Raider Draft Pick Hobert Is Signed by White Sox

Former University of Washington quarterback Billy Joe Hobert, a draft choice of the Raiders this spring, signed Monday with the Chicago White Sox.

Hobert, an outfielder, was picked by the White Sox in the 16th round of this month’s draft. He is expected to join Chicago’s Sarasota team in the Gulf Coast League.

Hobert’s agent, Bruce Allen, said though Hobert already has reported to his minor league team, he still wants to play for the Raiders this season.

“As I discussed with (Raider executive) Steve Ortmayer, (Hobert’s) goal is to the be starting quarterback for the Raiders, and he’s happy to be a Raider,” Allen said. “That hasn’t changed at all.

“He still has every intention of playing football.”

Hobert, 22, was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the NFL draft in April. A former Rose Bowl most valuable player, Hobert lost his collegiate eligibility last fall when it was learned that he had received $50,000 in personal loans in violation of NCAA rules.

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Opening ceremonies for NFL/Youth Education Town, an educational and recreational center for disadvantaged youth in South Central Los Angeles, will be held today at noon at Gateway Shopping Center in Compton.

Hockey

The New Jersey Devils will hire a coach soon, but Lou Lamoriello, team president and general manager, said it won’t be Robbie Ftorek, who was reported to be the leading candidate after Herb Brooks resigned last month.

Bryan Trottier, 37, the sixth-leading scorer in NHL history, will leave the New York Islanders’ front office and rejoin the Pittsburgh Penguins as a player-assistant coach.

Soccer

The U.S. national soccer team will play Venezuela in Quito, Ecuador, tonight needing at least a tie to stave off elimination from the 12-team America Cup tournament. The U.S. team has lost to Uruguay and Ecuador.

On Monday at Cuenca, Ecuador, Chile, behind two second-half goals from Richard Zambrano, upset Brazil, 3-2, and Paraguay and Peru tied, 1-1.

Basketball

Retired Boston Celtic star Kevin McHale will return to Minnesota to work with the Timberwolves and provide commentary on game broadcasts.

The 35-year-old Hibbing, Minn., native retired at the end of last season after 13 years with the Celtics.

Miscellany

Kevin Riley of El Cajon birdied five of the first six holes while taking the first-round lead with a 68 in the stroke play portion of the 82nd annual California Golf Assn. (State) Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach.

San Diego’s Marcus Meloan was two strokes behind Riley.

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Larry Kinnebrew, a former running back for the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, faces a retrial Aug. 23 on a rape charge. A jury in Hamilton County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court deadlocked in deliberations June 8 at Kinnebrew’s first trial.

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David Griman of Venezuela used a flurry of punches to stop Hiroki Ioka at 2:38 of the eighth round and retain the World Boxing Assn. flyweight title at Osaka, Japan.

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Chris Brown of Santa Barbara won the Life’s A Beach Open pro surfing event at Oceanside Pier.