Bode Miller is leaner these days, about 20 pounds lighter than hes been in quite a while. His left knee no longer aches, either, which hasnt been the case in nearly 12 years. This is a new version of Miller training for the Sochi Olympics, one who will no longer simply attack downhill courses with a reckless abandon sure to either win him a race or send him flying. No, Miller vows to be more strategic and tactical this season, especially with his surgically repaired knee -- the one that sidelined him all of 2012-13 -- finally fixed. Sure, he will still take risks -- thats simply part of his DNA -- but those gambles will be much more calculated. Hes also skiing in the memory of his younger brother, Chelone, a charismatic snowboarder who died of what was believed to be a seizure in April. "I absorbed a lot of his energy when all that happened," Miller said Wednesday in phone interview with The Associated Press after a training session in New Zealand with the U.S. squad. "Its tough. Real tough. It doesnt ever go away. Everybody who knew him dedicates a part of the rest of their life to him." Just 18 months after microfracture surgery that couldve ended his career, Miller is back on the slopes and feeling as fit as ever. He fully expects to be ready for the World Cup season opener in Soelden, Austria, in October and definitely back in customary Bode Miller form by the time Sochi rolls around in February. "My skiing came back really quick," said Miller, who has 33 World Cup wins, two overall titles and five Olympic medals on his resume. "Things have been great. The equipment feels good. My knee feels good. Im feeling really, really good." The year away from skiing has almost been therapeutic for Miller. Once he came to terms with it, that is. Then, he made the most of the break, spending time fishing off the back of his houseboat with his daughter, travelling with his wife, pro volleyball player Morgan Miller, and working on his golf game. Miller believes he needed to slow down in order to rush down the mountain again. "Felt great to have a break," Miller said. "It was an excellent time. I definitely am ready to be back on snow." And anytime he steps into the starting gate, hes among the favourites, even if he will turn 36 this season. "He still has it," said U.S. coach Forest Carey, whos working directly with Miller and Ted Ligety. "Bode is old enough and done enough in the sport, he doesnt have to prove anything to anyone." As for Miller altering his hard-charging style, well, Carey has one bit of advice -- keep being Bode Miller. "Hes really pulled some rabbits out of the hat before and the way he skis, yeah, if he makes it down, hes going to be fast," Carey said. "He just brings mad intensity and charges so hard. Its early, of course, just testing the knee out and seeing how its feeling. But so far, its all right." One thing Miller changed in the off-season was his workout routine. He will enter the season a shade over 200 pounds, a weight that will allow him to glide into turns instead of bullying his way through a course. "I have a lot less strain on my knee," he said. "It allows me to ski a different tactic, a different style. Im really psyched to give it a try, to reset some things and win some races." The subject of his brother remains a tender one for Miller. The two were tight. In recent years, Chelone Miller-- or "Chilly" as he was known -- was focusing on snowboardcross to earn a spot in Sochi. The 29-year-old died in the area of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. "I dedicate the rest of my life to him," Miller said. Miller is putting his knee through a rigorous workout this month as he trains in New Zealand alongside Ligety, the worlds top giant slalom skier. "I get to see what I need to be at," Miller said. So far, hes pretty much keeping up, too. No swelling or pain in the knee, either. Miller had surgery on his constantly troublesome knee in February 2012. He returned to skiing this spring as he squeezed in some light super-G training in Austria. "That was bumpy and fast and gnarly and felt great," Miller said. "I wasnt pushing 100 per cent, but that was great. Now, Im ready to rip." Hes certainly ahead of schedule compared to where he was going into the 2010 Vancouver Games. Back then, he was off all summer because, "I was kind of retired." Miller returned to training late that fall and went on to win Olympic gold in the super-combined, silver in the super-G and bronze in the downhill. "This time, Im starting at a more appropriate time, with the full time to get myself in shape and prepared for the World Cup season," Miller said. "Im comfortable and confident that I will be ready to race. "Im ready to go for it." Jamar Taylor Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Jamie Collins Youth Jersey . 