Packers sign KGB for $37M

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who had the fifth-most sacks in the NFL overthe last two seasons, signed a seven-year contract with the Green BayPackers on Wednesday.

The deal will bring the defensive end $37.3 million, of which$13.25million is guaranteed, agent Bruce Tollner said.

"I'm glad that I can finally say that I'm going to be here for along time and hopefully retire with this team, by the grace of God,"Gbaja-Biamila said. "I just want to continue to grow in Green Bay."

Gbaja-Biamila recorded 12 sacks in 2002, his second season with atleast 10 sacks. He also had a career-high 45 tackles, returned aninterception for a touchdown, forced four fumbles and had one fumblerecovery.

"He has a rare ability, in my mind, to pressure and sackquarterbacks as well as create turn-overs," coach and general managerMike Sherman said.

Gbaja-Biamila, a restricted free agent, had been courted by thePhiladelphia Eagles, receiving what he called a "legitimate offer."

*Wide receiver Jacquez Green and quarterback Jonathan Beas-leywere released by the Detroit Lions.

Pierce struggles through

Mary Pierce overcame blurred vision to beat Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Sarasota Clay Court Classic in Florida.

Pierce, who has adopted Sarasota as her hometown, used her edge inexperience to counter the quick 19-year-old Bartoli.

Pierce, ranked 44th in the world, had problems with her contactsthroughout the match.

"About 90 percent of the match I played with blurry vision,"Pierce said. "I've been trying new contact lenses, and my eyes weredrying up. There was one play where she asked me if a ball was outand I told her I couldn't tell because I was having problems seeingthe ball."

Breeders' Cup goes to Texas

The 2004 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships wereawarded to Lone Star Park.

The selection of the track in Grand Prairie, Texas, will put theevent in the Southwest for the first time. The eight races withpurses and awards totaling $13 million will be contested Oct. 30.

"The Dallas-Fort Worth area is one of the nation's great sportsmarkets, and Lone Star Park has done an excellent job of establishingfirst-class racing there," Breeders' Cup president D.G. Van Clief Jr.said.

The 20th running of the Breeders' Cup will be Oct. 25, 2003, atSanta Anita in Arcadia, Calif.