VAL GARDENA, Italy -- Bode Miller, Daron Rahlves, Bill Johnson, Buddy Werner.None of these accomplished skiers have achieved what Steven Nyman is aiming for this season: To become the first American man to claim the season-long World Cup downhill title.Having finished sixth in the past two seasons -- and within 76 points (less than the 100 points earned with one race win) of the crystal globe trophy last season -- Nyman believes he has what it takes to surge into the top spot.Its a possibility in my head, because I performed really well in the beginning of last season and I performed really well in the end of the year, Nyman said on Thursday after placing second in the final downhill training session on his preferred course in Val Gardena. So if I can figure out how to link all that together I definitely have a shot at the title.But its a big step and big names like Bode and Daron and (A.J.) Kitt and (Kyle) Rasmussen and Bill Johnson -- nobody has ever won it, Nyman added. So for me to say that is a big statement.Miller came close to the title in 2008, finishing five points behind Didier Cuche when the final downhill of the season was canceled in Bormio.Rahlves finished a distant second to Stephan Eberharter in 2003.If Nyman does realize his goal, hell raise the trophy on home snow at the World Cup Finals in Aspen, Colorado, not far from Nymans hometown of Sundance, Utah.After finishing only 15th in the opening downhill of this season in Val dIsere, France, this month, Nyman will be looking for a lot more on Saturday in Val Gardena, where he has claimed his only three career wins.With one more downhill win in Val Gardena, Nyman can match the course record shared by Austrian great Franz Klammer and Italian great Kristian Ghedina.Ive performed at most of the hills already so I just have to really stay focused and execute, Nyman said. The equipment is styled. Everything has been pretty good. My body is quite healthy.Over his career, Nyman has achieved podium results in five other World Cup resorts -- including a third-place on the course in South Korea that will host the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018.Still, Nyman hasnt been able to win anywhere else besides Val Gardena.When I see him ski here the confidence seems a lot higher, Canadian rival Erik Guay said. I dont think Ive seen him ski with that kind of confidence in a place like Beaver Creek or Kitzbuehel.Peter Fill of Italy, who grew up just down the road from the Val Gardena course, is the defending downhill champion.Win or lose, Nyman will enjoy himself in Val Gardena.On Sunday, Nyman will take his annual tour around the Sellaronda, a 40-kilometer (25-mile) loop of interconnected trails around the Sella Range massif in the heart of the Dolomites that traverses four Alpine passes.Last year, Nyman completed the Sellaronda on a mono ski.And I had never mono skied before. It was a long 40 kilometers. It took all day. But it was a lot of fun. You cant get a bad view here. And to ski all the way around and witness the air show in Alta Badia for the giant slalom is pretty exciting.Nyman finishes off his tour with a seafood dinner at the Emilio Comici refuge in Val Gardena.The fish is brought in every day from the Mediterranean so its top notch, Nyman said. Theyre proud of their food here and I like eating a lot of it. The people, the food, the air. Its kind of like the Mediterranean air. I step out of the car here and I just feel at home. Our hosts, the Demetzs, is family to us.When Nyman returns to Val Gardena next year, hes hoping it will be as the reigning World Cup downhill champion.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf Adidas Ultra Boost Clearance Sale . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. 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The New York Liberty are one of the best and hottest teams in the WNBA, but they have not beaten the Los Angeles Sparks this season.The Liberty, 12-5 and winners of eight of their past nine games, get their final regular-season shot at the Sparks on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.Los Angeles (15-1) sits atop the league, having already pocketed a pair of victories against New York. They won 79-72 in overtime in Madison Square Garden on May 21 and 100-77 in Los Angeles on June 7.Im really proud of what were doing, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike told SBNation.com.Were doing an awesome job of just narrowing the focus. We have a microscope on every game, and were not looking too far into our telescope. Were just doing a great job of focusing on what we know we need to do today.Ogwumike, who turned 26 Saturday, is having an MVP-like season, averaging 18.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting an astounding 70.4 percent from the field to lead the WNBA. She is coming off a career-high 38-point game, making 13 of 14 shots, in Fridays home win over the Atlanta Dream.ddddddddddddIn two games against the Liberty, she has 43 points and 25 rebounds.The Sparks have two other prime offensive weapons in center Candace Parker (16.3 points per game, team-best 4.6 assists) and guard Kristi Tolliver (14.3 points per game, third in the league at 48.4 percent on 3-point shots).New York will feature an MVP candidate, too, in Sundays showdown. Forward Tina Charles is averaging a WNBA-best 22.8 points per game.She has been playing with a face mask to protect a broken nose; after missing one game, she returned Friday to post 31 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-88 win at Phoenix. Charles was held to seven points when she played in Los Angeles last month.Liberty guard Sugar Rodgers averages 16.4 points and has scored at least 22 points in three consecutive games. She has made a league-high 50 3-pointers. ' ' '