The next several days I will be playing in some rather big Poker Tournaments, so I need to focus on getting my mind right for winning. Will be Blogging next week. The Title of this blog was one of Evel Knievel's Autograph lines. C.M.L. Baby!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
RIP
Bill Bonanno, 75, Mob Family Member, Dies ;
By DENNIS HEVESI
Published: January 3, 2008
Salvatore (Bill) Bonanno, whose appointment by his father to the second most powerful position in the Bonanno crime family in the mid-1960s touched off what became known as the “Banana Wars” and led to the exile of the Bonannos to Arizona, died on Tuesday at his home in Tucson. He was 75.
The cause was a heart attack, his son Joseph said.
Mr. Bonanno’s father, Joseph Bonanno, known as Joe Bananas, had come to the United States from Sicily with his parents in 1906. By the 1930s, he had risen from bootlegger and gunrunner to don of one of New York’s five Mafia families. Starting as a small, Brooklyn-based bootlegging operation, the Bonannos thrived during Prohibition.
Bill Bonanno became a “made” member of his father’s crime family when he was in his 20s, according to his Web site. .”
By DENNIS HEVESI
Published: January 3, 2008
Salvatore (Bill) Bonanno, whose appointment by his father to the second most powerful position in the Bonanno crime family in the mid-1960s touched off what became known as the “Banana Wars” and led to the exile of the Bonannos to Arizona, died on Tuesday at his home in Tucson. He was 75.
The cause was a heart attack, his son Joseph said.
Mr. Bonanno’s father, Joseph Bonanno, known as Joe Bananas, had come to the United States from Sicily with his parents in 1906. By the 1930s, he had risen from bootlegger and gunrunner to don of one of New York’s five Mafia families. Starting as a small, Brooklyn-based bootlegging operation, the Bonannos thrived during Prohibition.
Bill Bonanno became a “made” member of his father’s crime family when he was in his 20s, according to his Web site. .”
MY BRUSH WITH THE BONANNOS, PHOENIX AZ. 1986
From 1985 Until 1993, I worked as a Private Investigator based out of Phoenix. I completed my internship working for one of the largest and oldest P. I. firms in the city. I learned allot and had some great adventures, however unlike T.V. the business is usually quite routine and boring.
One spring day in 86 I was preparing to go golfing with our Chief Investigator Rich. We were on our way to a public course when we both received pages (cell phones were not yet common place) from our boss Louie. Louie had been in the business for years and had a varied cas
e load, great connections, and state of the art surveillance equipment. However he was the embodiment of the saying "do anything for money". Rich and I found a phone booth and called Louie. Rich was a distinguished silver haired fellow who had a quick and rather dry wit. He had learned his craft in Detroit in the 60s working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. He knew more about how to get information than the rest of us at the "Agency" put together, including Louie. And Rich had something the owner of the company lacked; scruples. Rich returned to the car and said Louie was excited because he had a big job for us and we could make some big bucks in just a few hours. After some thought we both decided to go hear Louie out.We arrived at the office and were greeted by a bubbling Louie ,who said all we had to do was escort a briefcase containing "important business papers" to the Scottsdale Airport, get on a private plane, fly to California, hand the package off to the client, and come home. And we would be armed of course. He said he would give Rich $150.00 and me $100.00 for what would be around five hours work. I was all for it, it sounded fun and I could use the money. Rich on the other hand was not happy with the money and pointed out to Louie that it was a armed job and it was our day off. Louie instantly threw another hundred dollars at both of us. This raised both of our suspicions since Louie was notoriously cheap. However the money was now good and we began getting ready to go. We retrieved our weapons from the equipment room and donned Second Chance bullet resistant vests, this being much like a executive protection job. As we were dressing, putting our one size too large sport coats on, over our vests, Rich asked Louie who our clients were. Louie mumbled something under his breath that to me sounded like "Bananas". Rich froze in place and said; "Did you just say Banonno". Louie looked sheepishly at us and said; " It's O.K. guys he is a legitimate business man now!" I heard the Velcro ripping on Rich's vest as he quickly removed it. Without a word to Louie, Rich headed for the door, looking over his shoulder at me and saying, that if I wanted to still go golfing he was headed that way. I hated the thought of missing out on $200.00 but I had learned along time before to follow Rich's lead. So I left my gear with Louie and trotted to c
atch up with Rich. Leaving a screaming cursing Louie behind.If we had done that job that day, chances are we would have had no trouble, made some good cash, and been home in time to catch nine holes. The job may have even been completely above board and legitimate. But Rich had taught me if there is a question at all about what you are doing maybe it is best to just go golf.
Yet Another Hank
The Hank Williams Family tradition continues with Jr.s son, who calls himself Hank 3.http://www.hank3.com/ He sounds and looks almost exactly like his Grandfather, but has followed a less than traditional path in his career. His music can has been labeled, Punkabilly, Cowpunk, Hardtwang, Alt.Country and Hellbilly. He does a set of more traditional Country as well.
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