Rebel on the Edge

In Europe, where he is a celebrity, Bode Miller has stood at the top of slalom runs and listened to 50,000 Austrians chanting "Bo-de, Bo-de." They know that his eccentric skiing style — butt back, feet forward, hands flying — and utter disregard for actually finishing a race, never mind winning it, will often produce compelling sport. In the combined downhill in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Miller was a nanosecond from disaster when he made what might have been the greatest 60 m.p.h. recovery in the history of skiing to claim a silver medal. He either lands on the...