'I’m on the Road to Recovery:' Collapse of NCAA Tourney Ref Bert Smith Caused by Blood Clot

Posted Apr 20, 2021
Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. There were 500 of them. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family. We’re praying for you. We’re rooting for you. Get better. They poured into Smith’s phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzaga’s eventual win over USC in a men's Elite Eight game. (Sports Illustrated)

Related: Other News

ESPN, The CW reach ACC sublicense agreement; Raycom Sports continues to produce
The CW will continue to carry ACC football and men’s and women’s basketball. The network announced that it has reached a sublicense agreement with ESPN...
Thu May 14, 2026

ACC’s Jim Phillips says conference is ‘strong’ and ‘healthy’
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said the “league is strong” and the “healthiest that we’ve been in my tenure.” Phillips, speaking during the ACC spring meetings...
Thu May 14, 2026

Michael Jordan's ZR-1 has been added to the Corvette Museum
The Corvette Museum has added another legendary vehicle to its collection, a 1993 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 40th Anniversary Edition previously owned by "His Airness" himself,...
Wed May 13, 2026

ACC leaders supportive of potential 24-team College Football Playoff: 'There is consensus'
The question isn’t “if” the College Football Playoff will expand. It’s “by how much?” The sport’s most powerful conferences, the SEC and Big Ten, have...
Wed May 13, 2026