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FORT WORTH, Texas -- Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma took advantage of their fresh start in Big 12 play, even with a far-from-perfect effort.Mayfield made up for two lost fumbles with four touchdowns, running for two and throwing two long ones to Dede Westbrook, and the Sooners held on to win their conference opener, 52-46 at 21st-ranked TCU on Saturday.To come into a road environment like that and battle back, and kind of take over the game, just completely take momentum, its good to see, Mayfield said. The biggest thing is not stalling out in the second half.After giving up 21 points in the first quarter for the first time in 20 years, the Sooners (2-2) went ahead to stay with 28 consecutive points in the second quarter.This team has fight and character, and we need to again do some fundamental things better, coach Bob Stoops said. But I believe as we go through, well keep getting better from it.Westbrook was wide open on a flea flicker for a 67-yarder that put Oklahoma up 28-21, and Mayfield then hit in him stride again for a 40-yard score.Thats Baker for you, said Westbrook, smiling.The Sooners outscored TCU 42-3 over the second and third quarters to build a 25-point lead before the Frogs (3-2, 1-1) scored on three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter -- including TD passes of 64 and 74 yards from Kenny Hill to Taj Williams.Well, I like the way we fought back. What I wasnt happy with was we did it when they let down, TCU coach Gary Patterson said. Offensively after 21 points, we didnt play for two quarters.Mayfield was facing TCU for the first time since saying before the Orange Bowl last year that TCU was the team that disappointed him the most in recruiting, and claiming the Horned Frogs kind of drug it out without offering a scholarship while he turned down other offers.Patterson and Mayfield both insisted this week all that was in the past, with Mayfield even saying things were blown out of proportion. But when they were the same field, the Oklahoma junior quarterback was 23-of-30 passing for 274 yards, and ran 12 times for 55 yards.When asked what the game meant to him personally, Mayfield responded that it was huge to start conference play with a win.Everybody was saying our season was over, but to start the conference off 1-0 against one of the better teams in the conference, especially on the roaad, its going to be a confidence booster for us, he said.dddddddddddd Personally, just moving forward, its great to see the offense have some success and realize our full potential.TAKEAWAYSOklahoma: While the Sooners chances of a return to the College Football Playoff most likely ended after those two September losses (to No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Houston), theyre off to a good start in pursuit of a 10th Big 12 title. Oklahoma hasnt lost consecutive regular-season games since 1999, in Stoops first season.TCU: Those defensive woes for the Frogs clearly arent settled. While not allowing a touchdown against SMU a week ago, Pattersons squad allowed more than 40 points for the third time this season.RUNNING SOONERSThe Sooners had a 49-24 lead after Samaje Perines second TD run, a 1-yarder late in the third quarter. Perine, who finished with 98 yards on 17 carries yards, had an 8-yard TD in the second quarter when he reached the ball over the goal line while on top of TCU linebacker Sammy Douglas and 340-pound left tackle Orlando Brown. Joe Mixon had 16 carries for 105 yards, and also caught five passes for 70 yards.BIG-PLAY FROGSKenny Hill completed 26 of 44 passes for 449 yards and five touchdowns for TCU, including scoring strikes of 64 and 74 yards to Taj Williams in the fourth quarter, the later ending a stretch of 22 consecutive points for the Frogs that got them to 49-46. Williams finished with five catches for 210 yards.POLL IMPLICATIONSOklahoma: The Sooners have already been ranked as a two-loss team, so theres a good chance they get back in the poll this week after the impressive comeback. They were second in others receiving votes a week ago, having fallen out after an open date.TCU: Already in and out of the Top 25 in the first month of the season, the Frogs could fall out again after climbing back in last week.UP NEXTOklahoma: Coach Bob Stoops team will be about 40 miles east in Dallas next Saturday for the annual Red River rivalry game against Texas at the State Fair of Texas.TCU: The Horned Frogs head to Kansas next weekend, the first of consecutive road games before an open date. Their next home game is Oct. 29.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '