Miller to race slalom despite rolling his ankle playing basketball

Bode Miller was rehabilitating his ankle Wednesday after twisting it while playing basketball with teammates but is expected to race the Olympic slalom, his fifth and final chance at a Turin Games medal.

Photo: Miller to race slalom despite rolling his ankle playing basketball

"He's good to go," U.S. men's skiing coach Phil McNichol said.

U.S. Ski Team Alpine director Jess Hunt confirmed reports that Miller hurt his left ankle Tuesday.

"Bode tweaked his ankle and he's getting worked on," Hunt said. "He's doing rehab and it looks pretty good for Saturday. We're thinking pretty positive about that."

Hunt said he had no problem with Miller shooting hoops during the Olympics.

"The guys are playing games all the time soccer, basketball," Hunt said. "You need to do that.

"I think right now the issue is with the ankle ... the therapists are telling me it looks good so we're thinking positive."

Miller has failed to finish five of seven World Cup slaloms this season and was disqualified in the first slalom leg of the Olympic combined event he was leading. His last slalom victory was Dec. 13, 2004, on the hill he will ski Saturday.

In his first four men's Alpine races, Miller finished fifth in the downhill, was disqualified from the combined after straddling a gate, failed to finish the super-G after slamming into a gate and tied for sixth place in the giant slalom, reports AP.

O.Ch.