Big Mac Not Big on Stadium’s Big Mac Land

St. Louis Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire doesn’t think highly of a new section of upper-deck seats in Busch Stadium just inside the left-field foul pole that is called, in neon letters, Big Mac Land.

McGwire is quick to point out it’s a hamburger promotion and not a McGwire spinoff that will add to his $9-million salary.

Moreover, Big Mac, the player that is, isn’t overly fond of hamburgers.

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Trivia time: What is regarded as the longest putt ever made in the Masters?

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Advanced homework: Ron Borges in the Boston Globe: “Vanderbilt defensive back Corey Chavous has taken being a student of the game to a new level.

“He has more than 500 feet of videotape of the game’s greatest receivers, going all the way back to Don Hutson.”

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Did U know? Paul Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that Montreal Expo closer Ugueth Urbina is the first player in major league history with the initials UUU: Ugueth Urtain Urbina.

Ugueth’s brothers? Ulises Utah and Ulmer Ulses Urbina.

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Targeting Tark: Jay Leno, on Utah Coach Rick Majerus, who was a guest on “The Tonight Show”:

“It’s tough to coach at Utah because many of the players are Mormons and they go on missions. The players go away for as much as a year, as opposed to Jerry Tarkanian’s players, who go away for five to 10 years.”

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Yo, Reggie: Anthony Mason of the Charlotte Hornets on Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller’s elbowing of Mason’s teammate Vlade Divac in a recent game:

“Reggie knows who to hit and who not to. If he had hit me like that, we’d both be out the rest of the season--him for being hurt and me for being suspended.”

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Opinion: Phoenix Sun Coach Danny Ainge on the NBA’s Western Conference: “The Lakers have the best talent, but the Sonics and the Jazz have the best teams.”

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Uninvited: Ron Reid in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “For the first time in the 28-year history of ‘Monday Night Football,’ the Raiders have been excluded from the lineup of ABC prime-time games.

“One suspects that Oakland’s 4-12 record has something to do with it.”

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Valets or caddies? Two of San Francisco’s most popular golf courses will become parking lots during this summer’s U.S. Open at the Olympic Club.

City officials admitted that about 7,000 cars parked on the fairways at the Harding and Fleming courses will cause considerable damage, but they are hopeful play can resume within two days after the tournament ends.

Lou Perrone, a member of the board of directors of the Harding club, said the concern is more than losing access to a favorite course for a few days.

“We think that parking 7,000 cars on the golf courses is going to leave its mark,” he said.

Maybe the drivers will repair their divots.

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Looking back: On this day in 1962, the Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the inaugural game at Dodger Stadium, 6-3.

The next day the Dodgers defeated the Reds, 6-2.

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Trivia answer: Nick Faldo sank a 100-foot birdie putt on the second hole in the third round in 1989. He went on to win in a playoff with Scott Hoch.

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And finally: Injured New Jersey Net center Jayson Williams, captain of the all-interview team, on teammate Rony Seikaly:

“I hope he starts playing better because I’m tired of taking him out to dinner and playing Sigmund Freud with him.

“And let me tell you something, that Greek eats a lot.”