BRIEFLY MILLER STRIKES RARE U.S. GOLD.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Bode Miller won his first gold medal in a major race, taking the combined title Thursday in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Usually so calm, so nonchalant, Miller needed time alone to compose himself after winning. He dropped to one knee on the snow, gripping his forehead with one hand, and wiped his reddened eyes with the backs of his mittens.

``I was thinking about what I was feeling and the battle I'd waged,'' the 25-year-old Miller said. ``People tend to discount the combined. But it's the toughest event, ... emotionally, physically and mentally.''

Miller finished ahead of two of the greatest combined skiers ever: Norway's Lasse Kjus won the silver and compatriot Kjetil-Andre Aamodt took the bronze.

Miller now has two medals in two races after sharing the silver with Hermann Maier of Austria in the opening super giant slalom.

He also gave the United States its first gold of the two-week event, and the fourth medal overall after only three races.

Miller's victory came 33 years after Billy Kidd of the United States won the combined at the worlds in Val Gardena, Italy. He is only the fourth American man to win a world championship title, after Kidd, Steve Mahre and Daron Rahlves.

``Once you have momentum, when you get the team feeling like that, it's contagious,'' said Miller, who won the silver in the combined at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

Miller had a total time of 3 minutes, 18.41 seconds. In this event, the combined times of the two slalom runs are added to the downhill time. Kjus finished 0.07 seconds behind and Aamodt was 0.13 off the pace.

FOOTBALL: The Avengers signed free-agent fullback-linebacker Kevin Clemens and plan on activating him for Sunday's Arena League game against San Jose.

Clemens is a three-year AFL veteran who most recently was released from the Seattle Seahawks during training camp. The Avengers will move lineman Vince Amey to injured reserve with a broken hand to make room for Clemens.

--A federal appeals court in San Francisco ordered new litigation on the Oakland Raiders' challenge to their income taxes stemming from the team's failed proposal to move to Irwindale.

In a separate action, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also sided with the Raiders over a tax dispute stemming from a scuttled agreement to build luxury boxes at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

On that issue, the dispute was whether the team should pay taxes on a $4 million loan it received from the Coliseum Commission. Under IRS rules, loans generally are not taxable income.

TENNIS: Chris Evert announced she won't work for NBC Sports at Wimbledon this summer and is leaving broadcasting after 13 years to spend more time with her family and charity work.

--Mary Pierce, weakened by a throat infection, lost in the quarterfinals of the Indian Open to Italy's Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Hyderabad, India.

BOXING: Bernard Hopkins will defend his WBC middleweight world title against top contender Mourade Hakkar on March 29 at the First Union Spectrum in Philadelphia.

The 38-year-old Hopkins (41-2-1, 30 KOs), who grew up in North Philadelphia, last fought in the city in 1993 at the Blue Horizon.

The bout will be the first major fight at the Spectrum since Mike Tyson defeated Buster Mathis Jr. in 1995.

The card also includes an IBF heavyweight elimination bout between Hasim Rahman (25-4, 29 KOs) and David Tua (42-3, 37 KOs).

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BODE MILLER

American skiier emotional after winning combined title in Switzerland