Sparky

The big news from across the water is that Bode Miller has confirmed that he won't be skiing in another Olympics, after his "terrible" experience in the last one.

"It's highly doubtful that I'll be racing in 2010," America's top skier said last week, "and even if I am racing in World Cup, I wouldn't go to the Olympics.

After winning two silver medals in the 2002 Olympics and then the overall World Cup title in 2005, expectations were extremely high for Miller to bring back at least one gold in the 2006 Games. Instead, he didn't win any medals, and was roundly criticized for partying off the slopes.

"Everybody parties," he said, but it angered him when the US team didn't come to his defense, and instead apologized for him, he said.

Too much emphasis on winning
"There's too much emphasis on winning," he said during an appearance at BodeFest, a charity ski event that raises money for his Turtle Ridge Foundation, a nonprofit that concentrates on adaptive skiing for kids and adults with disabilities.

After winning two World Cup downhills and two Super Gs, and the overall Super G title he is only two victories behind Phil Mahre as the American with the most cup wins. Miller, who turns 30 in October, expects to pass Mahre next season, but even that is not certain:

”I’d quit in the middle of a race”
"In my mind, I'm better than any other racer," he said, "But I would stop in midseason if I'm not happy doing what I'm doing," he said. "I'd quit in the middle of a race."