PHOENIX -- As Head Statistician for the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA Phoenix Mercury Desert Schools Federal Credit Union Vice President/Chief Information Officer Ron Amstutz never misses a home game.
"I have always loved basketball and have played all my life," said Amstutz. "When I was a kid I dreamed I would play in the NBA someday--now I'm just happy to be a part of it."
A chance meeting in 1998 during a charity golf event with Cotton Fitzsimmons got Amstutz an "in" to this basketball fan's dream.
"I did stats in Indiana with Bethel College's basketball team for about five years before moving out here and Cotton Fitzsimmons was aware of our coach. The team had won three national championships," said Amstutz. "So while we were in the same charity golf group I asked him for the opportunity to do stats for the Suns, gave him my business card and thought I'd never hear from him."
He was wrong. Six weeks later when one of the statisticians got transferred to San Francisco Amstutz went on board as the #5 person in 1999. Four years ago he moved up the ranks and has been head statistician ever since.
"Just the excitement of being part of the team is amazing," said Amstutz. "We didn't win many games the first few years but now we are one of the top teams in the NBA. To be at every home game and just being a part of this organization is great."
--mdigiovanni@cutimes.com
