It’s not the first time Miller has made news with his mouth instead of his skis. A few months ago, he suggested that doping rules should be relaxed for skiers, then he complained that he was being tested more often than others because of what he said.

And, while he became the first U.S. skier in 22 years to win the World Cup last year, he takes offense with the idea that he has something to prove in Turin.

“Whether somebody wants me to get five gold medals or whatever it is, I sort of feel like they are all other people’s concerns and issues, not really mine. ... I don’t really care what everybody else says,” he told “60 Minutes.”

Miller doesn’t seem to care much about what anyone says. And U.S. Olympic officials don’t seem to mind — or at least they didn’t up until his latest comments — partly because the country traditionally has a hard time winning medals in the Winter Games.

“I’ll give you the Al Davis line: Just win, baby,” U.S. Olympic Committee leader Jim Scherr said last month.

Turin organizers shouldn’t mind either. They have 1 million tickets available, and so far have sold less than 60 percent of them. The games aren’t drawing much attention at home, and a lack of hotel rooms in the Turin area limits how many tourists can come.

If you want to see Miller there’s plenty of tickets available for the downhill, giant slalom and other races. In fact, there’s tickets available for just about everything, including opening and closing ceremonies.

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For those staying home, NBC must be salivating with the thought there actually might be some must-see TV in these games. Miller and teammate Daron Rahlves could be battling each other for medals in the downhill and slalom, events dominated by Europeans in previous years, and there will be an added story line to see whether the United States can come close to its national record of 34 medals won in Salt Lake City.

Meanwhile, Miller is doing his best to get a buzz going. Say what you will about Miller, but discussing him is far more interesting than talking about Michelle Kwan’s groin pull.

Right now he’s America’s bad-boy skier.

Next month he could be the country’s Olympic hero.

Let’s just hope he leaves the bota bag at home.