For more than 40 years and over 1,600 games, Mike Furimsky has had one of the best seats to watch the Indiana Pacers. He’s sat at the scorer’s table with his stat crew family, and for the majority of the time with his late father, Paul.
Mike’s job: Operating the 24-second shot clock.
Now 68, he’s decided to retire and move on from a role he’s held since the 1970s. Tuesday night, when the Pacers host the Washington Wizards to Bankers Life Fieldhouse (8:00 p.m.), will be Furimsky’s final regular-season game.
“I’m getting real tired of the cold weather,” he said candidly, talking courtside prior to Sunday’s game. “The cold weather is what’s driving me out.”
“To the best shot clock operator in the league!” it reads at the top. Close family and friends watched proudly from a suite.
The jersey will be hung in his home office, replacing some old high school photos.
Mike’s been involved in sports since he was young. He attended George Washington High School and then went on Ball State University, where he played defensive end on the football team. After he graduated in 1967, he then earned his Master’s at Butler University.
Furimsky (right) was presented with a framed 24 jersey by PS&E President Rick Fuson on Sunday. [Photo: Frank McGrath/Pacers]
Furimsky’s start with the Pacers, though, began when his dad dragged him along while he was still student teaching at BSU.
“Get the in the car. We have some things we got to do out at at the Coliseum,” he recalled his father instructing him. “And that was it.”
Bill York, who still today is in charge of the stat crew and has the media room named after him, headed it up from the beginning. The other two originals were Paul (official timer), who passed away almost two years ago, and Bill Bevan (official scorer).
Anyone that knows or has talked to members of the stat crew can quickly see how they are like second family. Through it all, the highs and lows of the franchise, Furimsky has thoroughly enjoyed his role on game nights.
The best thing about the job, he said, is being around around family and having the best seat in the house. His daughter, Sarah Baird, is a full-time employee of the Pacers and handles partnership activation. She plays a key role in the organization’s relationships with corporate sponsorships, particularly with Papa John’s Pizza.
“It’s quite amazing to me how much love my family has for this team,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “Between three generations, we have worked a combined “nearly” 5,000 games. I grew up thinking my dad had the coolest “job” and was famous because people would look for him on TV or come down to the stat table before games to say hello. I’m just so proud of the commitment and work ethic he has brought to the team and it has clearly had an impact on me, not only in my career but in life. I’m so happy for him (and my mom, who used to read books during games in the 80’s) as they will now get to spend more time traveling and at their house in Florida without needing to return home for a big game!”
Another family connection: Laura Beth Clymer, one of his nieces, was a Pacemate last season.
Mike went to high school with former Pacer George McGinnis and explained how it wasn’t odd for the stats crew to hang out with the team. McGinnis would come over all the time, and even once babysat Sarah.
Things were much different back then, with players, coaches, stat crew members, and ball boys enjoying the company of one another — after games, on weekends, and just because. That doesn’t happen any more.
“You used to be able to get close to the players,” he said. “You could have them over for dinner and they would come to your house. Back in the day, there was very little distinction between players, coaches, and stat guys.”
That’s just one of many things that has changed in time.
“Very honestly, when I first started — and I didn’t do this — but there were people on the stat crew that would have a beer at the [scorer’s] table and they would have a beer while they were doing their work,” Furimsky revealed. “There was always beer at the table and they were always smoking.”
When asked for his favorite story, he thought for a minute and then shared one that didn’t even involve the Pacers. Instead, it was about longtime NBA Official Joey Crawford, who he has had arguments and laughs with over the years.
“Joey and I always have some extremely pleasant conversations,” he said smiling. “We eventually ended up liking each other but there was a period of time where we sort of butted heads.” Crawford won’t be officiating Tuesday’s game, but another connection, ex-Pacer Haywoode Workman, will have one of three whistles.
Furimsky has treasured his time and role with the team, but is looking forward to not having a strict schedule and being able to soak in the Florida sun. Since the 1960s, with only about four years off in the 1970s to coach three junior high teams, Mike Furimsky has been a constant at Pacers games.
Enjoy retirement, Mike. But don’t be a stranger.