The Charlotte Hornets wasted no time dipping...

The Charlotte Hornets wasted no time dipping into the NBA free-agent market, signing point guard David Wesley, who averaged a career-high 16.8 points and 7.3 assists last season for the Boston Celtics.

The signing probably signals the end of the line for popular point guard Muggsy Bogues, who sat out much of last season because of knee problems and was slowed by hamstring problems during the playoffs.

Bogues, 5 feet 3, is one of two original Hornets still on the roster and has said he was feeling pressured by the club to retire after a postseason examination revealed additional damage to his left knee.

Hornet officials declined to discuss Bogues’ status.

“This is David Wesley’s day, OK?” Vice President Bob Bass responded to a reporter’s question.

European Basketball

Hundreds of jubilant Yugoslav basketball fans besieged the Croatian embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, after their team scored a dramatic victory at the European Championships in Spain.

Several windows were shattered by stones, and Croatian embassy officials reported bullet holes on the facade after a last-second, 64-62 Yugoslav victory over Croatia.

The Croatian embassy plans an official complaint to the Yugoslav government, Croatia’s HINA news agency reported.

Hockey

General Manager Jack Ferreira of the Mighty Ducks, renewing his pursuit of former Calgary coach Pierre Page, said he hopes today to resolve compensation issues with Calgary General Manager Al Coates.

Page had one season remaining on his contract when he resigned as Flame coach two weeks ago. The Ducks have been searching for a coach since not renewing Ron Wilson’s contract May 20.

“I think maybe they’re trying to get their new coach hired, then maybe they won’t be so mad about letting [Page] go to another division team, and maybe it won’t be as important to them,” Ferreira said of the Flames, who are reportedly close to hiring former Boston and St. Louis coach Brian Sutter.

Don’t expect the Ducks to part with a top draft pick in order to hire Page, however.

“If you’re talking about a draft pick, there’s no way we’re going to give up a No. 1 or No. 2 pick,” Duck President Tony Tavares said. “A potential prospect? Yeah, maybe that works.”

Majority owner Craig Leipold, building the staff for his NHL expansion franchise in Nashville, Tenn., has hired Jack Diller as the team’s first president.

Diller, who has worked in NBA, NHL and baseball front offices, will handle all business and hockey operations for the team, Leipold said. The team, one of four new franchises being phased in by the NHL, will begin playing in 1998.

Colin Campbell got a multiyear contract extension as coach of the New York Rangers, a reward for guiding the team to the Eastern Conference finals after a sub-par regular season.

The St. Louis Blues announced that four players, including veteran goaltender Jon Casey, accepted contract buyouts and were released. The others were defenseman Trent Yawney, left wing Sergio Momesso and right wing Rob Pearson.

Bowling

CBS reached agreement with the Professional Bowlers Assn. to broadcast nine events in a new hourlong format next year. The deal came less than two weeks after ABC ended 36 years of bowling broadcasts.

“CBS is proud to preserve one of the great traditions in network sports television,” said Sean McManus, president of the network’s sports division.

McManus said no decision had been made on an announcer for the series but said that Chris Schenkel, the longtime voice of the bowling tour, will be considered.

Sailing

Monohull sailboats of Divisions III and IV will start the 39th biennial Transpacific race from the Los Angeles Yacht Club to Hawaii today at 1 p.m. Divisions I and II monohulls will set sail Saturday, then the multihulls will start Monday. Boats in the new cruising class already are underway.

Steve Fossett of San Diego, in his 60-foot trimaran Lakota, will be defending his multihull Transpac title, won in 1995 with a record time of 6 days 16 hours 7 minutes 16 seconds. Merlin, now owned by the Alliance Syndicate of New York, holds the monohull record, 8:11:01:45, set in 1977 when Bill Lee was skipper.

Names in the News

Marcus Camby of the Toronto Raptors has been ordered to perform two days of community service for a marijuana charge. He was arrested June 13 in South Windsor, Conn., after police found marijuana cigarettes in his car.

Cornerback Terrell Buckley, who led the Miami Dolphins with six interceptions last season, signed a two-year contract extension.