Miller’s rough week gets worse after flubbed race

Bode Miller hit the trifecta: an apology, a disqualification, an absence.

One day after he was humbled for comments about drinking and racing, Miller was disqualified near the end of a World Cup race Friday in Wengen, Switzerland. The champion skier failed to get the result reversed and later skipped a ceremony in town for the downhill draw for today’s race.

“It just never stops with him,” World Cup race director Guenther Hujara said.

Miller, the defending overall champion, was disqualified just yards from the finish of a slalom, allowing Austria’s Benjamin Raich to win a super-combi and pad his lead in the overall standings.

The super-combi, a new version of the traditional combined, adds the times from a shortened downhill in the morning to a slalom leg a few hours later.

Norway’s Kjetil Andre Aamodt was second and Italy’s Peter Fill was third for his first top-three finish. The top American was Steven Nyman, 19th.

Miller was second fastest in the morning’s downhill and appeared to have won after the slalom, leading Raich by 1.11 seconds. But the New Hampshire skier was disqualified for straddling a gate near the end.

Miller was unable to get his disqualification changed after speaking with Hujara.

He then skipped the mandatory downhill bib draw ceremony in the town square, letting down thousands of fans. It was unclear why he was absent. No other skier missed the draw.

•Anja Paerson of Sweden was the surprise winner of the downhill at a women’s World Cup event in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, racing down a slope buried in thick snow in 1 minute, 37.70 seconds.

•Defending champion Roar Ljoekelsoey of Norway held the lead after the first day of the Ski Flying World Championships on the Kulm jump in Bad Mittendorf, Austria.

•Toby Dawson and Michelle Roark won in moguls, while Ryan St. Onge won the men’s aerials in the first day of competition at Deer Valley, Utah. Australia’s Lydia Ierodiaconou (women’s aerials) was the only non-American skier to win a gold.

tennis

Blake wins in Aussie preparation

American James Blake capped his Australian Open preparations with his fourth career ATP Tour title, beating Russian Igor Andreev 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (3) in the Sydney (Australia) International.

Blake dropped only one set in his previous four matches here – in the quarterfinals to Arnaud Clement of France. Andreev, meanwhile, had three consecutive three-set matches, including a semifinal win over Andreas Seppi of Italy.

•Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame deficits in the last two sets to rally for a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over Francesca Schiavone in the final of the Sydney International.

Olympics

IOC won’t investigate Nagano

The International Olympic Committee will not investigate reports that Japanese boosters lavished IOC members with “illegitimate” hospitality during Nagano’s winning bid for the 1998 Winter Olympics.

“The IOC has learned lessons from the past,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. “We have made inquiries and taken sanctions. What is past is past. The IOC has drawn a line under that.”

•In another blow for the reeling U.S. skeleton program, Noelle Pikus-Pace finished fifth in a race in Koenigssee, Germany, but it wasn’t enough to move the U.S. World Cup team into the top three in team standings – meaning it will have only one sled entered in the Olympics next month.

Miscellany

Burt won’t play for UW today

Washington guard Kayla Burt will not play today against USC after her heart defibrillator activated during Thursday night’s home game against UCLA.

The school said Burt was released from the hospital Friday night after testing and observation to determine what triggered the defibrillator to go off during a timeout in the first half of a 96-75 victory over UCLA.

Three years ago, Burt’s heart stopped while she was sitting in her apartment on New Year’s Eve, and she was revived by her roommates. She had a defibrillator implanted a short time later.

She sat out the rest of that season and the 2003-2004 season before returning to the Huskies last season.

•A student hit in the face by Tennessee defensive tackle Tony McDaniel during a pickup basketball game has filed an $800,000 lawsuit against the football player.

•Former Arkansas football assistant Roy Wittke was hired as Arizona State’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

•The WBC lightweight title bout between champion Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo scheduled for Feb. 4 in El Paso, Texas, was postponed because Corrales injured his ribs during training. Castillo will still fight against an opponent to be determined next week.

•UCLA basketball forward Lorenzo Mata is expected to miss at least six weeks after injuring his right knee against Washington State.