Getting to Know Karch Kiraly
Courtesy of the AVP
1/30/2003
There are a number of reasons that qualify Association of Volleyball Professionals’ Karch Kiraly as the greatest volleyball player of all time. 3 million, 143 and three are some that quickly come to mind.  
Anybody paying attention to the 17-year career of the 42-year-old UCLA graduate who earned this season’s AVP Best Defensive Player Award, knows what the numbers represent.  3 million: amount of dollars earned in volleyball career earnings making him the first to surpass the milestone. The exact numbers is $3,001,258.  143: number of career tournament championships with the most recent coming at the June 14-16 AVP Michelob Light Santa Barbara Open presented by Paul Mitchell with partner Brent Doble.  
Three: Olympic Gold Medals (indoor medals in Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 and the inaugural Olympic beach volleyball event in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games with Kent Steffes).  
The good news for fans, and bad news for opponents, is that he isn’t done yet. Kiraly heads into the AVP’s 20th season ready to add to his numbers and said he is 99 percent sure he won’t attempt to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.  
Kiraly, who describes his personal style of play as trying to be a well-rounded, consistent player, resides in San Clemente, Calif. with his wife, Janna and two sons, Kristian and Kory.  

Following are Kiraly’s answers to a list of questions from the AVP staff.

What superstitions do you have?
 My only one, really, is when I started wearing a pink hat in 1992 as Kent Steffes and I started our 13-tourney win streak, and now it's just a tradition.

What do you like least about playing on the AVP? 
What's not to like — we get to play a kid's game, at beautiful beaches all around the country and we get paid for it.

How long have you been playing volleyball? 
Since I was six years old, over 35 years now.

What made you start playing volleyball? 
My dad began to teach me at East Beach in Santa Barbara, Calif. He played a lot and I wanted to tag along, to hang out with him and his buddies.

Who are your favorite volleyball players? 

Steve Timmons, Ron von Hagen, Jim Menges, Gene Selznick, Sinjin Smith, there are many more, but that's a good start on the who's who list.

Who is the biggest inspiration in your life? 
My wife and kids

What is your pre-match ritual? 
Stretch using my flexibility coach's (Adrian Crook, http://www.inflex.com/ ) routine, which not only warms me up, but helps me lock my focus on the upcoming match; throwing and pepper; warmup hitting, setting, serving and serve receive; play.

What is your favorite music/singer/band? 
If I had to pick one, it'd be U2.

What hobbies do you have? 
Spending time with family, camping and photography.

Who are your favorite athletes? 

Al Oerter (discus) and Carl Lewis (long jump), the only athletes I know of that won four Gold Medals in four consecutive Olympics, exemplifying greatness over time, which I really admire.

What are your favorite movies? 
It's a Wonderful Life, Life is Beautiful, Young Frankenstein.

What are your favorite books? 
Think a Second Time (Dennis Prager), Out of America (Keith Richburg), The Death of Common Sense (Phillip Howard) and Drawing Life (David Gelernter).

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? 
Chocolate chip cookie dough

What is your favorite color? 
Purple

What is your fondest volleyball memory? 

Can't pick just one.

What are your favorite vacation spots? 
Zion Nat'l Park, Yellowstone Nat'l Park and Lake Mojave