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Monday, July 8
 
Miller Park roof springs leak during thunderstorm

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE -- Miller Park's troubled roof sprang a leak during Monday night's Home Run Derby.

As the New York Yankees' Jason Giambi batted in the final against the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa, thunder boomed, lightning crackled and water began streaming into the loge section behind home plate.

Arn Tenhula, an 85-year-old who recently moved from Florida to suburban Dousman, was prepared. He opened a small, black umbrella in the 1½-year-old ballpark, where the retractable roof was closed during the second round of the Home Run Derby.

``This is my first game here,'' he said. ``My daughter brought the umbrella.''

Given the previous leaks at Miller Park, daughter Janet Ewald knew what could occur.

``I had a feeling,'' she said. ``I was hoping this wasn't going to happen on national TV.''

The $400 million ballpark, which replaced County Stadium at the start of the 2001 season, has had repeated problems with the roof.

``I don't care if it leaks,'' she said. ``It's still a great ballpark.''

Even during construction, Miller Park had problems. On July 14, 1999, a 1,400-ton crane crumpled while lifting a 400-ton roof piece 200 feet in the air. Three ironworkers were killed when the roof piece and the crane crashed into the basket where they were observing the lift.

On Monday, Milwaukee first baseman Richie Sexson didn't notice the rain falling on the crowd of 41,732.

``The only thing I was watching was the ball coming in,'' he said.

In April, Sexson was among those players who complained that heating in the ballpark was inadequate, saying during a freezing game that the temperature inside was only 10 to 15 degrees higher than outside.

Arizona first baseman Mark Grace called it ``the coldest dome in baseball'' and teammate Randy Johnson said next time he comes to Milwaukee, he'll chip in for heat.

Scott Jenkins, vice president of stadium operations, said the water wasn't surprising.

``Of course, nobody ever wants to see a leak, but we are somewhat vulnerable depending on the direction of the wind and the rain volume,'' said Scott Jenkins, the vice president of stadium operations. ``But the event went on and everybody had a great time, and a few people got a few drops.

``We had pretty good winds from the West, and the rain got between the joints of the paneling. It's unrealistic to have 10 acres of roof that moves and not have a drop of rain.''





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