Cheap Seats

Willie’s wish

San Francisco mayoral candidate Willie Brown says he thinks the city’s current administration sold Candlestick Park’s name too cheaply. Brown, the former speaker of the California Assembly, said last week that, had he known he could’ve acquired the rights to the stadium’s name for a mere $500,000, he would have renamed the home of the Giants and 49ers Willie Brown Park - at least for the duration of the campaign.

“That would have been awesome,” said Brown, becoming the latest critic to claim that the city should have charged 3Com Corp. more in the sale.

And the 49ers’ hated rivals in Oakland wouldn’t have objected, since football fans are more familiar with Willie Brown, the former Raiders cornerback, than with the like-named Bay Area politician.

Call it revenue sharing

Even after spurning San Francisco to sign with rival Dallas, cornerback Deion Sanders continues to help the 49ers - or at least 49ers linebacker Ken Norton.

Norton, a former Cowboy, still owns a sports merchandise store in Dallas. As one might imagine, sales of No. 21 jerseys with “Sanders” stitched on the back have been brisk.

Norton ordered 100 shortly after Sanders signed with the Cowboys and, after selling roughly 75, has ordered another 100. “I don’t want to pump it up too much, but I have no complaints,” Norton said.

Top that

Montreal’s Greg Harris recently became the first player in modern history to pitch with both hands in a majorleague baseball game. “But that’s nothin’,” wrote Mark Kreidler of the Sacramento Bee. “I once saw a commissioner talk out of both sides of his mouth. Behind my back.”

Get your tickets

Candace Putnam offered an inspiring preview of Saturday’s college football game between San Jose State and Utah State.

“San Jose State (0-4) faces mutually win-impaired Utah State (0-3) today at Spartan Stadium, and barring a tie, one of these Big West Conference teams will win,” the San Jose Mercury News writer began. “The only problem is, the Spartans will play the Aggies with an offensive line that is thinning faster than Oprah on a liquid diet.”

That’s the same conference Boise State and Idaho are stepping UP to, by the way.

Knuckleheaded knuckleballer

Although he pitched just 55 games for Florida, the Marlins showed class by honoring the great Charlie Hough with a Charlie Hough Appreciation Night.

Afterward, the Ancient Ex-Marlin was asked by the Orange County Register’s Jeff Miller how his former team, the Rangers, had honored him.

“The Rangers gave me a day, too,” Hough replied. “A day to get out of town.”

No longer worth the risk

Lee Trevino was once a high-stakes golf gambler, according to Golf World magazine. Now, however, when he plays in the off-season, the standard bet is $5 a side, winner buys lunch.

“I like to talk and have fun,” Trevino said. “You start playing for big dollars and you’re a clown and crazy like I am, you’re going to get a 2-iron between your eyes. You’ve got to be very quiet when you play those $100-, $200- and $500-Nassaus.”

The last word …

“I’ll miss this place. It was great to bring a family here. I suppose the other place will be nice. It won’t be the same, but it won’t smell like elephant you-knowwhat a month after the circus has left town, either.”

- Boston Bruins fan Wil Curtis, mourning the closing of the Boston Garden in favor of the new Fleetcenter

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo