There was no game at Miller Park Monday night but All Star Game madness has gripped Milwaukee nonetheless. On a hot and muggy evening, rabid baseball fans packed the stadium, eager to catch a ball, nab an autograph and have a day to remember. Even the leaking roof at Miller Park couldn't dampen their spirits.

For many Brew City baseball fans, the All Star Game -- the first in Milwaukee since 1975 and the third overall -- and its accompanying hoopla offers excitement halfway through a regular season that is anything but thrilling for the Crew.

The promise of All Star Game tickets was enough to lure some fans into buying Brewers season tickets two years in a row.

One such die-hard is Kyle Oakland, an insurance company employee who was perched in the upper deck out in right field with his friend Marcus Neitzke, a doctor of optometry. Oakland's brother also attended the game and sat across the field for Monday's All Star Workout Day, which comprised batting practice, a kids' event and the much-anticipated Home Run Derby.

"I've been looking forward to this for months," Oakland said, while seating in his seat more than two hours before the start of the derby.

"More like years," added Neitzke.

"The All Star Game," Oakland said, "was the only reason we renewed our season tickets."

But despite the Brewers' lackluster performance lately, the pair remains committed supporters and was especially happy to see Richie Sexson make the All Star squad and partake in the Home Run Derby. (Sexson advanced to the second round of the derby thanks to poor performances by Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez, but was then knocked out by Sammy Sosa's hot bat.)

"I like Richie," Neitzke said. "He seems like a classy player."

However, Oakland, flashing an impish grin as a cloudy sky drew ever closer, added, "I'd like to see the look on the face of someone from the Brewers when it starts to rain and they have to close (the roof)."

He got his chance as the derby wound down and the rain began to fall. Streams of water could be seen falling from various sections of the roof, a scene that was reportedly heavily featured on ESPN's coverage of the event.

Although there was a sold-out crowd of 41,732 at Monday's event, Oakland and Neitzke, who tailgated beforehand and planned to do so again before Tuesday's All Star Game, said they had hoped to have more company in the parking lot.

"It was a little warm out there today," Oakland said. "But I was surprised more people aren't tailgating."

Neither fan has high expectations for Tuesday's game, which they expect to be more fun that substance.

"It's just a show," said Oakland. "I don't really care who wins."

No matter which league walks away with the victory, Monday's baseball fans were there simply to soak up the excitement. Mr. Met, the Philadelphia Fanatic, the Florida Marlin -- with its perilously pointed bill -- and a host of other major league mascots cavorted on the concourses and posed for pictures with eager fans. During the Home Run Derby they took turns sliding down Bernie Brewer's big yellow slide.

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Like any other game, but even more so Monday, vendors lined the concourses selling personalized bats, All Star tchochkes and Negro League replica jerseys. Food vendors were augmented by a lavish sausage buffet and a booth selling outrageously tempting pies, cakes and other desserts.

Young ball players from across the country showed their stuff in the Pitch, Hit & Run competition and fans hooted and hollered at players in hopes of getting a ball tossed up to them or even an autograph.

Die-hards line up early

Four hours before the Derby, the rabid baseball fans had already lined up outside the gates of Miller Park. When officials finally opened the doors at 3 p.m., the fans (and fanatics) came pouring in.

At first, they walked toward the field. Then they started to trot, finally breaking into an all-out sprint to jockey for position next the field. Why? To catch a glimpse of the All Stars standing in front of a screen, taking an un-routine routine session of BP.

The players on hand Monday knew they were part of something special. Up and coming Reds outfielder Adam Dunn took mighty hacks, clanging a couple of dingers off the Piggly Wiggly sign in left centerfield. The big boys -- Sosa and Barry Bonds -- put on their own show, a preview of the Home Run Derby later to come. Not surprisingly, fans oohed and aahed with each swing of the bat, but most just stood and watched as Sosa launched ball after ball off the centerfield scoreboard. And for the players who weren't taking batting practice, they just watched, too. A few All Stars, like Brewers shortstop Jose Hernandez, stood in the outfield with his son, wearing a matching uniform, observing the game's greats.

The fans, even the ones way up in the outfield bleachers, stood at the ready with their gloves in hand. Men and boys, alike, hoped for a home run, of course. But they would gladly have settled for a routine fly ball, caught then flipped up to them by Vladimir Guerrero.

"I'd be thrilled if I got my hand on one," Oakland quipped. "We're near the aisle so I think we can."

"I just want to be on ESPN," countered Neitzke.