http://www.cosanostranews.com/2011/02/wiretap-of-decavalcante-mobster-aired.htmlSclafani and other members of his Borgata were also taped discussing The Sopranos, which they believed was about them (to an extent it was; David Chase likely based some characters and story lines on people and incidents that were reported to have really happened in the small New Jersey-homegrown family.)
Four members were secretly taped by the feds in the winter of 1999 as they were driving to a mob sit-down. As reported by Jerry Capeci in his online column ganglandnews.com, the men's conversation eventually turned to The Sopranos.
"Hey, what's this fucking thing, Sopranos?" soldier Sclafani asked. "What the fuck are they... Is this supposed to be us?"
"You are in there," capo Anthony Rotondo replied. "They mentioned your name in there." Apparently Rotondo was a big fan. [Not likely; it is highly doubtful the show was specifically referring to Tin Ear, though the name "Sclafani" may have been spoken.]
"Yeah? What did they say?" Sclafani asked.
A third wiseguy identified in the FBI transcripts only as "Billy" answered. "Watch out for that guy, they said. Watch that guy." Billy was apparently joking because the fourth man in the car started laughing. He was the one wearing the concealed wire.
"Every show you watch, more and more you pick up somebody. Every show," Rotondo said.
"Yeah, but it's not me," Sclafani said. "I'm not even existing over there."
