Agreed. It’s a tough argument to make that Sonny betrayed his oath.

I think Joey saying Sonny talking to his sons is just as bad as being a rat is ridiculous. I do like Merlino and just think he has an inordinate disdain for rats. Rip Flair seemed slow in a way. It's amazing how Merlino knows so many stars.
I think his sidekick makes a perfect partner for him and is very good at what he does. Seems like a very nice kid.

In Merlino's last video, the one before this one, he showed how an informer who agreed to testify against him was getting protitutes sent to him by the people holding him in custody, and how the guy got his son out of an arrest after his son went down to Maryland and killed bouncer in a bar fight. No one spoke of it here, or of the tapes he played on another video regarding John Rubeo and his committing 9 crimes while informing. Yet he makes one statement like this, and it's a major topic.

Somewhere in an alternate universe-
SONNY: "Not for nothing, that was outta line Carmine."
THE SNAKE: "Sonny, he's a boss."
SONNY: "Philly? C'mon!"

Sorry for the bad Sopranos reference, I couldn't resist. I knew this was gonna be a burning subject.
Joey should've kept it on Michael if that's what he thinks. Sonny, was as stand-up as they came. A true legend of the life. Joey himself is a legend of the life. For now. He's on a slippery slope. I think too much exposure might be an issue. Retired or not. I'll leave you with a GOTTI reference.
"A cosa Nostra Boss don't belong on the cover of time magazine!"

Then you have this broke scumbag lying clown making up the most rediculous science fiction fantasy tales known to man in a pathetic attempt at attention to help supplement his food stamps and disability checks while living in his sons basement in fear:

https://youtu.be/Jtqv1n1nuHU?si=IRk_06EI1_afeFPj

-Dante

Joey may not be a rat but he is a snake. Not defending Michael but attacking his father is a low blow and saying Sonny was a rat for still talking to his sons is ridiculous

That's Joey being reckless as always. I can say this isn't just about money for him, he has a genuine vendetta. Ridiculous, but genuine.

He just hates rats. Thats not unlike the overwhelming majority of devoted, stand-up streets guys. Especially guys who have ever experienced rats getting up on the witness stand and testifying against them personally. They know first hand the damage these lying weasels can do.

Merlino did a lot of time in the can, and I'm sure the feds had a long line of rats who spilled theirs guts to put him there.

So what's he supposed to say and do, talk nice about them and coddle them? Of course not! It's not hard to understand his distain for them, is it?

Yeah they fucking suck. The feds would rather give people deals than do any real detective work.

If someone told me 12 or 13 years ago that we are going to watch internet battles between former mobsters in the future, I was probably going to laugh like crazy and possibly label that same individual as mental patient....

Bingo! You're 100% correct, TD. In fact, make that 1,000,000% correct!

You, me, and everybody else would have laughed in their faces and called them nuts!

But today, unbelievably, it's actually, quite laughably, become a thing. LOL. It's become a fucking comedy between assholes. And make no mistake about it either, every single one of these guys is an asshole. Stool pigeons and assholes (and the even bigger assholes are all the subscribers, the suckers, who swallow their bullshit lock, stock and barrel.) Lol

It has already been established that he never called Sonny a rat, he said he should not have associated with his son after he became a rat. Merlino said Sonny should have cut off his son. He may be wrong about that. It is tough for parent to do. However he never said Sonny was a rat.

That guest was awful. He acted arrogant, had no good stories to tell, and you can see him look at his watch at one point. he doesn't glance at his watch, he stares at it as if to show it's time to leave. I loved every other video he did, this was the first bad one. Also: I the only one who does not want to watch him an his guests eat? A minute or more was them just sitting there eating. Watching 3 men eat rice and beans is not my idea of entertainment.

Rough interview w Rick Flair... believe me I like this pod and want it to continue...

The audio was horrific,
Flair was not relaxed, did not elaborate with his answers... I also noticed him checking his watch immediately... WTF
Skinny and Lil Snuff did struggle with keeping the conversation going with poor questions...

The first segment before Flair was terrific content.
I love the old neighborhood stories from Neumann... the apple!
Cutty and Water baby!!!!
great detail

He absolutely did call Sonny a rat! He said Sonny was just as bad as a rat and that condoning it was the same thing. Then, in the latest episode, he said, 'Your father is a fucking rat just like you.' It couldn't get any clearer!

Very stupid thing to say. He must not read much, because if he did he'd know that Sonny Franzese is praised by many for being a legendary stand-up guy and would watch his mouth accordingly. I still like him more than Michael Franzese though.

In the first he didn't. in the response to Michael Franzese he said it due to the father still keeping the son around after he ratted. I don't think Sonny was a rat at all, but I see Merlino's point. I don't agree with it, but I understand what he meant.

Merlino must not "Read much?" I don't think he needs to read message boards like this to learn about the mafia.

I can't say I'm a fan of any of these guys, but calling Sonny Franzese a rat is absolutely outrageous lol

Joey is such a beautifully miserable human though. I get a kick out of him

I can't imagine Joey is in good standing with the Long Island faction of the Colombos. Sonny was revered by those guys. The Michael Catapanos and the Uvinos

Statements like that ought to put an end to all debate whether he's active or not - he's not!

Why would he be active? I don't get the impression he needs money, he has enough lol..

I know Sonny did some awful things, but it's hard to not have some serious respect and reverence for the guy. Dude was more honest and true to his oath/codes than most politicians and people up there who's supposed to be "good."

He has no money. His cars, his house. None of it is his

Hollander, I don't believe he's active, but I don't think it has anything to do with money. Me and you both know better than that, of all the rich crime bosses/figures we post about who refuse to quit. There's just no way he's going about his business in the criminal underworld with that stupid show on air. I say stupid although I enjoy it. This isn't even just about the mob, nobody active in the underworld period would want any criminal dealings with him, and I think he feels the same way. He's done. That's what I believe at least. For all I know he could be arrested for running the biggest racketeering scheme in the last decade tomorrow then I'll look stupid. Until then, I say he's done with crime.

Giacalone, I don't believe he has no money. I know some would argue otherwise saying that if he wasn't broke, he wouldn't be doing this show. They forget that some people, especially Joey Merlino, just loves attention. If he was that desperate for cash, he could make more money on the streets than with this ridiculous show, regardless of how dried up people say the rackets are.