i got the news through geoff when this went down, so needless to say this isn't "news" to me, per se, but i was greatly saddened by what i heard. this just happens to be the time i made my way around here, so i'm just paying my respects - RIP, plaw. definitely a most significant loss.

I didn't know him very well and I've never met him but I am still shocked and deeply saddened by this.

RIP

It would a fitting, lasting tribute to Plaw if his best writings could be archived on this site with an easy link for access. Perhaps somewhere on the left-hand column...

In the meantime, here is a link to the infamous Joe the Greek thread:

Fanucci and Maranzano

Signor V.

Good idea, SV.

That "Joe the Greek" segment was Paul at his best when it came to pulling someone's leg. I spoke to him later about it and laughed hysterically at his inclusion of "the unpublished version" text.

Haha, I'd never read that before. LMAO!

That was a great thread.

I think Plaw's "numbers game" thread, which is STILL going, was an even greater thread.

Is that still there? And being used? Sjeesh

That reminds me of the Alphabet Game thread, a kind of word game where you have to think of a word with an A, then a word with a B, ...

That thread is the funniest I have ever, ever seen on these boards.

The only thread with which I have actually laughed out loud for a long while.

And not only the idea itself, no, particularly Plaw's (and others responses).

Some things were even funny, although they weren't meant that way.

Humor at it's best!

I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks. No wonder I have never seen Greek Sicilian Mafia Don around here.
That is simply classic. That thread should be sold.

I can't believe that tomorrow will be three weeks that he is gone. I miss my friend so very, very much.

Yup. Irish and De Niro have it up to like 1300 now......I have NO CLUE how Irish got 35,000 posts....

I'm a bit late to show my respects. Sorry for that. But this man earns a lot of respect from my side. He knew a lot and explained a lot of times to me how the betting/gambling works.

Plawrence Rest In PEACE.

Maybe an idea to show some extra respect from this board: fix his 4th place in Top Posters. So that nobody can take that spot ever again.

No wonder - he was banned soon afterwards. And I believe tried once more to register here under another name.

i feel bad i am posting now...i never knew him on here or in real life...but i am still sad about his passing....i know he is looking down on all of us now

r.i.p plawrence

Its one month ago today that Paul died.

I don't think one day passed since that I haven't thought of him. These thoughts come to me unexpectedly... could be when I'm driving, or at work, or having dinner, etc. Mostly I'm happy to think back about him but those few sad moments sneak in now and then. The hardest part of missing him is knowing that I'll never hear his voice again and never see him again.

I've garnered a few of his posts (mostly from links in this thread) and have linked them (below) for your reading pleasure.

One of Paul's favorite "Godfather" debates was arguing over whether there were 5 or 6 Families. Here's a link to one of those discussions (in which Paul ably made his points:
Five or Six Families?

Paul's original poem doing a takeoff on "Twas the Night Before Christmas". He wrote this December, 2002, and I consider this the single best ever post made on our boards:
Plaw's "The Night Before Christmas - Gangster BB Style"

Paul's response to a thread asking about ourselves:
Paul's "Profile Response"


Paul's original poem about some board members:
Paul's "Board Members Poem"


Paul's made-up news article (as Neal Pulcawer) describing a tree and someone's niece:
Neal Pulcawer's "Tree" Article


Paul describing how he met (and infuriated) actor Frank Vincent:
Paul's "Frank Vincent Story"


His "Flopsie and Mopsie" story:
Paul's "Flopsie and Mopsie" Story


Paul's satirical, light-hearted response regarding one of the characters in "The Godfather". This, IMO, was Paul at his best when he was pulling someone's leg. (Read Paul's response and the rest of the thread after that):
Paul's "Joe the Greek" Response

This is just a short sampling of what Paul contributed to our boards and our community. His real contribution was his day-to-day messages that enriched us all.

SC, Thank you so much for sharing those. I know what you mean about thoughts of Paul. They sort of sneak up on me when I least expect them. Sometimes they make me laugh, and sometimes not so much. Mostly, I want to share something with him, I want to tell him about a book, a meal, a bottle of wine, and I forget that I can't anymore.

Its funny how the mind works (almost "fogetting" some distasteful things for a second). I use the "Active Topics" list when I wanna see which posts were made since I last logged on. That list includes the name of the member whom originated the thread. Occasionally I'll see Paul's name listed and I'll (for a second) think "Hmmm, lets see what plaw said".

Its still a little unnerving.

Exactly.

One of the hardest parts for me is when there is a political debate. Many times after I make a reply, I go back to the thread hoping to find a reply from Paul. I really used to feed off and look forward to his opinions and ideas when it came to those debates. I really miss the competitive challenge that Paul used to provide to me with his replies.

There will never be another who had the ability and the intellect to provoke the kind of thought process that Paul did with his fair, debatable and insightful posts.

I truly miss you my friend.


Don Cardi

Absolutely correct, Don Cardi - Paul was one of the people on the BB who could have a good, serious (and sometimes, not so serious) discussion of issues. A certain balance has been lost with his passing. So many times, while reading a political debate, I feel the topic would absolutely need his input at certain points.

A truly irreplaceable person, who was always worth reading, no matter what the topic. Serious or humorous, he was one-of-a-kind.

One additional bit of plaw's humor that I remember is definitely worth linking to. It's the ah...intimate interlude between Vito and his wife in this thread (it's about halfway down the page):

Vito and Kay

Signor V.

I had forgotten that one..... Thanks for bringing it back, SV.

.

Thanks for posting those SC and SV. It's great re-reading his posts. I have the pic's from last year's BB convention on my picture slide show for my screen saver so it's nice seeing Neal's face pop up on my screen.

I just re-read the "Joe The Greek" Response and thats a classic..

I remember this one! Once he pulled my leg as well with Elmer Fudd's way of pronouncing "r", which I'd no idea about since I'd watched dubbed versions. It is not the same without him.

Here is another bit of plaw's humor that he originally alerted me to in a PM. He freely admitted that parts of it had been "inspired" by some dialogue from the film Broadway Danny Rose.

Michael at a Singles Bar

Signor V.

JG...can u please disable the rating of this thread?
It doesnt matter how many stars it has...it just feels plain wrong to see those stars rating a thread dedicated to a deceased member.

Thanx for sharing Vitelli

I'm sad to learn Plawrence is no longer with us. His replies to the Fanucci and Maranzano thread are brilliant. We'll miss you here Plaw!

Yesterday, before we ate, we paused to give thanks and have a moment of prayer. While sitting there reflecting, I thought of our friend Paul. For a moment I became saddened, but then I realized that our friend Paul was having the biggest and most bountiful thanksgiving dinner that he ever had, and the best part about it is that he is doing so without ANY pain or suffering whatsoever.

Happy Thanksgiving Paul. I miss you my friend.



Don Cardi

DC, Thanks to your link over in Godfather's Revenge, I went back and re-read Plaw's attempt at writing a sequel. Reading it objectively, I have to say that it was pretty good. And looking back, it has made me miss his wit and style so much. I could always count on him to come up a great line. And there was no greater compliment than when he would tell me, You're funny.

Maybe it's the upcoming holidays. Maybe it's because I just came across a book he had loaned me, but I miss him very much lately.

That one was a classic, and I had forgotten that I responded with one of my own, and then Plaw writing that inmitation was the sincerest form of flattery....

I am glad this thread is being kept open, and I am grateful for all the members who have resurrected many of his witty threads.

Maybe there should be a "Best of Plaw" thread