Kapp, Mosca regretting CFL luncheon brawl

Joe Kapp said he's not proud of his part in the throwdown at last week's CFL alumni luncheon.   

Angelo Mosca is also disappointed at what transpired.   

Both Canadian Football Hall of Famers, now poster boys for 70-something brawlers, have had a few days to reflect on their bizarre dustup during Grey Cup weekend in Vancouver.   

"It's a shame it happened," Mosca said Wednesday. "That's the way I look at it."   

Added Kapp: "The altercation should have been avoided there because it was a celebration of teamwork and togetherness within the country." 

But both men said they did what they had to do.   

"Somebody hit me on the side of the head with a cane — a club — so I had to respond," Kapp said. "I don't think there's any person anywhere that wouldn't respond the way I did."   

Mosca said things got heated after he had a "dead-ass flower" shoved in his face.   

"I don't care if you're the King or the Queen, you're not going to shove something in my face and get away with it," Mosca said from his Hamilton home.   

Both men apologized to those in attendance after Friday's altercation.   

The video clip of the two brawling went viral. It was even a talking point on the NFL's "Monday Night Football" pre-game show and ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption."   

Kapp said he understands the high level of interest.   

"Two old farts going at it — I can see the humour in it," he said from his native California. "But not if you're a participant."   

The bad blood between Kapp and Mosca goes back to Hamilton's 21-10 win over B.C. in the 1963 Grey Cup, when Mosca delivered a controversial hit that knocked Lions running back Willie Fleming out of the game.   

Kapp and Mosca were supposed to talk about the hit at the alumni luncheon. Instead, those in attendance were stunned to see a scrap between two men in their mid-70s.   

A YouTube video — which has over 330,000 hits and counting — showed Kapp attempting to give Mosca a flower as an apparent peace offering and Mosca rejecting the gesture with an expletive.   

Kapp then shoved the flower in Mosca's face, prompting Mosca to attempt to shove it away with his hands. Kapp then swatted Mosca with the flower, and Mosca retaliated by swinging his cane and striking Kapp in the head.   

Kapp then landed a right hand to Mosca's jaw, followed by a left that felled the former defensive lineman.   

"It wasn't a hard shot," said Mosca. "It's just that my legs aren't the best anymore."   

After he was helped up, Mosca returned to his chair and then apologized to the room. He said he greeted Kapp when he first saw him but the welcome was not returned.   

Kapp said he wasn't expecting to get into an altercation.

"I was attempting to be part of the party and out of the blue came this shot," Kapp said. "The reaction [has been from] all over — I'm getting calls from all the ships at sea."   

Mosca, 74, is one year older than Kapp, a former star quarterback who led the Minnesota Vikings in a loss against Kansas City in Super Bowl IV.   

Mosca said he wasn't hurt in the altercation, just more stunned than anything else. Kapp said he injured his head and had to visit the doctor after returning home.   

Kapp said he hasn't held a grudge with Mosca, noting it was their first interaction in about 40 years.   

"I thought we settled it in 1964 when we won the Grey Cup over Hamilton and there were no incidents there," Kapp said.   

He said he regrets the incident, adding it was unfortunate they had a disagreement all these years later.   

"I usually end up enjoying the party," Kapp said. "Well this was not enjoyable. It was something that is not a good example for sports people and yet there was no choice. He left me no choice."   

It's not the first time that Mosca has been involved in a scrap. After his football career ended, he became a pro wrestler and was a feature performer on major cards in the United States and Canada.