In Sports from United Press International

Andy Benes retires

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- As reported, Andy Benes, who took this offseason to ponder his future, has announced his retirement from baseball.

Benes told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about his decision on Wednesday.

Benes, a free agent, Thursday notified General Manager Walt Jocketty of his plans. He calls it quits after 14 seasons in the majors. He wanted to meet with Jocketty on Wednesday, but a stifling St. Louis-area snowstorm made it too difficult to travel.

The 35-year-old righthander earned 10 wins or more 10 times, was named to the 1993 National League All-Star team, and pitched in four postseasons.

After succumbing to injuries the past three years, Benes appeared ready to retire this past summer, but overcame an arthritic right knee in the second half of the season, going 5-2 with a 1.86 ERA after the All-Star break.

Benes helped the Cardinals reach the NL Championship Series, which they lost to San Francisco. He did not have a decision in his start against the Giants, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The 6-6, 245-pounder began his career as a hard-throwing workhorse, pitching at least 223 innings from 1991-93 with San Diego. He was dealt to Seattle midway through the 1995 season before enjoying his best year with St. Louis.

In 1996, Benes went 18-10 with a 3.83 ERA for the Cardinals, piling up 230 1/3 innings. He was slowed by arm injuries over the latter part of his career, and never won more than 14 games again.

Benes retires with a 155-139 record and 3.97 ERA in 403 games, also pitching for Arizona. He recorded exactly 2,000 strikeouts in 2,505 1/3 innings. He reached his 2,000th career strikeout on the final day of the 2002 season.

Mother of Green Bay player dies in crash

GREEN BAY, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers are in mourning this week upon learning of the death of Bola Tito Anjorin Gbaja-Biamila in a one-car accident Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Gbaja-Biamila's son, Kabeer, is a rising star on the Packers' defensive line. He has flown home to make arrangements for his mother's burial.

In a cruel and ironic twist of fate, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila became a father for the first time Sunday morning, the same day his mother was killed.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre made arrangements for Gbaja-Biamila, a native of Nigeria, to fly to Los Angeles on his private jet to be with his family, which includes his father and seven siblings.

Gbaja-Biamila's agent, Bruce Tollner, told the paper his client is holding up.

"Under the circumstances, he's hanging in there strong," Tollner said. "It's just difficult. He's with his family now."

Early Sunday morning, Eileen Gbaja-Biamila gave birth to a son at Aurora Baycare Medical Center in Green Bay. Her husband played with his teammates against the Chicago Bears that afternoon.

Kabeer was told of his mother's death after the game.

The paper also reported that Kabeer's wife and baby were unable to travel with him to Los Angeles, and Tollner said the Packers were assisting in caring for her while he was gone.

A police report indicated that the car of Bola Tito Anjorin Gbaja-Biamila spun out of control and struck a tree. The accident occurred while she was driving home, and happened a short distance from her house.

Packer players did not learn of her death until Monday after Green Bay's 30-20 victory.

"To go from that high, to that low, I can't even imagine that," said defensive end Vonnie Holliday. "When I walked into the training room on Monday, the first thing I was told about was Kabeer's mom, and my heart just dropped."

Various reports said Gbaja-Biamila was excused from practice Wednesday, but would be there Thursday. His playing status for the Minnesota game Sunday is not clear.

Tennessee accepts Peach invite

ATLANTA, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Officials of the Peach Bowl Thursday announced that Tennessee has been matched against Maryland for the New Year's Eve contest at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The Volunteers will be making their 14th straight bowl appearance.

"We feel that by selecting Tennessee, we have created a nationally-significant matchup and chosen a first-class program with a rich winning tradition," said Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl President Gary Stokan.

"Our team is excited about this selection and ready to go down to Atlanta and compete in what is the best-attended non-BCS bowl game in the country," said Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer. "By the time we see Maryland, we'll be as healthy as we've been all year and we'll be ready to play."

The Vols were 8-4 this season, and 5-3 in the SEC East. They finished the campaign ranked No. 25 in the Bowl Championship Series.

