Choosing the top moments from Angelo Mosca’s storied football career, and equally interesting post-football life, is a daunting task. Number 68 was a phenomenal competitor on the field and nothing short of pop culture icon off the field, creating memorable moments everywhere he went.
Keeping in mind the fact that these will always be debatable, here are six of the best moments from Mosca’s life.
Advertisement appearances
During and after his career, Mosca appeared in over 50 different national television, radio and print advertisements. Many of the advertisements are difficult to track down, but this truck commercial that Mosca stars in is rather exceptional. The all-time Ticats great looks like a pro on camera, sporting a full head of black hair and some John Madden-esque screen presence.
Mosca’s appearance on Dr. Phil
Mosca was asked to appear on Dr. Phil in December of 2011 to discuss his infamous fight with CFL Alumni Joe Kapp at the 2011 CFL Alumni Luncheon. The goal of the show that was entitled “Gripes, Grudges and Grievances” was to mend the relationship between Kapp and Mosca, but the former BC Lions quarterback was unwilling to show up. Mosca still appeared on the show, discussing his autobiography with the show’s host, Phil Walters, while explaining a little more about the incident that went viral.
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame Induction
On May 2, 1987, Angelo Mosca was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Mosca was inducted along with Tom Wilkinson, a quarterback he had the pleasure to chase down for years in the Ticats-Argos rivalry. Over the course of his career, the defensive and offensive lineman was a five-time Eastern All Star and two-time Canadian All Star. Mosca was twice voted the Eastern Division lineman of the year (1963 & 1970) and finished as runner-up for the Schenley Most Outstanding Lineman award in both seasons.
The Pat Patterson water pitcher
Mosca had many memorable moments throughout his professional wrestling career, in which he wrestled in 35 different countries, but one of the most notable ones came in a 1981 match. The clip above depicts the scenario, wherein Mosca clubs referee Pat Patterson over the head with a metal water pitcher. The backstory was that King Kong Mosca had been disqualified from the match by Patterson, who followed the disqualification up by stating that Mosca “got what he deserved.” Mosca replied with a statement of his own:
“I’m going to take matters into my own hands at any arena in North America.”
Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame Induction – 2012
On May 18, 2012, the Boston-born and Canadian-adopted football player and wrestler was inducted into the Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame in Detroit. Mosca was the first CFL player to ever be honoured by the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, which honours former football players for their on-field careers as well as their post-playing lives. The ceremony recognized Mosca for his exceptional career, but also for his relentless charity efforts after his playing time ended.
Since his football life came to an end, Mosca has been involved in raising several millions for charity, most specifically for former players who are struggling. At the 2012 CFL Alumni Luncheon during Grey Cup week, the Ticats legend auctioned off the cane from the previous year’s luncheon scuffle, raising $7,700 for a struggling players retirement fund. At the event, Mosca exclaimed that “there’s many things that happen in your life, but this is one of the greatest.”
The final game: Grey Cup 60
Mosca’s football career could not have ended more perfectly than it did. In the final game of his career, the 15-year veteran won his fifth and final Grey Cup, hoisting the trophy over his head at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Ticats topped the Saskatchewan Roughriders 13-10 with a last-second 34-yard field goal by Ian Sunter, in what was a tight defensive battle. There was no more fitting moment for Mosca to walk out to, finishing his football career on the ultimate high note.
