His Career Has Been an Endless Summer

The victories don’t come as easy or as often anymore, so Karch Kiraly savors each one as if it will be his last.

That they still come at all is somewhat mind-boggling to the 44-year-old Kiraly, the oldest player on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour.

He’s not as quick, doesn’t jump as high or hit the ball quite as hard as he did in his heyday, but his court savvy and ball-control skills remain sharp. Kiraly, who teamed with Mike Lambert last week in Huntington Beach to add tournament win No. 148 to his record career total, continues to find ways to outlast players almost half his age.

“That, to me, is a little freaky,” Kiraly said. “The first time I won was before some of these guys were born. I find that hard to fathom.”

Two such players are Sean Rosenthal, 25, and Larry Witt, 26, the team Kiraly and Lambert defeated last week in the Huntington Beach finals.

The victory extended Kiraly’s record for the oldest player to win a tournament, a record he first set in 2000 and has re-set six times since.

“It baffles me for sure,” said Witt, who was born on July 13, 1979, six weeks after Kiraly’s first tournament victory on May 27, 1979. “The guy is still as strong as it gets.”

In his 27-year career, Kiraly has played in 332 tournaments, made the final four 260 times and has a 148-55 record in title matches. His victories have been spread among 13 partners and he has finished outside the top 10 only four times in domestic events.

He has posted five or more victories 12 times, including five seasons of double-digit victories, and his career earnings of $3.1 million lead the all-time list.

He won Olympic gold medals with the U.S. indoor teams in 1984 and 1988 and won the first Olympic gold in beach volleyball with Kent Steffes in 1996. He is the only volleyball player in history with three Olympic gold medals.

“He has defied father time and all logic to continue his winning ways,” AVP Commissioner Leonard Armato said. “He still has the enthusiasm of a young pup on the court and he’s redefining people’s perception of age and sports.”

Nobody knows that better than Lambert, the AVP’s most valuable player in 2004. Lambert has won tournaments with three partners, including four with Kiraly, but said nothing compares to a victory with Kiraly.

“How does Pippen feel playing along with Jordan?” Lambert said, referring to former Chicago Bull teammates Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. “This is Jordan right here. He’s won everything, he’s done everything and he’s still doing it.”

The reason, Lambert said, is simple.

“There’s no one more clutch than Karch,” he said. “Maybe there is a guy who is younger, jumps higher, hits harder, but when it’s 18-all, you don’t have the confidence that you do with Karch ... that he’s going to be there for you when it counts.”

Despite his longevity, Kiraly has no visions of immortality. The scars from three shoulder surgeries he has had since 1996 are a reminder that each victory or each match could be his last.

That was never more apparent than early this season when he took an awkward swing, felt bone-on-bone grinding and thought he had done irreparable damage.

A doctor told Kiraly he could keep playing.

“That was the closest I’ve ever been to thinking my career was over,” Kiraly said.

He has approached each season since 1997 as if it were his last, and this year was no different. His recent play, however, including the victory last week, has made his decision easy for next year.

“I feel like I’m playing at a high enough level and I’m having enough fun that it warrants me deciding to play next year,” he said.

It probably won’t be with Lambert, even though the two won the season points race last year and got into contention to repeat with their victory last week. Manhattan Beach this week is one of five tournaments remaining this season.

Lambert intends to try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The two-year qualification process begins in 2007, so he will need next year to find a long-term partner. Kiraly will be almost 48 by 2008 and has ruled out trying to play. He will be a commentator for NBC.

Athletic players such as Jason Ring or Rosenthal, guys who play like a young Kiraly, are candidates for Lambert, one of the top blockers on tour.

Still, Lambert hasn’t eliminated Kiraly from his list of potential 2006 partners, saying that the real decision won’t need to be made until after next season.

“You still have some time to figure it out,” he said.

Kiraly would welcome the partnership. It has certainly helped his longevity and he said the victory last week was “some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing in a tournament.”

In his glory days with Steffes from 1991 to 1996, Kiraly won 84 titles in 125 tournaments, including 13 in a row in 1992. Back then, the victories weren’t as sweet and the celebrations were muted.

“It was very businesslike and workmanlike,” Kiraly said. “I took them for granted then. We might celebrate with a quick hug and be like ‘Oh, another win.’ ”

Now, each victory has special meaning.

“They’re like icing on the cake now,” he said. “At my age, each win could be the last one, so as they come less frequently, I try and enjoy them more and more.”

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King of the kill

Karch Kiraly heads the list of the top 10 beach volleyball leaders in tournament victories:

*--* Player Years Wins Karch Kiraly 1979-present 148 Sinjin Smith 1977-2001 139 Randy Stolkos 1979-1997 122 Kent Steffes 1988-1999 110 Mike Dodd 1980-1997 75 Ron Van Hagen 1962-1978 62 Tim Hovland 1979-2000 60 Emanuel Rego 1994-Present 58 Jose Loiola 1992-Present 55 Jim Menges 1970-1991 48

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NOTE: Kiraly also won four “King of the Beach” titles in which players switched partners throughout the tournament.

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Kiraly’s victories by partner

Kent Steffes 76, Sinjin Smith 21, Adam Johnson 16, Brent Frohoff 9, Scott Ayakatubby 8, Mike Lambert 4, Mike Dodd 3, Brent Doble 2, Pat Powers 1, Peter Ehrman 1, Ricci Luyties 1, Steve Timmons 1, Tim Hovland 1.

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Beach volleyball

What: Manhattan Beach Open, an Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tournament.

* When: Today-Sunday. Qualifying play is today with the main draw Friday-Sunday. The women’s final is at 1 p.m. Saturday and the men’s final is at 1 p.m. Sunday.

* Where: Manhattan Beach Pier.

* Top-seeded men’s teams: 1. Stein Metzger-Jake Gibb; 2. Dax Holdren-Jeff Nygaard; 3. Casey Jennings-Matt Fuerbringer; 4. Sean Rosenthal-Larry Witt.

* Top-seeded women’s teams: 1. Kerri Walsh-Misty May-Treanor; 2. Elaine Youngs-Rachel Wacholder; 3. Holly McPeak-Jennifer Kessy; 4. Makare Wilson-Tyra Harper-Turner.

* 2004 champions: Karch Kiraly-Mike Lambert for men; Elaine Youngs-Holly McPeak for women.

* Television: Channel 4, Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.; Outdoor Life Network, Sunday at noon.

* Tickets: $50 beach club; $25 courtside; free for general admission.