I've listened to the Sammy Gravano podcast (highly recommend), and that has sent me down a mob rabbit hole over the last month or so. Watching the Sopranos after having gone down that rabbit hole is like watching CSI after having finishing The Wire. All the network cop shows seem cheesy in comparison.

I think they could make an accurate TV series about actual people and events and it would be more interesting and riveting than anything else mob related so far. It's got everything, humor, suspense, violence (obviously), revenge, smarts, etc. Even if the stories are embellished (which they probably are), they are still interesting and worthy of a show.

One aspect that Gravano talks a lot about is "Cosa Nostra". It seems like it's his mission to spread the word of "Cosa Nostra" like it's the gospel or something. It's weird to me, but it's fascinating how important it is/was to them. In movies/TV shows I've seen so far, it is nothing more than a passing phrase that represents "this thing of ours". In reality, they consider it to be more like The Force in Star Wars. It's set of rules that that is above them all. People willingly sacrificed themselves for the sake of Cosa Nostra (like "well if that's what the process decides, then I'll go with you [to die]."). Supposedly, Paul Castellano was killed because he (in part) dishonorered Cosa Nostra. Yet now it seems they regret doing that in hindsight because killing a boss itself was a huge violation of Cosa Nostra, and that installing Gotti put the nail in Cosa Nostra's coffin.

Anyway, it's pretty fascinating, and a view of the whole thing that I hadn't considered before. I think it would make a good show, and there is plenty of source material.

Been listening to that podcast, it's fascinating.

I recommend reading Mafia Prince. It's by Crazy Phil Leonetti, the nephew of Nicky Scarfo and their rise in their crime family.

TXAG 05 said:

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Been listening to that podcast, it's fascinating.

I recommend reading Mafia Prince. It's by Crazy Phil Leonetti, the nephew of Nicky Scarfo and their rise in their crime family.

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Out of curiosity, does he credit Sammy for killing Johnny Keys and installing Scarfo as boss?

I've felt like one element of mafia life not made into TV or movie is witness protection.

I feel like there's a story to be told about guys always wondering when they will be found and guys hell bent on finding guys in witness protection

aTmAg said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Been listening to that podcast, it's fascinating.

I recommend reading Mafia Prince. It's by Crazy Phil Leonetti, the nephew of Nicky Scarfo and their rise in their crime family.

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Out of curiosity, does he credit Sammy for killing Johnny Keys and installing Scarfo as boss?

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Honestly can't remember, been a few years since I read it.

Orlando Ayala Cant Read said:

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I've felt like one element of mafia life not made into TV or movie is witness protection.

I feel like there's a story to be told about guys always wondering when they will be found and guys hell bent on finding guys in witness protection

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One thing I've learned from the podcast is that the threat of that is overblown. That 90% of a hit is tricking the victim into a situation where they go to a place where they are vulnerable. That is why close friends are often ordered to set up the hit. You usually can't just walk up to a guy and shoot him, because he will see it coming and will shoot you first. You have to trick him to go to your house or into your car, etc. So if you are out of the life and are observant, you have a decent chance of avoiding getting murdered.

Sammy Gravano was in witness protection for only 8 months. He signed onto it for only a year, but then some girl he was dating in Colorado saw a story on him on TV and broke up with him. The feds wanted to move him because he was discovered, and he decided to just get out of the program. If I remember right, they had a contract on him, and watched him for many months, but could never get him into a situation where they could kill him. He was too dangerous to take him head on. He's been out and about for a good time now. And he has goaded them into coming after him, that he's ready, but he's still alive as a 76 year old.

Henry Hill died of heart disease and he was out of the witness protection program since 1987.

TXAG 05 said:

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aTmAg said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Been listening to that podcast, it's fascinating.

I recommend reading Mafia Prince. It's by Crazy Phil Leonetti, the nephew of Nicky Scarfo and their rise in their crime family.

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Out of curiosity, does he credit Sammy for killing Johnny Keys and installing Scarfo as boss?

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Honestly can't remember, been a few years since I read it.

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That was the most fascinating part of the podcast. The dude was giving Sammy advice on mistakes he was making on his own hit. And asking him to take his shoes off as a signal to his wife (because he told her he would die in bed with his shoes off).

Agreed on the Keys hit. The respect that he had for Cosa Nostra was incredible. Accepting his death and helping Sammy do it. Just nuts.

TXAG 05 said:

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Agreed on the Keys hit. The respect that he had for Cosa Nostra was incredible. Accepting his death and helping Sammy do it. Just nuts.

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I've watched holocaust movies and wondered, "why don't these people band together and bum rush the 5 gaurds? It's 300 vs 5!!! I considered willingly walking to your death as the sheepish way to go. But that podcast put a different spin on that. In their case, that is "dying like a man". Still trying to wrap my brain around that.

Even more so to hear Sammy tell the story. Here's someone who is deep in "the life" and even he is blown away by Johnny Keys' actions.

TXAG 05 said:

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Even more so to hear Sammy tell the story. Here's someone who is deep in "the life" and even he is blown away by Johnny Keys' actions.

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He's a fantastic story teller. He can make Jack and Jill riveting.

Who set Tony up? How did members only jacket get to the gun hidden in the bathroom?

Rhiannon.

She was a NY plant. Her modeling picture is above the NY crew as they plan in the parlor. And she listened intently as AJ was told, while sitting on the couch with him, where to go for dinner.