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Lots of love for ?roughest, toughest? Mosca

Posted: Aug 27th 2015 By: Teri Pecoski

It's been three decades, but Don Sutherin still remembers the night he ran into Angelo Mosca in Ottawa.

He was running a practice for the Rough Riders, and his old teammate was getting ready for a fight.

"Ang was wrestling that night right under the stadium, and I wanted to see what was going on," said the former Tiger-Cats defensive back, place-kicker and coach. When he found him, Mosca asked Sutherin what he was up to.

"We're practising," he told him.

"What time are you done?"

"An hour and a half."

"OK," said Mosca. "I'm going to wrestle this guy and I'm going to knock him out."

For Sutherin, the exchange personifies the Ticats great.

"He is the toughest, roughest, meanest son of a gun I've ever met in my life," he said. "And I have all the love in the world for him."

Sutherin was among hundreds of fans, friends, family members, and former teammates who came together at Carmen's Wednesday evening to f?te the former pro wrestler and Canadian football hall-of-famer.

The Ticats will also retire Mosca's No. 68 Thursday night at Tim Hortons Field.

The event honoured Mosca's life, career and contributions to the Hamilton community. It also raised money for the Angelo Mosca Fund, which was created after the 78-year-old was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease earlier this year.

"I'm so pleased," said Mosca's daughter, Jolene, who spearheaded the tribute alongside brother Angelo Jr. "It's not just for dad, it's for Alzheimer's awareness, so I am very emotional. I'm holding the tears back."

Her father agreed.

"They're not supporting me," he said when asked about the turnout. "They're supporting the cause."

He's only half right, because they were there for him, too ? everyone from former Maple Leafs captain Doug Gilmour to World Boxing hall-of-famer George Chuvalo; from the Box J Boys to Ticats players young and old.

Absent, however, was former B.C. Lions quarterback Joe Kapp, who Mosca whacked with his cane in an infamous brawl at a league alumni luncheon four years ago. Although he did appear in the form of a pi?ata suspended above a wresting ring ? the centrepiece of Wednesday's celebration.

The cane, too, was on display in the lobby alongside the Grey Cup, old wrestling programs, jerseys, helmets and other Mosca memorabilia. And, in fitting tribute to the roughest, toughest, meanest guy in the room, it was later handed to the highest bidders in a live auction, who used it to bash Kapp ? the paper version ? to the ground.