Burke at 'center of hockey universe'

Brian Burke took over as president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday, replacing Cliff Fletcher, who was hired as interim general manager following the firing of John Ferguson in January. Burke received a six-year deal worth a reported $3 million annually. "You're talking about the Vatican if you're Catholic, you're talking the center of the hockey universe, you're talking about one of the most important jobs in hockey running the Toronto Maple Leafs," Burke said at a news conference. "It's a dream job." Burke, 53, spent the past three-plus seasons managing the Anaheim Ducks, leading them to a Stanley Cup title in 2007. He stepped down from the post Nov. 13 after declining to sign a contract extension that would take him beyond this season. There were no timetables offered for turning around a club that hasn't been in the playoffs since 2004 or won the Stanley Cup since 1967. "We require as a team proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence, and belligerence," he said. "That's how our teams play." . . . Josh Bailey, the No. 9 pick in this year's NHL draft, will remain with the New York Islanders for the entire season instead of returning to his junior team . . . Goals by Martins Karsums and Vladimir Sobotka lifted the Providence Bruins to a 2-0 victory over the Falcons in Springfield. Tuukka Rask stopped 27 shots for his second professional shutout.

Magic guard Mickael Pietrus, who averages nearly 13 points and is one of Orlando's main 3-point shooters, will be out 3-5 weeks with a torn ligament in his right thumb. He hurt his thumb against Philadelphia last week but played with the injury against the Wizards Thursday before an MRI Friday revealed the damage. The Magic are already missing backup guard Keith Bogans because of a broken thumb, and starting point guard Jameer Nelson is nursing a pulled groin.

K.J. Choi rolled in a 3-foot birdie putt worth $75,000 on the third hole, giving him the first-day lead in the 26th annual Skins Game in Indian Wells, Calif. Phil Mickelson earned $25,000 with a spectacular eagle 3 on the fourth hole, while two-time defending champion Stephen Ames and Skins Game rookie Rocco Mediate were shut out on the first nine holes . . . Robert Allenby holed a 3-wood for a double eagle on the par-5 seventh and finished with a 5-under 67 in Melbourne for a share of the third-round lead in the Australian Masters with playing partner Michael Sim. Sim shot a 68 to match Allenby at 10-under 206.

France's Tessa Worley overcame driving snow and poor visibility to win a giant slalom at the Aspen Winternational for her first World Cup victory with a combined time of 2 minutes 12.86 seconds. Worley, whose previous best was fifth place, was followed by Tanja Poutiainen of Finland (2:13.14) and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria (2:13.57). American Lindsey Vonn (2:13.73) was fourth, turning in a strong effort after her slalom victory in Finland despite banging her knee in training two weeks ago. Compatriot Julia Mancuso also had a solid showing, finishing seventh in 2:14.05 . . . Ola Vigen Hattestad led a Norwegian sweep in the men's cross-country World Cup ski sprint opener in Kuusamo, Finland, while Andy Newell of the United States finished 11th. Petra Majdic of Slovenia won the women's event. Kikkan Randall of Anchorage, the first US woman to win a World Cup cross-country event, finished less than a second outside of qualification in 33d place.

Marathon champions Haile Gebrselassie and Catherine Ndereba are going to race in today's inaugural Great Australian Run in Melbourne. Also registered in the 15-kilometer event is Olympic champion Constantina Dita of Romania, and Benita Johnson, Australia's best female distance runner. Gebrselassie was the 10,000-meter champion at the Sydney Olympics. Ndereba, of Kenya, is the world marathon champion and was the silver medalist in the Beijing Games . . . In Focus upset Deweycheatumnhowe in the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old Colt Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J. Deweycheatumnhowe faded to third in his final race for trainer and driver Ray Schnittker, a disappointing end to a brilliant career in which Deweycheatumnhowe won 22 of 25 races . . . John Robert "Red" Murff, the New York Mets scout who discovered Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, died in Tyler, Texas, at age 87. Murff played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1956-57.