BURKE BECOMES LEAFS GM. Brian Burke took over as president and general manager of the Maple Leafs yesterday. He was given a six-year deal worth a reported $3 million annually. He replaces Cliff Fletcher, who was hired as interim GM after the firing of John Ferguson in January. The Leafs beat the Flyers, 4-2, last night in front of their new GM.
BRUINS WIN, TIE FOR LEAD. Blake Wheeler and David Krejci had a goal and an assist each as the Bruins won their ninth straight home game, 4-1 over the Red Wings. The Bruins, who pulled into a tie with the Rangers atop the Eastern Conference, went 11-1-1 in November ... Sidney Crosby had a hat trick as the Penguins snapped the visiting Devils' winning streak at five, 4-1. Nets DEFEAT Jazz. Devin Harris scored 34 points and Vince Carter added 22 as the visiting Nets beat the Jazz, 105-88. Mehmet Okur (11 rebounds), Paul Millsap (10 rebounds) and Deron Williams (13 assists) each had 10 points for Utah, now 8-2 at home ... Paul Pierce scored 19 points to help the visiting Celtics win their eighth straight, 89-84, over the Bobcats ... Dwight Howard had 32 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks as the host Magic beat the Pacers, 110-96.
TWO LIERS QUALIFY FOR
NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY. Shoreham-Wading River's Bobby Andrews and Roslyn's Emily Lipari secured cross country national championship invitations with their performances. Andrews will be the only Long Island boy competing in the Nike National Invitational in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, coach Bob Symanski said. The senior placed fourth in the Northeast Invitational in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., to lead SWR to a fourth-place finish. Lipari, a junior, finished ninth at the Northeast Regional Championships at Van Cortlandt Park, qualifying for the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships Dec. 13 in San Diego.
CHOI LEADS SKINS GAME. K.J. Choi overcame the nerves of playing in his first LG Skins Game by using a precise short game and key putts to take the first-day lead in the 26th annual event in Indian Wells, Calif. Choi rolled in a 3-foot birdie putt worth $75,000 on the third hole. That gave him the lead over Phil Mickelson, who earned $25,000 with a spectacular eagle-3 on the fourth hole. Also playing are two-time defending champion Stephen Ames and Rocco Mediate.
