'Struck a nerve': Fan booted from baseball game over anti-MAGA hat gets 'hero’s welcome'
With all of Donald Trump's drum-beating about Canada, a Toronto Blue Jays fan wearing a red cap with the message "Canada is not for sale" found himself an unlikely hero, according to The New York Times.
Dan Begley, a 70-year-old from a Toronto suburb, said he received compliments on his headwear before a Rogers Centre stadium usher cited him for violating a rule against displaying political slogans.
“The usher approached me and said that they have a policy against political statements,” Begley said. “I wasn’t even sure what she was talking about, but I realized it was my hat, and she said I would have to remove it or turn it backward.”
Begley claimed he bought the hat after seeing Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, wearing a blue version to a January meeting with the prime minister.
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“It was more of a patriotic hat,” Begley said. “I thought, what better place to wear it than opening game in Canada with all my fellow Canadians there.”
After ignoring the usher's demands, Begley was told to step outside to meet with the manager.
“I said, ‘OK I’ll go,’ but I’m not going quietly. And I just said as loud as I could, ‘I’m being thrown out because of my hat!’” The Times reported.
Local media covering the dustup reached Doug Ford himself, who told Begley, "'Keep wearing that hat, and if anyone gives you a problem, just call me.' And he left his cellphone number!” Begley said.
Times reporter Victor Mather wrote, "In recent months, Canadians have been keener than usual to point out that their country is not for sale. Tension with the United States is high because of President Trump’s tariff proposals and his public comments about making the country America’s 51st state."
For their part, the Blue Jays issued an apology, and the hat's designer sent Begley two tickets for the next game.
“I got a hero’s welcome,” Begley said. “I couldn’t believe that people were buying me beer and wanting their picture taken with me and thanking me. I think I really struck a nerve.”
He added, “I’m so proud of myself. Canadians, you know, we’re quiet. But boy, we’re loud and proud now.”