TORONTO (AP) Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford attended Sunday's National Football League game between Buffalo and Atlanta, wearing a blue Bills jersey with the name and number of running back Fred Jackson.
With about five minutes left in the first quarter, Ford walked down the aisle behind the Atlantabench. Fans turned from the field and took pictures. The mayor arrived just before Jackson scored a touchdown.
At least four Toronto police officers and several stadium security staff were at the entrance to the VIP section where Ford had an aisle seat. They tried to keep fans from approaching for photos and handshakes.
Last month, Ford acknowledged smoking crack in a "drunken stupor" but refused to resign as mayor of Canada's largest city and financial capital. He has been largely stripped of his powers by his city council.
The crowd was both friendly and derisive. "Rob Ford for prime minister," yelled one fan. More than a few responded with "Crackhead."
"Take a toke," said another in the crush that had some parents with kids and a woman on crutches gingerly trying to work their way through the crowd to get back to their seats.
What started as fans gawking or wanting a picture of the beleaguered Toronto mayor during the first quarter turned into a somewhat unmanageable mob scene under the stands during halftime. Eventually police led Ford away to an elevator to get him away from the crush.
Ford was eventually led away by a phalanx of a half-dozen police officers plus arena security to a nearby elevator as a small group of fans brandishing cellphone cameras followed.
Ford attended a Canadian Football League playoff game at Rogers Centre last month. He is reportedly interested in going to the NHL's Winter Classic outdoor game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Jan. 1. He is a big football fan and former football coach.
