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Tiger-Cats legend Angelo Mosca dies at 84 after prolonged battle with Alzheimer's

Oluwatobi November 07, 2021

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He was a five-time Gray Cup champion and member of the Canadian Soccer Corridor of Fame.

However Angelo Mosca will endlessly be remembered for the controversial hit that knocked tailback Willie Fleming out of the ’63 CFL title recreation, and subsequent combat with Joe Kapp, Fleming’s teammate, greater than 40 years later.

The usually vibrant Mosca died Saturday on the age of 84. His spouse Helen Mosca introduced his dying in a Fb publish.

“It’s with nice disappointment that the household of Angelo Mosca announce his passing . . . after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s,” Helen wrote. “Angelo was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather in addition to good friend to so many.”

Mosca was recognized with Alzheimer’s shortly after his 78th birthday in 2015.

Across the CFL on Saturday, Mosca was remembered as a “celebrity” and a “legend.”

“Powerful as nails, he overcame a hardscrabble childhood and have become a family title,” CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie mentioned in an announcement. “Savvy, good and forward of his time, he constructed his dangerous man personae into a private model that was greater than life. Unloved in some markets, the place he was the villain, his stature was unmatched in Hamilton, the place he was a hero, and when he traded his shoulder pads for wrestling tights, he enthralled Mosca followers in international locations close to and much.”

Mosca was born Feb. 13, 1938 in Waltham, Mass., and performed school soccer at Notre Dame. He joined the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1958 earlier than being chosen within the thirtieth spherical, 350th general, within the ’59 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mosca elected to stay in Canada and was dealt to the Ottawa Tough Riders in 1960, ultimately incomes the primary of his 5 Gray Cup rings that yr.

Mosca spent two seasons with the Riders earlier than becoming a member of the Montreal Alouettes in 1962. He returned to Hamilton in 1963 and remained with the Ticats till his retirement following the membership’s residence Gray Cup win over Saskatchewan in 1972.

“The factor about Angelo, he was simply greater than all people else and nastier than all people else,” mentioned former Toronto Argonauts quarterback Joe Theismann.

“He was simply flat nasty. Luckily he solely landed on me a couple of instances. That is why I used to be nonetheless capable of hold enjoying.”

Nationwide notoriety

The Ticats referred to as Mosca probably the most legendary participant to ever put on a Hamilton jersey.

“His contributions to the sport of Canadian soccer, to our group, and to the Hamilton neighborhood won’t ever be forgotten,” the membership mentioned in an announcement.

A five-time all-star, Mosca appeared in 9 Gray Cup video games however gained nationwide notoriety for his vicious hit on Fleming within the ’63 contest. Fleming took the ball on a pitchout and was operating to his proper. He had been tackled simply contained in the sidelines and was mendacity on his abdomen when Mosca got here flying over prime the Lions’ participant. Fleming took a minute earlier than rolling over and showing visibly shocked. No penalty was referred to as on the play however many — together with then Lions quarterback Kapp — felt Mosca’s hit was not solely late however soiled.

With Fleming not capable of play, Hamilton went on to win the Gray Cup 21-10 and additional improve Mosca’s repute because the CFL’s meanest participant, one thing he later promoted throughout his professional wrestling days as dangerous boy “King Kong” Mosca.

Kapp by no means shook Mosca’s hand following the ’63 Gray Cup. However he and the Lions gained some revenge by downing Mosca and the Ticats 34-24 within the ’64 title recreation at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium for the B.C. membership’s first-ever CFL championship.

Altercation with Kapp

Nevertheless, it seems time does not heal all wounds. In November 2011, the 2 previous foes have been company at a CFL Alumni luncheon throughout Gray Cup week in Vancouver. The previous gamers have been referred to as onstage earlier than the gang when the then 73-year-old Kapp tried to provide the 74-year-old Mosca flowers as an obvious peace providing however Mosca rejected the gesture with an expletive.

Kapp then shoved the flowers in Mosca’s face, prompting Mosca to try to push them away together with his arms. Kapp then swatted Mosca with the flowers, and Mosca retaliated by swinging his cane and putting Kapp within the head. Kapp then landed a proper hand to Mosca’s jaw, then a left that felled Mosca.

As soon as Mosca was helped up on to a close-by chair, Kapp apologized to the gang for the incident however shortly afterwards relayed a weird story about Fleming having a canine he named Angelo and the way he beat the animal each day. Kapp and Mosca have been supposed to speak in regards to the Fleming hit, then the viewers was to vote on whether or not it was a very good or dangerous hit afterwards.

Previous to the incident, each Kapp and Mosca have been reportedly seated on the identical desk when Mosca prolonged his hand to Kapp however the former Lion did not settle for it.

Mosca additionally apologized to the gang and referred to as the altercation “embarrassing” however, predictably, wasn’t about to again down.

“It is form of unhappy. I do not go to mattress enthusiastic about Joe Kapp each evening. However Joe Kapp should go to mattress each evening enthusiastic about Mosca hitting Willie Fleming,” Mosca mentioned. “I’ve nothing in opposition to Joe Kapp and I do not care about Joe Kapp.”

Professional wrestling profession

Following his soccer profession, Mosca turned to professional wrestling and carried out in major occasions at prime venues like Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens and Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. He additionally had a brief stint as a broadcaster with the World Wrestling Federation. When that ended, he managed son Angelo Jr.’s wrestling profession.

Mosca had lived for years in St. Catharines, Ont., together with his spouse, Helen. Mosca additionally wrote a e-book with Hamilton Spectator columnist Steve Milton entitled Inform Me To My Face, which was launched in September 2011.

Mosca was elected to the Canadian Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1987. In 2006 in a TSN ballot of the top-50 gamers in CFL historical past, Mosca was ranked No. 37.

“On Gray Cup Sunday, and for years to come back we’ll raise up the story of Angelo Mosca as a shining instance of what can occur when an unbelievable individual and our superb recreation come collectively,” Ambrosie mentioned.

Helen Mosca mentioned funeral preparations will probably be shared at a later date.



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