Maryland (9-3) was 16th, and finished No. 19 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. The Terps won nine of their last 10 games after starting the campaign 1-2.

All four of the Vols' losses were to nationally-ranked teams.

The two teams have met seven times previously, with Tennessee holding a 5-2 advantage.

This year's anticipated $2 million per team payout will bring the Bowl's 35-year total payout to more than $58 million.

The Peach Bowl will be celebrating its 35th anniversary.

More legal problems for Levasseur

EAST MOLINE, Il., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Justin Levasseur, a tight end at Arizona who recently was referred to as a disgrace and an embarrassment by Coach John Mackovic, has been arrested on drug-trafficking charges.

According to the Illinois State Police, Levasseur, 22, was pulled over Tuesday morning for speeding with his 1990 Ford truck on Interstate 80 in Henry County. He was caught with 87 pounds of marijuana and subsequently arrested.

A second man, 22-year-old Max Necochea, also was arrested.

In the past month, Mackovic admitted to berating the junior during a game on Nov. 9 against UCLA. Levasseur said his coach called him "a disgrace to his family" and "an embarrassment to the team."

Levasseur was charged with possession of a cannabis, possession of a cannabis with intent to deliver, and cannabis trafficking.

Necochea was charged with unlawful use of weapons and cannabis trafficking.

Both men were being held at the Henry County Jail.

Mackovic issued a prepared statement in response to Levasseur's arrest.

"I am aware of the situation and I have spoken with Justin's parents," he said. "University of Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood and I will speak with Justin and his family before any determination of his team status can be made. Also, in legal matters the athletics department has a prescribed course of investigation and review committed to the student-athlete's welfare and rights."

Levasseur led Arizona tight ends with 11 catches for 143 yards this season. He caught two touchdown passes in a 52-41 victory over California, a week after Mackovic's critical comments.

Several Redskins done for year

ASHBURN, Va., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins late Wednesday continued a series of roster moves made this week by placing defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson and punter Bryan Barker on injured reserve, and officially signing punter Craig Jarrett and placekicker Jose Cortez, late of the San Francisco 49ers.

Both Wilkinson and Barker, along with middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, were seriously injured in the Redskins' 27-20 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

Barker suffered a broken nose as he joined in the chase for a loose football on a blocked field goal attempt.

Doctors say he is suffering from a subdural hematoma, a collection of blood in the brain.

Cortez replaces James Tuthill, who earlier this week was waived after missing five of his last six field goal attempts and an extra point try. Ironically, he has since latched on with Cortez's former team, the 49ers.

Cortez joins the Redskins after spending much of the year with San Francisco. The 5-11, 200-pounder spent the 2001 season and the first 11 weeks of the 2002 season with the 49ers.

The Oregon State product connected on 18-of-24 field goals and all 25 extra points in the first 10 games of the year for the 49ers before being released on Nov. 26.

Cortez made 18-of-25 field goal attempts, and was perfect on 47 extra points.

Jarrett spent Week 12 on the Redskins' practice squad. The 6-2, 215-pounder entered the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks after being chosen in the sixth round of the 2002 Draft.

Seattle waived the Michigan State product when the it pared its roster to 53 on Sept. 1. Jarrett later was picked up by the 49ers for their practice squad.

The move of Wilkinson to IR has not been confirmed publicly, and the Washington Post reported Wednesday that NFL sources say the team is leaning strongly toward releasing him in the offseason.

Wilkinson's contract runs through the 2006 season, and includes a salary of $3.5 million for next season.

His agent, George Mav-rikes, told the Washington Times that he expected his client to be a salary cap casualty by next summer.

"The Redskins have been extremely fair with Dan during his time there, but we are assuming that he will be cut after June1," he said.

Kings hope for return of Allison

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Jason Allison of Los Angeles, who tore an MCL on Oct. 29, will be a game-time decision for Thursday night, when the Kings host Nashville.

Allison has been skating with the team for the last two weeks and has participated in full-contact drills the last three days, but must get the approval from team doctors.

