OPENING THE SAFE: M'S OPENER MAY BE PLAYED UNDER THE ROOF

          Seattle's Safeco Field officially opens tonight as the
     Mariners host the Padres.  The forecast is for temperatures
     in the mid-50's with a 60% chance of rain.  The Mariners
     "will make the decision to open or close" the retractable
     roof at the new facility at game time.  It takes about 20
     minutes to close the roof (SEATTLE P-I, 7/15).  The new
     $517M ballpark was also the focus of an extensive special
     section in yesterday's SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER and is the
     subject of USA TODAY's Sports cover story.  In agreeing to
     media interviews, Mariners CF Ken Griffey Jr. is refusing to
     comment directly on the park or the team's statements that
     it needs public funds to cover cost overruns or risk losing
     both Griffey and SS Alex Rodriguez to free agency.  Griffey:
     "Look, I'm in a Catch-22 situation.  No matter what I say,
     it's blown out of proportion, whether it's good or bad.  So
     it's best that I just don't say anything" (USA TODAY, 7/15).