Golden Boy De La Hoya May Have Golden Throat

In the Golden Boy’s next career, will he earn gold records?

Responding to favorable reviews after his singing debut last year on Univision’s Cristina talk show, Oscar De La Hoya is considering taking voice lessons. Seth Briggs, the Angelo Dundee of singing coaches, has been contacted.

“If Oscar does it, he’s going to do it right,” Bruce Binkow, a De La Hoya representative, said Thursday. “But he’s not ready to pursue it yet. Boxing is still foremost on his mind.”

Just as De La Hoya is not the original “Golden Boy,” neither would he be the first “Singing Fighter.” That was the nickname of ‘50s heavyweight Jody Berry, a nightclub and stage performer who is still recording.

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There has been too much talk about whether the Lakers are Shaq’s team or Kobe’s team . . .

Until one or more players prove they are mature enough to assume a leadership role, the Lakers should be Kurt Rambis’ team . . .

He took the first step in that direction Thursday, when he booted the habitually late Dennis Rodman out of practice. It’s about time . . .

I keep waiting for Rupert Murdoch to become a serious player in the bidding for an NFL expansion team in Los Angeles . . .

That billion dollars left over from his thwarted attempt to buy the Manchester United soccer team must be burning a hole in his bank account . . .

It seems unfair for the NFL to insist that Ed Roski get in line with Michael Ovitz, Michael Eisner, Peter O’Malley, Murdoch or whoever else might want to own a team at the Coliseum . . .

After all, Roski kept the Coliseum effort alive when it barely had a heartbeat . . .

But if the NFL were as interested in fairness as in money, the 32nd team would have been awarded to Bob McNair in Houston . . .

If Ovitz gets the franchise, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Jerry West bolt the Lakers to become team president. He can’t be thrilled with the Lakers’ non-direction . . .

Not so fast on those reports that Peter Ueberroth will join Juan Antonio Samaranch’s IOC 2000 reform project. Ueberroth hasn’t accepted yet . . .

Besides her three individual events, Marion Jones wants to run in the 1,600-meter relay--not the 400--in this summer’s World Championships in Seville, Spain . . .

Although the open quarter is her third-best running distance, Jones is formidable. Nigeria’s Fali Ogunkoya, ranked No. 1 in the world at the distance last year, decided to enter the 200 in Sunday’s Mt. SAC Relays when she learned Jones is in the 400 . . .

With Michelle Kwan’s decision to enroll at UCLA, chances look good for the Bruin women’s figure skating team . . .

Kwan might have competition after all in the 2002 Olympic trials at the Staples Center. Tara Lipinski is exploring avenues that would enable her to regain her Olympic eligibility . . .

Was I the last to learn that Kerri Strug transferred from UCLA to Stanford last fall? . . .

In the memory of Michael Jund, their media relations assistant who died last year at 22, the Kings have awarded scholarships to Damien Areyan from the University of Arizona and Kimberly Williams of USC . . .

Boxer Mia St. John is negotiating a six-figure deal to pose for Playboy . . .

UCLA wide receiver Danny Farmer has been named to Playboy’s preseason All-American team . . .

Farmer might miss the photo shoot because the NCAA volleyball Final Four is scheduled for the same weekend, May 6-8, at Pauley Pavilion . . .

UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman hit her 20th and 21st home runs of the season Wednesday against Loyola Marymount, breaking her own school record of 20 set in 1997 . . .

She probably would have done it last weekend if Arizona State hadn’t intentionally walked her seven times, including once with the bases loaded . . .

Speaking of prodigious home run hitters, Mark McGwire will be inducted into USC’s Hall of Fame on May 22 at the Pasadena Ritz-Carlton . . .

It’s possible he will make an appearance after the Cardinals’ game that night at Dodger Stadium . . .

Linebacker Chris Claiborne is expected to become the NFL’s 11th first-round draft choice in the ‘90s from USC . . .

More impressive is that the last six--John Michels, Willie McGinest, Johnnie Morton, Keyshawn Johnson, Tony Boselli and Darrell Russell--graduated . . .

Claiborne promises to keep the streak alive . . .

Returning to his quarter horse roots, Wayne Lukas will be heavily represented in the Los Alamitos meet that opens tonight. He’s attempting to become the first trainer to win the All-American Futurity and the Kentucky Derby . . .

Wondertross is ill and probably won’t run in the Kentucky Derby. So far, he hasn’t been called a fat toad by his owner, George Steinbrenner.

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While wondering who will borrow Al Unser Jr.’s Long Beach Grand Prix title for a year, I was thinking: Too bad King players haven’t worked as hard at their jobs as Larry Robinson has at his, the Browns will regret it if they don’t draft Ricky Williams first, a lot of teams will regret not drafting Cade McNown.

Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harveylatimes.com