Maple Leafs send Ferguson packing

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired general manager John Ferguson Jr. yesterday, replacing him with former GM Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis. The Maple Leafs are 14th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 19-22-8 record . . . The Penguins' Evgeni Malkin was one of five players chosen as All-Star replacements for this weekend's festivities in Atlanta. The announcement came hours after the Penguins said Sidney Crosby - the league's reigning MVP and scoring champ - will be out 6-8 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Joining Malkin on the Eastern Conference squad is Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, and named to the Western squad were defenseman Scott Niedermayer and forward Corey Perry of the Ducks, and Stars forward Mike Ribeiro . . . The NHL and Versus have agreed to extend their contract by three years, the cable television network confirmed. Terms were not announced . . . The Phoenix Coyotes and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov agreed to a three-year, $12.75 million contract extension . . . The Columbus Blue Jackets placed center Sergei Fedorov on the injured list.

Shaquille O'Neal had tests performed on his ailing left hip, and the Miami Heat were bracing to have their center sidelined again for an indefinite period. The team did not release the MRI results. Heat coach Pat Riley said he still was gathering information but did not expect O'Neal to play tomorrow when the Heat - losers of 14 straight - host the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs . . . A testicular tumor removed from Nuggets forward Nene was malignant. The team said the tumor was discovered early, and tests showed the cancer was isolated. "The recovery rate is extremely high," the Nuggets said in a statement. "In addition, the odds of a recurrence are very small." Nene underwent surgery Jan. 14 to remove the tumor . . . Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is doubtful for tonight's game against the Hawks because of a sprained left ankle . . . The Hawks suspended center Zaza Pachulia for that game for conduct detrimental to the team.

Even when they're not at their best, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy are still better than almost everybody else. The Germans easily won the pairs short program at the European figure skating championships in Zagreb, Croatia, despite Savchenko nearly taking a tumble on a triple toe loop. Their program featured unusual entries and exits into lifts and jumps, and earned them a score of 70.36 points. Russia's Marina Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov were second (62.73). The free skate is today.

Olympic sprint champion Justin Gatlin has appealed his four-year doping suspension in an attempt to return to the track for the Beijing Games in August. The notice was filed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the international body that has the final say in such matters . . . The pollution and heat in Beijing may scare off marathon world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie. The Ethiopian distance great still could compete in the shorter 10,000 meters, an event in which he has won two Olympic gold medals.

Boston College senior Matt Ryan won the 2008 Manning Award, presented by the Sugar Bowl for the season's best performance by a quarterback, including bowl games. It is voted on by a panel of Louisiana and national media, as well as Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning . . . Mario Matt of Austria won a World Cup night slalom, overcoming a rain-slogged course in Schladming, Austria. American Ted Ligety finished fourth . . . Phil Mickelson, who is suffering from a respiratory ailment, said he's feeling better and plans to play in this week's Buick Invitational.