Partied-out Miller receives World Cup trophy

Bode, Vonn mark first American skip sweep in 25 years

	Bode Miller, center, receives the trophy for winning the overall World Cup title as Benjamin Raich, left, and Didier Cuche look on Sunday.
Armando Trovati / AP

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JT The Brick

updated 12:42 p.m. ET March 16, 2008

BORMIO, Italy - Bode Miller looked haggard and barely grinned. Lindsey Vonn appeared fresh and was all smiles.

The skiers received their large crystal globes Sunday to mark the first American sweep of overall World Cup titles since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney accomplished the feat 25 years ago.

"It's history and it doesn't happen very often, so you have to enjoy the moment and I'm definitely enjoying it,'' Vonn said after the American anthem was played for the second time.

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Miller asked photographers to hurry up so he could get back to his motor home.

"It was great for USA skiing, but I don't think it has much of an effect one way or another in the U.S," he said. "But it is cool to see us take those globes away from the Europeans once in a while."

The ceremony was held on a rainy morning after the team event that was scheduled to close the season was canceled. The stands were mostly empty.

Miller showed up in blue jeans and a white jacket from his breakaway "Team America" squad. Vonn had her complete U.S. Ski Team racing suit on.

"It's raining so it's a little bit weird but I'm really happy," Vonn said, adding that she almost cried during the anthem. "I tried not to because you don't want to mess up the makeup. But it was a pretty emotional time."

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Miller broke away from the U.S. team to race and train on his own this season. He didn't drink all season, then let loose at what was advertised around town as "the Bode Miller party" Saturday night.