May 25, 2004

Trial of Joseph C Massino, alleged mob boss, opens in federal court in Brooklyn with prosecutor describing seven grisly murders that he is accused of committing; defense lawyer focuses on often-confusing stories behind murders and criminal histories of seven Bonanno turncoats set to testify against Massino; Anthony L Giliberti, ex-Teamsters local official, testifies that Massino threatened to kill him in 1982 just before someone tried to kill him with nine shots; fails to identify Massino in court (M)

NHL prepares for Stanley Cup finals between Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames and even more importantly for offseason that promises to be challenging; NHL must recover from year rife with literal and figurative black eyes, including brutal on-ice attack on Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore, death of Atlanta Thrashers player Dan Snyder in car accident and St Louis Blues player Mike Danton's involvement in murder-for-hire plot; NHL is also teetering on brink of bankruptcy as television contracts expire, attendance wanes and many teams drop ticket prices; union talks and collective bargaining negotiations threaten to jeopardize next season with possible lockout; photos (L)

Executives at Lions Gate, Focus Features and Newmarket, many of whom signed confidentiality agreements over Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11, acknowledge privately that negotiations over US distribution are stalled over who has rights; documentary, which criticizes Pres Bush's launching of war in Iraq won Palme d'Ore at Cannes International Film Festival; photo (M)

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, suffering through inexplicable early-season slump, is hitting only .190; photos (M)

Gov James E McGreevey seeks ways to save his bill to restrict housing development in New Jersey Highlands, which supplies more than half the state's drinking water; bill is trapped in committee by Sen Stephen M Sweeney, who is holding out for measures easing restrictions on developers and builders elsewhere; among McGreevey's options is bypassing Legislature with executive order to protect area; photo (M)