A decision whether or not the play-making center will be cleared to play will be made following an examination by team physician Dr. Ronald Kvitne.

Allison was expected to miss up to three months when he tore an MCL and sprained an ACL on a violent knee-to-knee hit by Andy Sutton of the Atlanta Thrashers. He did not need surgery.

The Kings are 5-5-2-3 without Allison after getting off to a 5-2-2 start with him. Allison, 27, was leading the team in scoring with four goals and seven assists.

After being acquired from Boston in a multi-player deal last year, he had 19 goals and 55 assists in 73 games. His best season was in 2000-01 for Boston, when he totaled career highs of 36 goals, 59 assists, and 95 points.

Target World Challenge begins

THOUSANDS OAKS, Ca., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Defending champion and tournament host Tiger Woods tops the star-studded field for the fourth annual Target World Challenge.

The event starts Thursday, and will be played at

the Sherwood Country Club.

In addition to Woods, 11 of the top 15 players in the World Golf Rankings are entered in the exclusive 16-man field. The winner of the 72-hole event receives $1 million, while the 16th-place finisher takes home $130,000.

Woods won five tournaments on the PGA Tour this year, including his third Masters and second U.S. Open, and earned $6,912,625 to lock up his fourth consecutive money title.

Woods, who turns 27 later this month, recently claimed the Grand Slam of Golf in record fashion, carding an 11-under-par 61 in the final round to win by 14 strokes with a two-day score of 17-under 127.

Players who qualified based on their official world rankings included Phil Mickelson (2), Retief Goosen (4), David Toms (5), Davis Love III (7), Vijay Singh (8), Padraig Harrington (9), Jim Furyk (10), Nick Price (11), Michael Campbell (13), Chris DiMarco (14), and Bob Estes (15).

Rich Beem, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O'Meara, and Bernhard Langer accepted special exemptions for the event.

Eight countries, including the United States, will be represented in the $3.8 million tournament.

"This is truly an international field of amazing competitors," Woods said. "With eight different countries represented, we have some of the great players in the world coming to Southern California."

The field also includes eight Ryder Cup members -- Montgomerie, Harrington, and Langer from the victorious European team, and Woods, Mickelson, Toms, Love, and Furyk from the U.S. squad.

Last year, Woods rallied from a four-shot deficit on the final day, carding an 8-under 64, to post a three-shot victory over Singh.

In addition to last year's win, Woods had finished second and 10th in previous appearances, and has earned $1.63 overall.

Els named top player in Europe

LONDON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Ernie Els, who has won the British Open and five other tournaments around the world in his career, has been named Player of the Year on the European Tour.

It is the second career Player of the Year honor for Els, 33, whose playoff victory at Muirfield in July was the highlight of a season in which he also won in Australia, the United States, Dubai, Scotland, and South Africa.

Els, the third-ranked player in the world who won two official European events in 2002, also collected the award in 1994, the same year he captured his first major, the U.S. Open.

"This is the perfect end to the perfect year," said Els, the easy-going South African who is fresh off his $2 million dollar, eight-shot win over Colin Montgomerie in the non-sanctioned Nedbank Challenge in Sun City.

Els called the award "a fantastic honor."

The win at Sun City capped a season in which he achieved his lifelong ambition of winning the British Open. His wife also gave birth to the couple's first son.

"To win the Open at Muirfield was obviously a tremendous thrill," he said. "My goal at the start of the season was to add at least one more major to my two U.S. Open championships and I achieved that, although I did have to do it the hard way."

Els beat Thomas Levet of France at the fifth hole of a playoff that also had included Australians Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington.

"It also was great to become the first player to win the Dubai Desert Classic for a second time, and as a South African, I was excited about the Nedbank Challenge, where I finished with one of the best rounds of my life," said Els, who closed with a 63.

Els is the second South African in as many years to win Golfer of the Year honors on the European Tour, following Retief Goosen. He was second on the Order of Merit this season behind Goosen and Padraig Harrington.

A panel from the Association of Golf Writers, Television and Radio met with representatives of the European Tour and award sponsor, Asprey, to decide the winner.