Sports briefs for June 28, 2004

Monday, June 28, 2004 | 9:04 a.m.

Bobcats pick up four players at tryouts

The Charlotte Bobcats added to their expansion team Sunday, selecting four players from an open-tryout session to advance to their minicamp.

Guards Pierre Wooten and Patrick Jackson, forward Anthony Greenup and center Moustapha Diouf were picked to participate in the rookie/free agent minicamp that begins Tuesday.

The Bobcats invited 44 players to tryout on Saturday, then whittled the list down to 20 players for a Sunday game.

Indians sign Boone

Aaron Boone has signed a two-year contract with an option for 2006 with the Cleveland Indians.

Boone, whose 11th-inning homer in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS put the New York Yankees in the World Series, hasn't played since injuring his left knee during a pickup basketball game in January.

Russians drafted 1-2

Forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin became the first Russian duo to be chosen with the first two picks in the NHL draft.

Ovechkin was the consensus top player available, and the Washington Capitals spurned several offers for the No. 1 pick and took him.

Malkin was rated second on virtually all ratings charts, and that's where he was picked by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Montreal obtained Radek Bonk from Ottawa in a three-team deal that saw the Canadiens also receive goalie Cristobal Huet from Los Angeles. The Canadiens sent goaltender Mathieu Garon and the 95th pick to Los Angeles, which dealt the 77th pick to Ottawa.

Czech team advances

Milan Baros scored twice in two minutes to help the Czech Republic beat Denmark 3-0 Sunday to advance to the semifinals of the European Championship.

The Czech Republic, the only team with a perfect record, is attempting to make its second final in the last three Euro tournaments. It joined Greece, Portugal and the Netherlands in the semifinals.