Old Guy in MAGA Hat Who LeBron Owned During Playoff Game Will Be Appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ireland

Remember that earnest octogenarian in the MAGA hat sitting courtside during a Cavs playoff game this year whom LeBron trolled by tossing a sweaty towel just out of his reach?

If not, check out the video above. It was a minor owning, but an owning nonetheless, and in keeping with LeBron’s outspoken critiques of President Trump and his supporters, the “U bum” Twitter episode most prominent among them.

The MAGA guy is Edward Crawford. He’s the billionaire Chairman and CEO of ParkOhio Holdings Corp. and an “icon in the Cleveland business community.” He is expected, per reports, to be named the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland today. 

Crawford, the”leading businessman from Ohio and long-time donor to the Republican Party, has been seen as the front runner since Brian Burns, a friend of Mr. Trump, pulled out of the running in the summer of 2017, the Ireland Independent reported.

“Mr. Crawford’s grandparents are from Cork, and he has a strong involvement in the Irish community in Ohio. It is understood the appointment process has been in train for some time and is unrelated to the postponement of Mr. Trump’s visit to Ireland.”

The Cleveland business publication Smart Business reported in 2017 that Crawford’s ParkOhio Holdings had grown to more than 35 manufacturing sites and over 55 supply chain logistics facilities in 16 countries.

“We want ParkOhio to be a company that’s going to be in Cleveland for a long time,” Crawford told Smart Business. 

In 2016, Crawford led Donald Trump’s fundraising efforts in Ohio. 

This article appears in Sep 12-18, 2018.