Miller leaving U.S. ski team

Former Olympic medalist and World Cup champion Bode Miller is leaving the U.S. ski team, ending his contentious relationship with the federation that oversees the sport in this country.

The fiercely independent Miller has been at odds with the association for years, and there long had been rumblings that he would leave the team.

U.S. officials have been unhappy with Miller’s late-night partying and his outlandish public comments.

But he was by far the best skier on the team.

The 29-year-old Miller won two silver medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, but was shut out at the 2006 Turin Games despite being a favorite in nearly every Alpine discipline. He was criticized for spending too much time in local clubs.

The announcement of his departure came as the U.S. team opened its training camp in Park City, Utah, on Saturday.

Miller still could compete at the Olympics and other major international competitions, but has said it’s doubtful he’ll be racing at the time of the 2010 Vancouver Games -- and that, even if he is still competing, he would not take part in another Olympics.

Miller has been a part of the U.S. team for 11 years, but will have to travel and train on his own if he competes in the 2008 World Cup season.

Miller’s cousin Liko Kenney fatally shot and ran over a police officer, then was killed by a passerby who grabbed the officer’s gun Friday night in Franconia, New Hampshire Atty. Gen. Kelly Ayotte said Kenney shot Cpl. Bruce McKay four times, then ran over him with his car after a traffic stop.

TENNIS

Nadal tops McEnroe’s streak with 76th win

Second-seeded Rafael Nadal extended his winning streak on clay to 76 matches and broke John McEnroe’s record for most victories on one surface by defeating fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (8), 6-4, in the semifinals of the Rome Masters.

McEnroe had a 75-match winning streak on indoor carpet between September 1983 and April 1985. In today’s final, Nadal will play sixth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, who beat Filippo Volandri, 6-1, 6-2.

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Top-seeded Justine Henin rallied from 4-0 down in the final set to defeat fifth-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, and reach the semifinals of the German Open at Berlin.

Henin then stepped on the court again a few hours later to play third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals. Rain stopped the match with Kuznetsova leading, 6-4, 5-7, 3-2.

They’ll finish today, and the winner will play 12th-seeded Ana Ivanovic in the final. Ivanovic advanced when Julia Vakulenko quit because of a right wrist injury during the first set.

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Top-ranked Roger Federer, who has played in four consecutive tournaments without winning a title, is splitting from coach Tony Roche.

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The 12th-seeded USC men’s team remained unbeaten at home this season, defeating defending NCAA champion Pepperdine, 4-0, in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Trojans (22-2) advance to the round of 16 at Athens, Ga., where they will play fifth-seeded Notre Dame on Thursday. The Waves finished 23-8.

Ninth-seeded UCLA (21-3) defeated Texas Tech, 4-0, and will face today’s Oklahoma-Oklahoma State winner in the round of 16.

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The eighth-seeded USC’s women’s team defeated Boston University, 4-0, in a first-round match at USC’s Marks Stadium. The Trojans (18-4) will play Texas today in the second round. The Longhorns (16-9) beat UC Irvine, 4-0. The Anteaters finished 21-5.

UCLA’s women beat Quinnipiac, 4-0, at the L.A Tennis Center. The 12th-seeded Bruins (17-7) will play Florida State today in the second round. The Seminoles (16-7) beat San Diego State, 4-0.

HOCKEY

Canada and Finland advance to title game

Michael Cammalleri of the Kings had a goal and an assist to help Canada defeat defending world champion Sweden, 4-1, and advance to today’s final against Finland at Moscow. Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild scored in overtime to lead Finland to a 2-1 victory over Russia.

This is the fourth time in the last five years that Canada has reached the final.

GOLF

Jee Young Lee (63) takes one-stroke lead

Jee Young Lee took a one-stroke lead in the LPGA’s Michelob Ultra Open at Williamsburg, Va., matching the course record with an eight-under-par 63.

Lee, who is at 11-under 202, tied the record set by Kim Williams in 2004 and matched by Sarah Lee in the first round. Sarah Lee shot a 72 and is 10 under.

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The sixth-ranked USC women’s team won the NCAA Central Regional tournament at the Michigan Golf Club in Ann Arbor and will advance to the NCAA final for the 11th consecutive year.

TRACK AND FIELD

UCLA’s Watkins wins long jump, high jump

UCLA’s Rhonda Watkins made Pacific 10 Conference history in Palo Alto when she became the first woman to win the long jump and high jump conference titles in the same meet.

Watkins defended her 2006 high jump title and won the 2007 long jump while competing in both events simultaneously. She won the high jump at 6-0 1/2 and the long jump at 21-8 3/4 .

HORSE RACING

Flying First Class to run in Preakness

Trainer Wayne Lukas told Pimlico Race Course officials Flying First Class will run in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, but he will point Starbase to a different race. Pimlico officials also announced Teuflesberg, trained by Jamie Sanders, has been withdrawn from consideration.

-- Robyn Norwood