NFLVideoWeird But True

Two 73-Year-Old Former Football Players Got Into An All-Out Brawl

by Glenn Davis | 10:54 am, November 27th, 2011

Is there any incident in your life that happened years and years ago, something that reason indicates you should be over by now…but you just can’t move past it? Sure, you go about your business, live your life, etc. But when you get a reminder of this one event, your blood boils all over again.

If this all sounds familiar, you can identify with Joe Kapp. Kapp, a former quarterback in the CFL and NFL (as well as Cal’s football coach for a spell during the 1980s), played in the Grey Cup for the CFL’s championship back in 1963 with the BC Lions. The Lions lost that game to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 21-10, but what really sticks out in Kapp’s mind, it seems, is one play by Hamilton defensive tackle Angelo Mosca.

Mosca put a hit on BC running back Willie Fleming that many thought was dirty, Kapp included. Apparently, Kapp wouldn’t shake Mosca’s hand after the game. Hence, bad blood. 48 years’ worth of bad blood, to be exact. Because when Kapp and Mosca crossed paths at a CFL alumni event leading up to this year’s Grey Cup, well, this happened:

OK, so maybe one would hope that rational adults could handle their long-simmering feud a little better than this, causing a scenario where someone could easily get seriously hurt. But also: apparently no one did get seriously hurt, so: Fight! Fight! Fight!

It’s hard not to love a fight where a cane is used as a weapon (also used as a weapon: fists), not to mention one fueled by nearly a half century of passion. It does look like Kapp did the most to initiate things, though once Mosca somewhat forcefully shoved the flower out of his face, there was no going back. And apparently, when it comes to late hits in high stakes games, there’s no moving ahead, either. In this case, we’re glad.

Filed Under:
CFL
Fights

Anonymous

Looks as if Kapp finally got a litle revenge. The guy was a dirty player and the hit was bad and uncalled for. I remember it well.

Although remember Joe Kapp offered him a flower and he slapped it out of his face first…….!
http://twitter.com/Gareth_Keenan Gareth Keenan

Mosca could have just accepted the flower and not said “shove it up your ass”. That kind of started it in my opinion.
HGAR967269

Does Willie Fleming have any comment or is he still with us?
Bruce Benjamin Thomas

This makes me feel sad that increased wisdom doesn’t come with age. I had high hopes of gaining in wisdom as I age, but if these guys are a representation of what actually happens I have little hope. I watched this video several times trying to determine which was in the wrong, but like most situations, it takes two to tango and both share blame in this. Each could have been the better man and stopped at different points but none seemed to want to allow the other the upper hand. The audience had it right though–just let it go, let it go. However, it was indeed kind of funny. I laughed and I feel guilty now.
Lacehairsecrets

Omgosh!!.. Just proves to show some men NEVER grow up!!
Anonymous

Don’t feel guilty! The need for laughter is why God invented old guys fighting!
Tony Cave

You know, I agree with all the ‘older adults should know better than to resort to violence’ comments. I like to think that I will always do my best to handle a conflict with dignity and social skill. I don’t anything about these particular guys. But don’t you think that sometimes the deep, liberating satisfaction that comes with smacking some douche in the mouth that’s begging for it might make up for a temporary reputation dent?