National and state sports briefs

Michael Jordan said he will retire for the third and final time after this season and resume his role as partial owner of the Washington Wizards.

Daly disqualified

John Daly was disqualified for failing to sign his scorecard in the Australian PGA, while Jarrod Moseley shot a 6-under 66 to take the second-round lead.

Daly, playing a week after his mother's death, threw his putter and ball into a lake near the 18th green after shooting a 78.

Moseley had a 13-under 131 total for a one-stroke lead over two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley (65). Peter Lonard was two strokes back after a 68.

IOC visit ban upheld

The International Olympic Committee overwhelmingly upheld the ban on member visits to bid cities, the major reform enacted following the Salt Lake City scandal.

Only six out of the 118 IOC members attending the meeting voted in favor of reinstating the trips.

The result marked a major victory for IOC president Jacques Rogge, who had campaigned against bringing back the visits.

Panthers back charged

Carolina Panthers running back Lamar Smith was charged with drunken driving, the latest legal embarrassment for the team.

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith was suspended for one game by the team Nov. 20 for a fight that sent teammate Anthony Bright to the hospital.

The Panthers also released offensive tackle Chris Terry, who was arrested Nov. 20 for failing to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his wife.

Also, defensive end Julius Peppers is appealing a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Teammate Brentson Buckner already accepted a four-game suspension for the same violation.

Wolves look for healthy Smith to produce

Even with seven years of NBA experience and three with his current team, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Smith feels like a newcomer.

Early season injuries have a way of creating that feeling.

The 2002-03 season is barely a month old, but Smith, who until last week had been sidelined for more than a month with a groin injury, has a lot of catching up to do. The Timberwolves have installed a new offensive scheme, and Smith has a few new teammates to get used to.

In the grand scheme of things, that means the Wolves' offense, which is still missing Wally Szczerbiak, still has quite a ways to go before it's at full strength. So does Smith.

Smith strained his groin during the first week of October in training camp. He returned to the lineup Nov. 19 against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 12 points and grabbing four boards.

Kelly could be ready

Offensive lineman Lewis Kelly's season has been a rough one, with his sprained ankle a mere inconvenience next to the death of his wife and unborn child Aug. 25.

But Kelly, who's been inactive the last four games, was finally taken off the Minnesota Vikings' injury list this week and could see some playing time Sunday against Atlanta.

Coach Mike Tice's intent back in training camp was to start Kelly at right tackle and move Chris Liwienski to left guard, but Bryant McKinnie's holdout scrapped that plan and forced Kelly to move to left tackle.

Running back Michael Bennett was upgraded to probable on the injury report Wednesday, meaning the ankle he sprained last Sunday won't keep him out of action against the Falcons.

An MRI Monday was negative, and Bennett participated in practice Wednesday. Moe Williams and possibly James Wofford will handle some of the load, but Bennett will likely still be the featured back.

"He'll be up for the game this week, which is good news," Tice said.

Lawmakers urge Vikings to reconsider joint stadium location

Key state lawmakers are urging the Minnesota Vikings to reconsider a proposed stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

The location is the university's only endorsed spot for a joint stadium with the Vikings, and the state Legislature isn't likely to authorize financing for two football stadiums. The Vikings announced Monday the location wouldn't fit their needs.

"There's no way on God's green earth that we're going to have two new football stadiums in Minnesota," said state Sen. Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar. "I would suggest they go back to the drawing board and have some coffee, because we have a long way to go."

Wild send Wanvig down to Houston Aeros

The Minnesota Wild reassigned right wing Kyle Wanvig to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, the team's primary development affiliate.

Wanvig, 21, was called up by the Wild on Nov. 25 and he made his NHL debut that night against the Vancouver Canucks.