Known as a math teacher here at Gables, Ms. Furnari is known as a Miami Heat statistic person when she steps onto the court at the American Airlines Arena.  Here,  Furnari shares her dedication to math both inside and outside of school.

Q: For how long have you been working at Gables?

A: This is my 31 year at Coral Gables and my 31 year teaching.

Q: What do you teach?

A: I teach…Algebra 2 Regular, Algebra 1, Intensive Math and Algebra 2 Honors Gifted.

Q: Why did you choose to teach Math at Gables?

A: Actually Coral Gables found me; when I graduated from college in New York, my parents moved down here and I applied downtown…Coral Gables was the first [school] that called me.  I was 21 years old.

Q: When did you start off as a stat person for the Miami Heat?

A: I started 26 years ago.

Q: Why did you choose to become a stat person for the Heat?

A:  I knew somebody at the University of Miami.  I worked their stats first and the people who work at University of Miami worked the Heat games…I missed a year and half of the Heat and then they brought me over.

Q: Are there any requirements in order to be a stat person? What are they?

A:  Well [I] had to prove that [I] knew the game of basketball and [I was prepared because] I coached here for 2 years. In order to be a stat person [I] had to take a test….every year you need to know every single thing about the game.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a stat person?

A:  Besides just being involved with the Miami Heat, [I think] the organization is top notch. They treat you very well, they respect you, and it is a great place to work.  The people that I work with are very good friends of mine and we get along very well.

Q: What do you have to do as a stat person?

A:  [On a typical day] , I leave here [at] about 5:15 [and] get to the arena at quarter to six. I go out to the court and I put in the injury lineups, check the rosters, [and] make sure every number matches the player, because you have active and inactive players, and that has to be done by a certain time.  Then I go eat, and then I go back out at around seven, double check the roster, [and] make sure everything is ok and that is it; the game goes on.

Q: How often do you calculate stats?

A: Every home game. Every home team has their own stat crew, so when I have a game, I am doing stats for the away team and my team. I am doing everything that is happening on the court, so I don’t travel.  I only do the home games.

Q: Is it hard being a stat person?

A: It could be if you are not involved in sports.  It is not hard. I think being a math person [helps] because of all the numbers and things that you work with [require]…you be logical [and] rational, [and because] it calms you down when things are going on and it gets very stressful. The game goes on, [and if]  you miss something there are other people there that check, because…they have to check what I am doing and make sure everything goes in.  You have to do footage on the court; whether [there are] alley-oops, dunks, rebounds, [or] officials, you got to have everything in there.

Q: What is your least favorite part about being a stat person?

A:  [My] least favorite [part] is getting home at 12, 12:30, at night and getting up at 4:15.