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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 โ63 CFL title recreation, and subsequent combat with Joe Kapp, Flemingโs 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.
โItโs with nice disappointment that the household of Angelo Mosca announce his passing . . . after a prolonged battle with Alzheimerโs,โ Helen wrote. โAngelo was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather in addition to good friend to so many.โ
Mosca was recognized with Alzheimerโs shortly after his 78th birthday in 2015.
Thanks and goodbye, Angie.<a href=โhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/RememberingMosca?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfwโ>#RememberingMosca</a> <a href=โhttps://t.co/k2cOKaXlrqโ>pic.twitter.com/k2cOKaXlrq</a>
—@Ticats
Across the CFL on Saturday, Mosca was remembered as a โcelebrityโ and a โlegend.โ
Mosca was born Feb. 13, 1938 in Waltham, Mass., and performed school soccer at Notre Dame. He joined the CFLโs Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1958 earlier than being chosen within the thirtieth spherical, 350th general, within the โ59 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
A bigger than life icon: Angelo Mosca.โค๏ธ<br><br>The complete <a href=โhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfwโ>#CFL</a> extends its sympathy, and gratitude, to his spouse Helen, and youngsters Angelo Jr. and Jolene, in addition to his associates and teammates.<br><br>๐ <a href=โhttps://t.co/xrSMxVQdJYโ>https://t.co/xrSMxVQdJY</a> <a href=โhttps://t.co/JBcbQUulnWโ>pic.twitter.com/JBcbQUulnW</a>
—@CFL
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 membershipโs residence Gray Cup win over Saskatchewan in 1972.
โThe factor about Angelo, he was simply greater than all people else and nastier than all people else,โ mentioned former Toronto Argonauts quarterback Joe Theismann.
โHe 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.โ
Nationwide notoriety
The Ticats referred to as Mosca probably the most legendary participant to ever put on a Hamilton jersey.
โHis contributions to the sport of Canadian soccer, to our group, and to the Hamilton neighborhood wonโt ever be forgotten,โ 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 โ63 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 Lionsโ participant. Fleming took a minute earlier than rolling over and showing visibly shocked. No penalty was referred to as on the play however many โ together with then Lions quarterback Kapp โ felt Moscaโs 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 Moscaโs repute because the CFLโs meanest participant, one thing he later promoted throughout his professional wrestling days as dangerous boy โKing Kongโ Mosca.
Kapp by no means shook Moscaโs hand following the โ63 Gray Cup. However he and the Lions gained some revenge by downing Mosca and the Ticats 34-24 within the โ64 title recreation at Torontoโs Exhibition Stadium for the B.C. membershipโs 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.
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 โembarrassingโ however, predictably, wasnโt about to again down.
โIt 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,โ Mosca mentioned. โIโve nothing in opposition to Joe Kapp and I do not care about Joe Kapp.โ
Professional wrestling profession
Following his soccer profession, Mosca turned to professional wrestling and carried out in major occasions at prime venues like Torontoโs 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.โs 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.
โOn Gray Cup Sunday, and for years to come back weโll 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,โ Ambrosie mentioned.
Helen Mosca mentioned funeral preparations will probably be shared at a later date.
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