 Keteyian is a 1971 graduate of Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and graduated "cum laude" from San Diego State University with a BA degree in journalism in 1976.Keteyian began his journalism career as a sports and feature writer in San Diego, freelancing for "The San Diego Union-Tribune" and "San Diego Magazine" (1980–1982) after spending two years at the "Times-Advocate" in Escondido (1978–1980).In June 1982 he was hired as a reporter for "Sports Illustrated" in New York (1982–1989), where he specialized in investigations.