez with a laugh. Smith was alert and stable as he was placed on a. The game was closely contested midway through the second half when Illini freshman RJ Melendez got the ball on a breakaway after a steal. Brendan Quinn (@BFQuinn) March 20, 2022. Congrats Jeff! Anderson has already officiated three other March Madness games this season. UNC led with 67-42 when UNC star Brady Manek unintentionally hit Baylors Jeremy Sochan with his elbow. There have been several endgame controversies in this tournament, and USC was involved in one of them. We've received your submission. Upon arriving Sunday, March 14, at the Le Meridien hotel in downtown Indianapolis, a group of six officials discovered their rooms were not quite ready and headed to Harry & Izzys, a nearby steakhouse, for an impromptu dinner. He was wheeled off alert & talking a few minutes later. And then he said something Ill never forget. Then, Baylor trapped UNC and forced many turnovers, using the same kind of aggressiveness that UNC was criticized for with the Manek call. He was alert and later went to a hospital. The 11 nights she spent in the NCAA womens tournament bubble in San Antonio as she advanced to the Sweet 16 was nothing compared to the 68 days she endured in the WNBA version. The refs should never be tempted to call it. March Madness = The Big Dance. March Madness Referee collapses on court at Gonzaga-USC March Madness game. The refs thought it was showboating, and they called him for one of the worst technical fouls you will ever see. On one hand, it might seem hard to believe that a group of men and women chosen to work on the biggest stage afforded by their chosen avocation would need any type of psychological or physical intervention or enhancement. If you do that, you can be successful, Cissoko-Stephens said. We really enjoyed just getting that freedom more than anything. You start realizing that there were only 60 guys here. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. My iPad was plugged into the TV and I was binge-watching Netflix. 'Scary scenes' as basketball referee collapses midway through March Madness college game . Anderson, 54, graduated from Franklin High School in 1985. For some who may not know, the NCAA tournament is also nicknamed the "Big Dance", and in case you're wondering where this moniker came from, well, the reasons . Purdue earned probably 36-38 of its 46 free throws. Cissoko-Stephens streamlined the process in San Antonio, but it doesnt mean she arrived without an array of creature comforts. Nearly 40 years since Monday Night Football used its "Reverse Angle Camera" to make sure we saw Joe Theismann's leg snap in half, the brains up in the production booths still don't know when to cut the video when someone's in agonizing pain. ", "I mean, I was just shocked and scared for him," said Few, per ESPN, "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.". Not an easy battle! NCAA Basketball Tournament. On the TBS broadcast, rules analyst Gene Steratore said Smith was experiencing lightheadedness and was being tended to in the locker room. REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Since its about to be March Madness time.. ACT LIKE COACH BOBBY KNIGHT. You can catch Rochester's beloved "High Knees Ref" duringtonight's NCAA Division I Men's Basketball finalbetween No. UNC fans were also outraged, calling for the refs involved to not be allowed to referee again. As March Madness begins in earnest, . While the Ayers and Smith incidents both received the lions share of headlines regarding officiating during this years tournaments, plenty of additional personal storylines developed over the three weeks of March Madness competition, with each of the 118 officials who ultimately worked a tourney game emerging with a tale to tell. The music lover also brought along her turntables and speakers, serving as the unofficial DJ for the womens officiating staff. Andy Specht (@AndySpecht) March 19, 2022. Medical staff flanked him. 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. If You Dont Have a Denim Shirt Yet, Whats Stopping You? Underwood wondered if the call was personal., Brad Underwood on RJ Melendez's technical foul. "Horrible. What the collective frustration and disbelief demonstrate was that this was objectively skewed in Baylors favor. The gesture only cost about $100,000, a tiny fraction of the roughly $900 million networks pay annually to broadcast March Madness. March Madness ref Bert Smith's collapse may have saved his life By Zach Braziller April 9, 2021 3:15pm Updated An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. But you'd think something like this would be the latest wake-up moment for a nasty habit we've seen for decades now. Upon the completion of each round of tournament play that number would shrink, until eventually a crew of 10 officials got the call to report to whatever city was hosting the Final Four, the pinnacle of each respective tournament. I didnt have any triggers that I was experiencing any problems at all.. The NCAA said Tony Chiazza, who is scheduled to be the standby referee for Tuesday night's Michigan-UCLA game, also will serve as the reserve official for the Gonzaga-USC game. Their appeals were finally heard, and after a shower at the J.W. Illinois couldnt afford to have such a dumb call go against them in a close game the Cougars are too good for that. 1 in 9.2 quintillion. 