Angelo Mosca and the Semifictionalized Construction of Masculinity: A Gender Discourse Analysis

This study analyzes the life and career of Canadian football star Angelo Mosca, using gender discourse analysis. I argue that Mosca intentionally cultivated an image of “rough” or “tough” masculinity that built on the reputation he gained after a questionable hit in the 1963 Grey Cup game. Mosca transferred the theatricality of professional wrestling to football. He used this exaggerated image of toughness and masculinity to sell products, to the point that he almost became a fictional or legendary character. Moreover, Mosca’s identity became closely tied to the working-class identity of Hamilton, Ontario—the city where he played.