Last Year for Karch

[Mac]

Also, the AVP will have an event in Long Beach this season.
www.avp.com/news/article.jsp?id=7113

www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1597200.php

Friday, March 2, 2007

Kiraly likely to announce retirement
Beach volleyball legend is expected to give it up after this season.

By SHAWN PRICE
The Orange County Register

Karch Kiraly, one of the greatest beach volleyball players in the sport's history, is expected to announce his retirement at an informal news conference in Huntington Beach on March 13. But he hasn't left the sand just yet.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist and longtime San Clemente resident is expected to play in several events during the AVP season, including the Huntington Beach Open scheduled for May, before leaving the professional ranks in September. During the news conference, he also is expected to talk about his involvement in a new grassroots beach volleyball event in Southern California.

Still a marvel of fitness and competitive fire at 46, Kiraly (pronounced keer-EYE) is a towering figure in the game. He has won more tournaments (148), more money ($3 million plus) and more professional accolades than any other player on the sand over a 29-year career.
Kiraly's first pro year on the beach was 1978. The length of his career has stretched out so long that Kiraly was already a top player when his most recent partner, Larry Witt, was in diapers.

As an indoor player, Kiraly starred as well. He was a four-time All-American at UCLA, where he led the team to three national championships. Two of the seasons, 1979 and 1982, the Bruins were undefeated. In 1992, his jersey was retired, and he was inducted into the school's hall of fame.

He won his first two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. indoor team, before returning to the beach for good, where he won the gold with then-partner Kent Steffes in the sport's Olympic debut in Atlanta in 1996. Kiraly was also the AVP's most valuable player six times.

Contact the writer: Contact the writer: 714-796-2329 or [e-mail]

[northbeach]

mac said:

Karch Kiraly, one of the greatest beach volleyball players in the sport's history, is expected to announce his retirement at an informal news conference in Huntington Beach on March 13.

ONE of the greatest?

[vball808]

Best player in history, hands down. Indoor/Beach

[allymcbeal]

The Pete Sampras of volleyball

[bunnywailer]

It's about freakin' time! Sheesh.

[bunnywailer]

allymcbeal said:

The Pete Sampras of volleyball

Bad comparison. Sampras was a gentleman and always conducted himself with class.

Karch flipped the bird on national (and probably international) TV, tore nets down, and mooned refs.

[allymcbeal]

bunnywailer said:

allymcbeal said:

The Pete Sampras of volleyball

Bad comparison. Sampras was a gentleman and always conducted himself with class.

Karch flipped the bird on national (and probably international) TV, tore nets down, and mooned refs.

OK then. He's the John McEnroe of volleyball

[bunnywailer]

vball808 said:

Best player in history, hands down. Indoor/Beach

I disagree. Kiraly can be called the most decorated US volleyball player in history and that would be correct, based on his winnings both indoors and on the beach.

He might also be categorized as the best player of his generation, and that would be mostly correct.

Best ever? That is not measurable. The game evolves, the rules change, and as such today's volleyball athletes do things alot differently than athletes from 20 years ago.

[Murina]

bunnywailer said:

vball808 said:

Best player in history, hands down. Indoor/Beach

I disagree. Kiraly can be called the most decorated US volleyball player in history and that would be correct, based on his winnings both indoors and on the beach.

He might also be categorized as the best player of his generation, and that would be mostly correct.

Best ever? That is not measurable. The game evolves, the rules change, and as such today's volleyball athletes do things alot differently than athletes from 20 years ago.

Agreed. As far as indoor players go, Italians would argue for Giani, Brazilians for Giba if not others... I can't think of anyone else who belongs in the discussion, at least not over the last 20 years...

Personally, indoors, I vote for Giba as being better than Kiraly at everything except pure serve receive. Of course, there is WAY tougher serving now so maybe Giba could get the nod there also.

[thor]

Karch is probably the best all-around player in the world including both indoor and beach, as a combination of both... But the best in both ever as individual sports? No. For example, Marcio Araujo and Emanuel (beach) and Giba (indoor) are better as players now in their particular sport. Of course there are many other great players.
Like someone said, the game and rules have changed, and maybe the best way to put it is 'best of his generation' or something like that. The only player who has both indoor and beach olympic gold... that won't happen again, or at least it is very unlikely. I just marvel the fact that he has stayed this competitive at a high level this long. One of a kind as an athlete, his career as a whole is just amazing.