We spend a lot of time, as Canadians, championing individuals that we like and even some we love. We’ve done this in the CFL for over a century. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, however, it wouldn’t be fair if we did the coin toss with a two-headed coin. So I ask, who are the most hated players in the CFL?
I’ll consider my selections from a fellow player and the fan perspective. There must be a consensus. If the player is well respected by either group, he will not make the grade. There also may be more unlikeable candidates pre-1950, but we’ll stick with the modern game.
There has been a lot of hated general managers, coaches, and even owners. But for the purpose of this article, I want to single out the most hated player on each team from Montréal to B.C. Here we go…
Montréal Alouettes
This one was easy. That’s not to say the Alouettes haven’t had their fair share, including current defensive back Kyries Hebert, of hated players. After speaking with friends and colleagues about the Alouettes most loathed, one name quickly rolled off the tongues of all of them. That man was defensive lineman, Ed Philion. Just ask former Bombers quarterback Khari Jones or kicker Troy Westwood how they feel about Philion. His hits to the knees, big mouth, lewd actions, and general nastiness earned him the title “the Claude Lemieux of the CFL”. He’s now the Eskimos’ defensive line coach.
Ottawa Rough Riders/Renegades/Redblacks
I’m sure there are some fans that liked Jeff “the Nutcracker” Braswell. They didn’t have to play against him. He was a veteran of a few different CFL teams whom I doubt respected him when he played against their team. He is one of those rare athletes you’d rather have play beside you than play against you. He was once suspended for kicking his own teammates in practice! His propensity for late hits on quarterbacks and his tendency to lead with the crown of his helmet knocked many players out of the lineup. Braswell was the CFL’s public enemy number one in the mid-to-late ’80’s without a doubt.
Toronto Argonauts
Adriano “the kissing bandit” Belli. Don’t be fooled by the nickname folks! Yes, Belli did kiss many people during his tenure in the league but usually not out of love or respect. More like the kiss of death a mobster gives to opponents or associates he’s ready to fugget about. Sure he was a community guy but tell that to an opponent that had his genitals grabbed and twisted on by Belli under a pile. That was hard to include but Belli did indescribable things that go far beyond that kind of violation. Personally, I would never allow this guy within 200 metres of my child in a mentoring or coaching capacity.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Angelo “King Kong” Mosca is the most infamous man on this list. From his hit on Willie Fleming, to his pro wrestling days, to the scrap with Joe Kapp, and the subsequent appearance on Dr. Phil — Angelo’s legend is massive. He played in a time where rough play rules were more like guidelines. Players were hardly ever held accountable or disciplined for their actions on the field. Despite this fact he was still suspended and fined a dozen times. The football field was a torture chamber for the opponents when facing Mosca’s Tiger Cats. For the vast majority of CFL players in his day, the hate was great for number 68.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Former Bomber offensive lineman, Brandon Dyson, actually sued TSN. That’s taking it to another level! He named to the suit the network and commentators: John Wells, Chris Schultz, and Glen Suitor were all sued by Dyson for defamation of character stemming from an on field incident on October 5th, 2001. His not-so-alleged crimes included gouging of eyes and a number of cut-blocks. He was so dirty and spiteful in just a single year of play that the league privately begged Winnipeg to get rid of him. After holding out for more money in 2002, then Bomber GM Dave Ritchie released Dyson and he never played another game. Thank God, said defensive front sevens around the CFL.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Ron “Atch” Atchison bent the rules as a rule. He cut and re-taped a plaster cast on his forearm to bludgeon opponents with long after his break had healed. Did someone say clothesline? The clothesline was just another weapon in Atchison’s arsenal. In the late 1960’s he was fined $250 by the league for starting a post game brawl, no doubt for his painful treatment of running backs and quarterbacks. Atchison also dabbled in politics with the Liberal Party following his football career and garnered even more haters as politicians seem to do. This man-beast was loved only by his home crowd at Taylor Field.
Edmonton Eskimos
AJ Gass beat out a pretty vast array of jerks and bullies to earn my nod. You know your dealing with a truly ruthless individual when he, so often, hides his infractions from officials – like twisting ankles in pile ups and hitting unsuspecting players when the referees’ attention was elsewhere. Then there was not not so easy to hide play where in a scuffle, against rival Calgary, Gass literally ripped off OL Dan Comiskey’s helmet and heaved it 25 yards downfield in a hammer throw motion. That one earned him a major penalty, an ejection, and a one-game suspension from the league which in typical CFL fashion was overturned upon appeal. The decision by an independent arbitrator was questioned as the judge selected was rumoured to be an Eskimo fan.
Calgary Stampeders
Nik Lewis is as talented as they come. A three time league all-star and former CFL rookie of the year all while a Stamp might just be enough to explain the hate. There’s no doubt in my mind that if a polled 100 Eskimo fans in downtown Edmonton today, the answer to this question would be Lewis. Game winning catches, crack-back blocks and humiliating celebrations and antics made a big star — to Stamps fans. To everyone else it looked conceited and pompous. No one likes a braggart, right? Lewis is like a fine wine and has matured a bit with age when it comes to the celebrations. Defensive players had better keep their head on a swivel, though, if they want to stay off the Nik Lewis hit list.
B.C. Lions
The Jason Jimenez hit on Anthony Gargiulo was by far the biggest detriment to the spirit of the game we love that I have ever seen. Long after the whistle had blown the multilingual Jimenez rolled up on young Gargiulo’s legs. There went his career. Was there intent? There was talk from players league-wide that Jimenez should have been slapped with a lifetime ban for the gross misconduct leading to loss of career. Instead the league rescinded the light one game suspension they gave him and he played in the west final.
The one common thread that binds these individuals is skill. Extreme skill is enough reason to be hated by others, and all of these players represent the top of the league in both talent and in hatred.
I find the same quality present in teams hated on by CFL fans. After a 3-15 season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, fans can feel the love, or at least a type of relief they did not enjoy in 2014 as reigning Grey Cup Champions.
Fans seemed to shift their hate to the Calgary Stampeders after they won last year. Now it’s the Eskimos’ turn. Lesson learned. Success breeds hate in life and in the CFL.
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