VAL GARDENA, Italy -- If Bode Miller wants to return to ski racing this season as he approaches the age of 40, hes going to have to show U.S. team coach Sasha Rearick that hes still got the necessary speed.Theres always a chance with Bode, always. But at this point right now were not expecting a miracle return real quick, Rearick told The Associated Press on Friday.Still, Rearick would not rule out a return by Miller this season, saying the six-time Olympic medalist could possibly race in January.Miller has won 33 World Cup races but he has never won the famed Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria, which is scheduled for Jan. 21.Also Friday, a judge dismissed a lawsuit Miller had filed against ski manufacturer and his former sponsor Head. Miller ended his nearly 10-year partnership with Head in 2015 and signed an agreement not to use other skis in World Cup or world championship races for two years. He was attempting to get out of the remainder of the deal so that he could race on skis by New York-based Bomber, which he helped develop.Its not clear what effect the dismissal might have Millers return.While he has not raced since severing his right hamstring tendon in February 2015, Miller might be tempted to return in time for Kitzbuehel. That could enable him to qualify for the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in February.The U.S. team can start only four skiers in each race at the worlds.Hes going to have to qualify for the world championships, Rearick said. He would have to show me hes ready to play or qualify straight up by criteria.The 39-year-old Miller did not show much speed during training at Copper Mountain in Colorado last month, trailing several teammates.He was not in the mix in those four-five guys, and we were ahead of the Norwegians there, Rearick said.The training in Copper was on a 30-second track of about 800 meters (yards), just a fraction of the distance of a full World Cup downhill or super-G.Miller has not had any race training since Copper, according to Rearick, who added Miller will come to Europe to train next month and then be evaluated.At the 2015 world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, Miller was leading the super-G after several intervals despite not having raced all season. Then he crashed.That was the perfect end to this career -- green light, green light, green light and then crash, Norwegian great Kjetil Andre Aamodt said, referring to Millers unpredictability.Meanwhile in Millers lawsuit against Head, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter in Orange County, California where Miller lives ruled Friday that Miller had no personal jurisdiction to sue the Austria-based company in his court.Millers attorney, Mark B. Seiger, said in an email that the lawsuit may be refiled in Colorado, home of Heads U.S. headquarters. But he said Miller and Bomber might not find it worth the money to litigate against a behemoth international corporation.Unfortunately, our legal system enables `Goliath to win a litigation by outspending its opponent, Seiger said.In a statement released Friday before the lawsuit was dismissed, Miller said the legal fight was nothing more than a case of corporate oppression against an individual ski racer and our startup ski company.This is my last real chance to race competitively in the World Cup and world championship, and it is disappointing to me that Head is trying to block me from doing that, Miller said.Jason D. Russell, attorney for Head, said his team was pleased with the decision and said it was strange that the lawsuit had been filed in California in the first place.Heads racing director Rainer Salzgeber suggested Miller shouldnt race again.Its better when he doesnt ski. Thats clear, Salzgeber said in comments that came before the lawsuit was dismissed. It would be nice for the crowd. But his level of skiing in Copper was not there where we want to see Bode.Meanwhile, Salzgeber suggested that Lindsey Vonn, who is still supplied by Head, could return from a broken arm in Cortina dAmpezzo in late January.She will start skiing hopefully beginning of January, Salzgeber said. Cortina should be OK.---Associated Press Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report from Los Angeles.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Quincy-Enunwa-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Demario-Davis-Jersey/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Jordan-Jenkins-Jersey/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Brandon-Shell-Jersey/ . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Kelvin-Beachum-Jersey/ . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. In the middle of the summer at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, I swung by the No. 48 transporter to check in with my close friend Scott Maxim, engine specialist for Hendrick Motorsports, around the same time practice was ending.Suddenly crew chief Chad Knaus whistled in followed by a few crew members, driver Jimmie Johnson trailing the group. They huddled at the front of their transporter. The atmosphere was tense and edgy, evident through the body language of the teams leader, Knaus.A few months later I made the same visit. It was Dover, Chase race No. 3, and this time the mood was relaxed, composed. While urgency was still present, there was no sense of panic in the camp.The contrast between the two Fridays was extreme, and it left an impression on me, enough that I mentioned to Knaus how impressive it was that he had kept this group from tearing itself apart in the midst of his and Johnsons longest winless streak together.Its obvious now that the six-time champs had rediscovered their magic, but I can honestly say, it wasnt obvious to me then.Ive always been quick to Identify Jimmie Johnson as the key to the No. 48 teams success. That comes from a basis of studying, evaluating and understanding drivers and their responsibilities. Its who I am. Its what Ive spent the majority of my life doing.Less obvious to me is the impact crew chiefs have, and thats not because I didnt experience their value as much, but rather I may not have appreciated it as much as I should have early in my career.That comes from having built, and maintained, my own race cars early in my career. It was an asset early because it put me ahead of my competitors, but became a liability late because I became less willing to experiment.The same effects may have hindered two of the best I ever competed against, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. Wallace was more talented than the one title he has; he was worthy of three in my mind. And Martin was every bit his equal, but ended his career with none.These two drivers understood race cars as well as any in NASCAR ... at least for a while.But as the sport evolves, becomes more technical, drivers with deep race car knowledge become less open-minded than those who simply want to drive.Its why Jimmie Johnson is so unique, so disciplined. Johnson -- perhaps more than any driver I know -- understands his role, is consumed by it, and doesnt allow any outside noise to interfere with his responsibilities.A common practice for struggling drivers, particularly late in their career, is to reinvent themselves through a crew chief swap.dddddddddddd The hope is that a new leader fosters new ideas, recreates an energy that had disappeared -- a spark if you will. Johnson and Knaus have resisted that practice, and I admire the hell out of what they have done because of their loyalty to one another.Chad brings the best out of Jimmie, he holds the passwords to the 48 teams files, and more than ever before, I believe Chad Knaus has demonstrated his value to the Hendrick organization.Ive observed and pondered the 48 team all year. Ive witnessed tension strong enough to cause an implosion. But it doesnt happen with this group. Its bond appears impenetrable.The Bottom LineJimmie Johnsons win last week is a game-changer for most Chase brackets. Few had the 48 in their Miami final four; it just didnt seem logical in early September.Johnson, as we sit today, is the only driver not having to worry about the consequences of playing Russian roulette next Sunday in Talladega. Thats an enormous mental advantage.The team has a clear advantage in prepping three cars for three races in the third round that represent Jimmie Johnsons second-, third- and fourth-best averages of all NASCAR tracks, and if thats not enough to convince you team 48 is destined for Homestead, this should be:No driver is immune from waning confidence; it causes an athlete to try harder, perhaps too hard, at the wrong time. Its effects lead to mistakes (like speeding on pit road on the final stop of the day) when you may have had the car to beat.Even with his confidence diminished some, Johnson is more dangerous than most. With his confidence peaking, the 48 teams only kryptonite comes in the form of mechanical issues.Johnson more than likely wins one of the three races in the third round, which positions him for that coveted seventh Sprint Cup title.I reached out to congratulate Johnson following his win, and in his response was something I found very profound.Keep in mind, I consider Johnson among the most humble human beings on the planet. He is proof you can be confident, be great, but not need to remind anyone of it.So I found it compelling at the end of our exchange when he declared this: More to come!Dare any of us doubt him? 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