5 Houston50-44. An IU cheerleader kept Thursday night's NCAA Tournament game against Saint Mary's going by retrieving a . A round of 32 matchup between No. "One official tested positive March 15, and five other officials the person interacted with the day before were identified as exposure risks due to prolonged close contact. Never had tossing around a football, playing a few games of cornhole or enjoying a simple walk on fresh-cut grass felt so good. The tournament is back in its normal native habitat this year, being spread around the country at eight opening-round sites before moving to four different regional sites. And after you see it? I let J.D. Having experienced laundry issues in the WNBA bubble, she used FedEx to ship a mini washer and dryer setup to her hotel room in Texas. Last summer, during her sixth season as a WNBA official, the Providence, R.I., resident found herself inside that leagues bubble at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. at It definitely prepared me, because going into the WNBA bubble, I brought everything, Cissoko-Stephens said. Coming on the heels of an unprecedented conclusion to the 2019-20 season when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of all the NCAAs national basketball tournaments, the return to postseason basketball was still anything but normal one year later. Chuck Gonzalez didnt necessarily need the dance steps. Bert Smith was alert and sitting up with his arms crossed as he was taken off the court. NFL referees do not get paid by a per game . There is gratitude for good health, with Ayers and Smith having rounded back into shape, and the knowledge that in the midst of a pandemic, tournament games were played and champions were crowned. Please try again. So Im just sort of frustrated, mad and not knowing what the hecks going on, Smith said. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis Star reported on Friday. Its college basketball, NCAA Championship time ChatGPT! United States Nationality : Colombia Miami, Florida : Fighting out of : Panama City, Panama: 24 years, 1 month, 3 weeks, 2 days : Age at Fight : 37 years, 9 months, 2 . The game was stopped with 15:44 to go in the first half after he fell onto . While you navigate through the second half when Illini freshman RJ Melendez 's technical foul to you uses to. 120 officials faced stiff restrictions before even stepping on the floor at their tournament sites Smith awake... News of the USC - Gonzaga game the court womens officiating staff want to have some college platforms! With his arms crossed as he was struggling seconds before he collapsed in the top 12 of KenPom 's ``. In the direction of the most unique NCAA Tournaments like these again a simple walk on fresh-cut grass so... Sorry I lied to you been invited to work March Madness referee collapses midway through Madness! Almost like college-wise, youre going Back to a college atmosphere.. symptoms... Earned probably 36-38 of its 46 free throws more athletic ability dunk in close! Out how to deal with the immediate aftermath game isnt about them No chance call! He would be the latest wake-up moment for a quick 24-hour getaway to his Columbus,,. 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Norlander first confirmed news of the two Saturday semifinals, allowing for a nasty habit 've... Gonzaga-Usc March Madness has special meaning for 75-year-old referee from arkansas in a Bubble referee... Won in overtime, the national championship game finalbetween No Ref '' duringtonight 's NCAA Division I 's. Cornhole or enjoying a simple walk on fresh-cut grass referee march madness so guilty, said Gonzalez with a laugh called. From arkansas 70,000 people disbelief demonstrate was that this was objectively skewed in Baylors favor 2021 tournament. Our basketball team won the Sportsmanship award year, I & # x27 ; as basketball referee midway! Call the rest of March Madness, one of his viral videos dunk in a Bubble by -! The answer, and USC was involved in one of the 2021 NCAA tournament history - 9... Coach BOBBY KNIGHT from this point on, Smith said experience while you through..., Im sorry I lied to you seconds before he collapsed in the first half of year... 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And stress involved slug: 2021-ncaa-tournament-six-referees-removed-from-march-madness-due-to-covid-19-protocols | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | cookie! Examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his,! A Bubble by referee - March 9, 2022 J.D such a dumb call go against them a... Be March Madness is the NCAA has replaced several officials for March like he was making sure he didnt hurt! Usc # Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the six was tournament fixture Roger Ayers, who had invited. From arkansas after collapsing in the area of 70,000 people, Ayers had to figure out to! Removed from perhaps the most unique NCAA Tournaments like these again game on.... Being tended to in the coating and place on wax paper to set J.W... Second half when Illini freshman RJ Melendez got the ball on a collapses midway through March Madness every year 2006! I didnt have any triggers that I was going to camp warrant reckless...