VANCOUVER – A day after his dustup with Joe Kapp, Angelo Mosca is convinced the former B.C. Lions quarterback still holds a grudge for a play from the 1963 Grey Cup.
Mosca, the burly defensive lineman of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Kapp engaged in an unexpected battle on Friday at the Canadian Football League Alumni Legends Luncheon that raised money for the CFL Alumni Dire Needs Fund and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Foundation.
The incident has become a talking point among fans, players and the media and has provided some off-the-field controversy leading up to Sunday’s 99th Cup between the hometown B.C. Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Place Stadium.
Mosca claims Kapp used profane language when the two were sitting together at a table before the brouhaha and then continued to make unkind remarks that precipitated the physical exchange. It escalated following a videotape of the ’63 game, which the Cats won and included Mosca’s infamous hit on Lions running back Willie Fleming.
While Mosca was sitting on a stool on stage because it is hard for him to stand due to numerous injuries and operations, Kapp approached him with a flower. According to Mosca, Kapp started pricking him and he didn’t like it, so he used his walking cane to strike back. Kapp then threw a punch that knocked Mosca off his feet.
"He’s got an axe to grind with me," Mosca told Sportsnet.ca. "I hit him with the cane and he came across with a (punch) and knocked me down. My balance ain’t the best anymore. Then I said, ‘I don’t know what the f— you want from me, but you can go f— yourself. I don’t need you in my life.’ I couldn’t believe it."
Mosca, a former professional wrestler, is known to be good at promoting and marketing himself. He is currently autographing copies of his autobiography.
"To be honest, I think there were some people who thought it was staged because Ang was doing book signings before the event," said Dave Watkins, a director with the Tiger-Cats who is accompanying him on his book tour. "That was my own feeling that these guys had decided to whip up a bit of a controversy. There was no way this was staged. Angelo took the worst of it. I don’t care who you are, but if you’ve gone what he’s gone through and you get knocked down to the floor, you worry about him. Was it a peace offering where (Kapp) was offering a flower? No. He was provoking him."
"I didn’t want any part of a fight," Mosca said.
Leo Ezerins, executive director of the CFL Alumni Association, apologized to the crowd for the unexpected incident, and the event continued.
"It was a shame. It was unnecessary," Mosca said. "I can’t believe he carried a grudge for 48 years. I have picture of him ignoring my handshake after the game."
Kapp could not be reached for comment.
