Fast Break

Skiing

Miller toast of the town again

Bode Miller had company all around him Friday, and not just on the podium.

Miller narrowly avoided a high-speed collision with a course worker to capture his first World Cup downhill victory in two years, ignoring the scare along with increasingly heavy snowfall to charge down the Birds of Prey course in 1 minute, 46.15 seconds in Beaver Creek, Colo.

Swiss downhill veteran Didier Cuche was runner-up, 0.15 seconds behind, while another American, Steve Nyman, was third, 0.33 back.

Americans have won the Birds of Prey downhill – considered one of the top-three toughest on the World Cup circuit – the last three years.

Each time, they’ve put two racers on the podium. Miller and Daron Rahlves, the country’s most decorated speed event skier, traded 1-2 finishes here in 2004 and ‘05. Despite Rahlves’ retirement, four Americans finished in the top 10 Friday.

Miller’s last World Cup victory was at the finals in Are, Sweden, in March, when he won a super-G.

Beaver Creek is the only U.S. stop on the World Cup circuit, so “obviously, everybody’s pushing the limits here,” Miller said. “You’re more likely to take an extra risk when you’re in front of your home fans.”

Arena football

Shock coaching staff complete

Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford completed his staff with the addition of Charles Hafley and Alex Sirianni. It was announced previously that assistant head coach Travis Crusenberry would return.

Hafley has been named assistant director of player personnel and defensive backs coach. As a strong safety, Hafley played at Clemson. After graduating in 2001, Hafley spent one season with the New York Giants before playing in the AFL and the af2. He has coached football at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the past three seasons.

Sirianni, a Mercer Island, Wash., native, has been hired as defensive assistant and special teams coach. The past two seasons he coached linebackers at Anderson (Ind.) University, where he also was a player.