Sports briefs: Daly throws a fit in Australia

John Daly smashed a spectator's camera into a tree while shooting a 6-over 78 in the first round of the Australian Open on Thursday in Sydney, making it likely he will miss the cut for the third consecutive week Down Under.

"I was looking to take a drop and a camera was 6 inches away from my face. If I was 10 under, I would have felt the same," Daly said in the brief statement. "My eyes are still burning from the flash of the camera.

"I feel it was very rude to put a camera that close to somebody's face in any situation. The guy that had the camera had already taken a dozen shots at close range."

Daly, who missed the cut at the Australian Masters and the PGA in the last two weeks and is being paid an appearance fee for his three-tournament trip to Australia, had three double bogeys, three bogeys and four birdies.

Terms and conditions for tickets at the Australian Open prohibit the use of cameras on the course for spectators.

Tournament director Trevor Herden told reporters the episode was "an unfortunate incident," but Daly would not face sanctions and confirmed the 42-year-old American would tee off in the second round today.

Pavin takes over as Ryder Cup captain

Corey Pavin was introduced as the next U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup on Thursday, selected to lead a team in 2010 that will try to successfully defend the cup for the first time since 1993.

A former U.S. Open champion with 15 victories on the PGA Tour, Pavin played in three Ryder Cups and had an 8-5-0 record.

The 49-year-old Pavin takes over for Paul Azinger, who helped the U.S. end a decade of European dominance at the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory in September at Valhalla.

The 2010 Ryder Cup will be played at Celtic Manor in Wales.

SORENSTAM OPENS FINAL EVENT: Annika Sorenstam started the final tournament of her career with a 2-under 70, four shots off the lead at the Dubai Ladies Masters in the United Arab Emirates.

The defending champion had seven birdies at the season-ending tournament on the Ladies European Tour.

Triangle team playing for Pop Warner title

The Triangle's Capital City Steelers will play for the Pop Warner Super Bowl Junior Pee Wee Division II national championship this morning, taking on the North Long Beach (Calif.) Panthers.

The 9 a.m. game is part of the Dec. 6-13 Pop Warner Little Scholars Football Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.

The Steelers, from the Triangle's Consolidated Football Federation, reached the title game with two closely played victories "that required a lot of determination by our players," assistant coach Scott Mooneyham of Raleigh said.

Championship and consolation games being played today and Saturday in all age groups cap a big week for players, coaches and families.

"I think all the kids have had a great time down here," Mooneyham said. "We actually came down here last Friday, so it's been a long week."

Another Capital City Steelers team will compete today in a Division II Midget consolation game, playing the Cambrian Valley (Calif.) Longhorns at 3 p.m.

In the Division I Pee Wee bracket, the Cary Chargers won Wednesday's consolation game by forfeit 1-0 over a team from Dallas, Texas.

For an expanded version of this story and for a look at other North Carolina teams playing in championships and consolations, to go http://share.triangle.com/play.

TERI BOGGESS

Davenport enters Australian Open

Three-time Grand Slam-winner Lindsay Davenport has signaled a return to the WTA Tour by entering the Australian Open.

Davenport, 32, who won the 2000 Australian Open, has not played a tournament since the U.S. Open in August, fueling speculation she was planning to retire.

TENNIS POPULARITY GROWS: Nearly 27 million people played tennis in the United States this year, the most since 1993, according to the U.S. Tennis Association and the Tennis Industry Association.

Participation grew by more than seven percent from 25.1 million last year, the USTA and TIA announced Thursday. It has grown nearly 12 percent since 2003.

IOC takes issue with U.S. officials

IOC president Jacques Rogge urged U.S. Olympic officials to finalize a revised revenue-sharing deal by March, an issue which could impact Chicago's bid for the 2016 games.

IOC members have complained bitterly about a contract that gives the USOC nearly 13 percent of U.S. TV rights fees and 20 percent of global marketing funds -- a total of about $300 million for the four-year cycle ending this year. Rogge said further talks will be held early next year, and he hopes a deal will follow soon.

MEDALS STRIPPED: Two Belarusian hammer throwers were stripped of their silver and bronze medals from the Beijing Olympics because of high levels of testosterone.

A Polish canoeist also was disqualified for drug use. The three cases bring to nine the number of athletes caught for doping in Beijing.

Belarus plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, according to its sports minister and one of the hammer throwers.