Vital stats
Age: 32 Height/weight: 6-8, 220
Lives in: San Diego
Today’s event
The U.S. men’s volleyball team faces world power Brazil on NBC between 11:35 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Day job
He plays pro in Italy.
Olympic experience
This will be his third Olympics. The U.S. placed a disappointing 11th last time.
Background
Ball has been the U.S. national team’s starting setter since joining the program in 1994. As a 17-year-old in 1989, he was the youngest to make the national roster when he joined the team for a one-week trip.
Check it out
If you’re fluent in Italian, his Italian team site has stats:
www.daytona.it/ita/PrimaSquadra.asp
Early days
Ball turned down an offer to play basketball at Indiana for Bobby Knight to pursue volleyball for his coach-father Arnie Ball at Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne.
Did you know?
His half-dozen tattoos include the Egyptian symbol for peace, a triangle with a skeleton jumping out serving a volleyball and the Olympic rings with an infinity symbol.
Post-Olympic star potential
If the team gets on a roll, the team captain will be front and center. And his ink job will only get him more air time. Star power: 7 out of 10.
In the booth Volleyball broadcast team
Jim Watson: The multisport Fox Sports Net announcers works in Seattle.
Mike Dodd: A silver medalist in beach volleyball at the ’96 Games is now an AVP Tour broadcaster.
2000 medalists
Gold: Yugoslavia
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Italy
