Miller Loses Ski, Fails to Defend Combined Title

Bode Miller knew he couldn’t botch another slalom if he wanted to successfully defend his title in the combined at the world championships at Bormio, Italy. And he didn’t -- he blundered in the downhill instead.

The American star lost a ski but drew thunderous cheers as he rode down most of the course on one leg, finally ending up on his rear in a puff of snow.

Austria’s Benjamin Raich, second to Miller in the overall standings, won the gold medal Thursday, completing the morning’s downhill run and the two afternoon slalom legs in 3 minutes 19.10 seconds.

“It was an extra challenge for me in the slalom to try and ski really aggressive,” Miller said. “I finally got my skis dialed in over the last few races. So to not have a chance at that is kind of a bummer.”

Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway was second in 3:20.01 after teammate Kjetil-Andre Aamodt was disqualified for straddling a gate. That allowed Giorgio Rocca to move into third and give host Italy a bronze in 3:20.08. The top U.S. finisher was Ted Ligety, in 12th place.

Miller’s miserable slalom record this season -- finishing only once in seven attempts -- caused many to doubt he could get through the two slalom legs. So it was a jolt when only 15 seconds into the downhill he suddenly lost his left ski.

Coming off the second jump, Miller landed deep in his tuck. He hooked his left ski, which bounced hard off the packed surface, the binding releasing on the second impact.

“I landed with a lot of force. I hooked the edge. It was pretty abrupt,” Miller said. “At 75 miles an hour, as soon as your ski hits at that angle, there’s nothing except maybe luck to keep it on.”

The acrobatic Miller managed to stay upright and began a rollicking one-legged descent -- even dropping into a tuck position on occasion.

But with his tired leg finally giving out, Miller skied off course before falling.

Golf

Dudley Hart was best at conquering a treacherous wind at the FBR Open through a slow, difficult first round suspended by darkness with 45 players still on the course at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Hart was the leader in the clubhouse at four-under-par 67, one shot better than Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan.

Trevor Immelman, Steve Webster and Peter Lonard each shot a six-under 65 to tie for the lead of the Heineken Classic at Melbourne, Australia.

Ernie Els, trying to the win the tournament for the fourth consecutive year, had a one-over 72.

Tennis

Second-seeded Jiri Novak easily advanced to the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach ATP Tour event at Delray Beach, Fla., beating Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-2, 6-1.

In the quarterfinals, Novak will play seventh-seeded Kenneth Carlsen, a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 winner over American Brian Vahaly.

Jan-Michael Gambill beat Peter Wessels, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3, in a night match.

Top-seeded Gaston Gaudio reached the quarterfinals of the BellSouth Open at Vina del Mar, Chile, with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over David Sanchez.

Soccer

German soccer authorities have seen evidence that four games were fixed and said at least 10 players were suspected in a scandal that has rocked the country 16 months before it plays host to the World Cup.

The national soccer federation, which for the first time was allowed to review police investigation files, said that referee Robert Hoyzer had confessed to rigging four games after being bribed by a Croatian betting ring.

One player involved was identified by authorities, Romania’s Laurentiu-Aurelian Reghecampf of second-division Alemannia Aachen.

Dwight Yorke is returning to Trinidad and Tobago’s national team after an absence of more than 3 1/2 years and will be available for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against the United States.

A 33-year-old forward with Birmingham City in England’s Premier League, Yorke is Trinidad and Tobago’s most famous soccer star.

College Football

Texas State Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale filed a resolution urging abolition of the bowl championship series.

Van Arsdale’s resolution follows the California Senate’s adoption of a similar resolution filed by state Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Irvine).

Norm Chow, USC’s offensive coordinator, is expected to meet with Tennessee Titan Coach Jeff Fisher today in Nashville regarding the NFL team’s offensive coordinator position.

Miscellany

A fight broke out in the stands of a girls’ high school basketball game at Prattville, Ala., prompting police to fire taser guns to stop it and clear the gym, authorities said.

Police hit some participants with tasers, but the shock prongs had been removed and there were no injuries.

Joe Hamilton threw five touchdown passes to lead the Orlando Predators to a 51-41 Arena Football League victory over the Arizona Rattlers at Phoenix.

Chuck Foster resigned as president of U.S. Figure Skating after serving 21 months of his two-year term. Ron Hershberger of San Francisco, the organization’s first vice president, will be the interim president until U.S. Figure Skating’s governing council meets in May.

Devil’s Bag, champion 2-year-old male in 1983 and a horse who sired 43 stakes winners, was euthanized at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., after suffering an undisclosed injury in his stall.