Bertman taken to hospital
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
- Page 1 of 2
- SINGLE PAGE VIEW
Legendary LSU baseball coach and Athletic Director Skip Bertman was admitted to a hospital Saturday afternoon with tests showing early signs of a heart attack, an athletic department spokesman said late Saturday.
Bertman experienced discomfort at home Saturday afternoon and was driven by his wife, Sandy, to a hospital, said Senior Associate Athletic Director Herb Vincent.
Tests showed early signs of a heart attack as well as serious blockage to one of the main arteries to his heart.
A stent was successfully inserted and Bertman was resting at the hospital during Saturday night's baseball game, Vincent said. He was expected to remain in the hospital for several days, but Vincent could not say whether Bertman might undergo additional procedures.
Without Bertman at the stadium, LSU defeated Southern Miss, 13-4, in front of a sold-out Alex Box Stadium crowd to advance to tonight's NCAA Regional Final.
Word of Bertman's medical condition surprised many LSU fans and employees, including current LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri, who said he was told by Vincent as soon as the game was over.
"I could not believe it; I was shocked," Mainieri said. "It took a little bit of the good feeling about tonight away from me because I think the world of the man. It shows that there are a lot of things more important than baseball."
Bertman, 70, who turned the Tigers baseball team into a national powerhouse after joining the program in 1983, announced last February his intention to retire June 30.
Newly hired LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva, who will start at LSU on July 1 after leaving Duke University, said in a telephone interview late Saturday that he had heard about Bertman's hospitalization and, with his wife, Annie, was praying for Bertman's recovery
"We pray to God he's going to be fine," Alleva said. "Hopefully, he's going to make a full recovery and before you know it, he'll be back."
LSU fan Charlie Lanford, of Baton Rouge, watched the Tigers beat Southern Miss while at Champps in Towne Center.
"I'm surprised," Lanford said. "Skip is Skip. Especially in the middle of LSU baseball, I'm kind of at a loss for words. I guess I'm speechless."
Vincent said LSU was unsure when Bertman could return to work and was sure Bertman had heard about the Tigers' victory.
- NEXT PAGE »
- 1
- 2
-
How is this breaking news?
-
Only an idiot would ask that question. Go back to playing D&D, nimrod.
-
Bertman is about as big as a house... "breaking news" maybe; but certainly foreseeable. JT's interests probably go no deeper than LSU sports, so give him a break for his rude comment.
-
"Sports Alert" now. Best wishes to Skip and family.
-
Exactly, withersteen. Good to know at least someone pays attention to the actual alert, i.e. the word "sports". Good one, fratboy. I'm sure you make your mommy proud.
-
"JT" CHILL OUT!!! If "fratboy al" is an actual student at LSU, as myself, I can understand his response. SPORTS does not play a MAJOR role for the students at LSU....ACADEMICS does. I speak for the entire LSU family when I say: We pray for a speedy recovery for our beloved coach.
-
I hope that Skip has a speedy recovery. I'm glad his wife was able to get him to the hospital in time. I'm sure he'll receive the best of care!
-
Our prayers are with you Skip...This wont keep you down...
-
Best Wished Skp!! Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. Get better in time to make the trip to Omaha with us...
-
God Bless You Skip, and Ms Sandy and Family,,,, Get well soon
-
Hope that Coach Bertman recovers fully and has a chance to enjoy retirement. Thanks for all the memories, Coach. Also hope that those wise arses making light of his condition get run over by an 18 wheeler on the way to their minimum wage jobs.
-
I want to send thoughts and prayers to all of the Bertman family. My father-in-law is Skip's landscaper and they are the nicest people. Some who makes light of this is probably a young person who hasn't learned the true value of life yet. Skip has gotten us tickets to both BCS NC games and signed NC footballs for us and my granddaughter who was supposed to be born the day of the BCS game this year but because we had "other plans, Tuesday was the chosen day. When Skip was handing our large BCS and my granddaughter's small "It's a Girl" football I got at Woman's Hospital back to my father-in-law, Skip's wonderful wife suggested he get Les Miles to sign them as well. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bertman, without knowing ME, have given my life as a Tiger fan since I started going to games with my parents in the early 60's some of the best experiences of my 53 years. The Tiger Nation is so much bigger than the student body of LSU and students come and go as the Tiger Nation increases in size every year. I'm a college graduate and receiving my degree was a very exciting day in my life but not nearly as exciting as watching LSU beat Oklahoma and Ohio State. I still had my voice after I got my degree! Geaux Tigers and a speedy recovery, well wishes, and prayers to a truly wonderful man and his family!
-
Give 'em the best you got Skip. A lot of us Tiger fans have had similar problems and done just fine. My first was 16 years ago and I'm still as honery as every. Just do what the doc's say and don't rush things. You will be fine. Tiger fans are pulling for you and you are in our prayers. Looking forward to seeing you at the kickoff of the opening game of your's and our BCS National Champion LSU Tigers football team.
-
Thank you, Mrs. Plank, for reminding these guys LSU is bigger than them; that the world doesn't revolve around their time spent on campus. Those that think sports doesn't play a major role with the students are living in a box. Look around that beautiful campus.
-
Best of luck , Skip. We wish you a speedy recovery. Our son heard the news last night and called immediately. You and sandy are special people and wonderful friends. We wish you the best now and always.
-
Get Well Soon Skip!!! I'd send a get well card, however since season tickets are so expensive, this is all I can afford. :-) Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery.
-
Thank you for the nice comment TigerHou! Most students at LSU over the last 25+ years weren't even born when most of the population of Baton Rouge were busy being Tiger fanatics! Yes, academics are extremely important but to the hundreds of thousands of Tiger fans that are not in college or have already finished, we LOVE our Tiger sport's teams and we also love the truly honorable men that lead them!
Click "Report Abuse" to notify our moderators that a comment may contain objectionable content.
Your comment appears to contain objectionable content and must be reviewed by a site moderator. If your comment is deemed objectionable, it will not appear on the site.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
