Scandal-Plagued A-Rod Booed "Vociferously" In Return To Majors

Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez last night was "vociferously booed by the fans when merely walking to home plate in his first plate appearance" against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The boos "remained incessant, growing even louder when he singled, with fans screaming and taunting him" (USA TODAY, 8/6). The White Sox sold about 2,000 tickets yesterday, and the "walk-ups among the crowd of 27,948 didn't come to see a team 29 games below .500." One fan had a "211" sign, while others chanted "PEDs!" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/6).

CBSSPORTS.com's Danny Knobler writes the game "felt less like baseball than like pro wrestling," with Rodriguez as the "designated villain." ESPN.com's Jon Greenberg: "This is how it will go in every park for the first game of every series he plays, probably even Yankee Stadium to a degree." The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Daniel Barbarisi: "The Yankees are used to being part of a traveling zoo. But the crush of media and fans feasting on the Rodriguez story Monday shocked even them."