PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE : Ottawa Fans Boo Ismail’s Introduction at CFL Opener

Raghib (Rocket) Ismail’s introduction to the Canadian Football League was met by a chorus of boos.

A crowd of 23,254 at Ottawa booed heartily when the public address announcer informed them that the Toronto Argonauts’ rookie from Notre Dame was not dressed for the CFL opener because of a leg injury.

However, Ismail got a vote of confidence from Argonaut owner Bruce McNall.

“His attitude is great,” McNall said at halftime.

Ismail watched the game from the bench while actor John Candy, another Argonaut co-owner, sat in the stands. Wayne Gretzky of the Kings, the third Argonaut owner, did not attend the game.

When the Rocket met the media again Thursday in Ottawa.

“This is a CFL record, isn’t it?” he said with a laugh when asked about the number of news conferences he has held in recent days.

Asked about whether he was worth his four-year contract, that could pay him as much as $26 million, Ismail didn’t miss a beat.

“Right now, what’s going on, is what I’m getting paid for. Things like this.”