Story about Big Paul

I recently rewatched a documentary about the history of the Gambino Family. During Paul's part of the story his lawyer James LaRossa told a very interesting story that I feel kinda summed up Paul as a boss. One day he drove his wife to the supermarket and a bunch of thugs cut him off, cursed him out, and gave him the finger. Paul simply wrote down the license plate. Then he got a few of his men to find those guys and bring them to Todt Hill. When they were brought there Paul said "Do you know who I am now" They were shitting themselves but Paul said , "Nobody will hurt you but I just wanted you to know that if you ever see a old man riding in a car it might not be wise to curse at the, you better never do it again". His lawyer said instead of doing something brutal he wanted to teach them a lesson but at the same time he still had to show he was the Boss. Despite what you think of Paul as far as a "tough guy" I think it perfectly sums him up as a Boss

That one anecdote alone shows that Castellano was more of a man than Gotti, and encapsulates the fallacy that is Gotti's legacy.

THAT is how a boss should act.

sounds like a fake story. larossa was his friend. he's trying to paint a better picture then a guy who had a man killed for saying he look like the chicken king frank perdue.

No different to people like Shargel, Cutler, Cohn and their ilk if that's the case.

Like a lot of these stories though, you're right, you have to maintain a bit of skepticism about them.

Yes. When Gotti was a capo or acting capo, a mentally handicapped kid stood across the road from their social club staring at the club. After a few days of this, Gotti ordered some of his guys to baseball bat the kid and put him in hospital. They didnt even ask the kid why he was staring.

Anyone else would have asked the kid why he was staring and told him to move along.

I dont think its suppose to paint him as a good guy. If anything it shows how intimidating he could be without having to risk resorting to violence. I dont agree with it

The story I heard was that they were driving and assume kid gave them the finger or some sign of disrespect and they grabbed the kid and had a talk with him about not disrespecting old men because you never know... That was years ago.

I applaud Gotti for doing that. When you're a gangster, you need to show the people in your world that you're very serious about who you are. Imagine if Gotti had taken it a step further and had the boy tortured and killed. That's a real message.

You applaud him for torturing /murdering his neighbor now you applaud him for beating the shit out of a mentally hanicapped kid...Ralphie you are one screwed up Gotti fan lol

I'm just saying that you need to be feared in that world. You need to let the guys in the street know that you are a stone cold gangster who isn't taking any fucking shit.

"Guys in the street" That includes people with mental disabilities as well? Honestly thats kind of a pussy move more than a "tough guy" move. But anyway this thread isnt about gotti(lord knows that has been discussed to death)

It doesn't matter if the boy had mental disabilities or not. It's about the message sir. You're basically saying to your underworld colleagues 'I don't care if you're a 13-year-old retard or a middle aged Howard Beach resident with a mustache, I'll destroy you if I have to.' No one is safe. Remember when Nicky Scarfo killed Salvatore Testa? He instilled so much fear into the rank and file that they had no option but to follow that man into hell. That is how you gain power in that life. You make sure they know you are one deadly s.o.b.

stop taking drugs ralphie lol

The boy was staring because......he was mentally handicapped.

So anyone that can basebat a mentally handicapped kid should be feared? An act like that doesn't install fear in me. Mexican cartels de-limbing rivals has that effect though.

I watched a video where they gave a guy speed so that he'd be conscious while they tortured him. When the video starts the guy's face is basically a skull with muscle and tendons. His eyes, nose, tongue (I think) and lips have been removed. His hands and feet are gone. They are poking and prodding him; his eye sockets, his armpits etc.

I will never forget the sounds he made.

I wish I didn't watch that video.

I agree. Never ascribe too much virtue to any gangster.

I dont think its meant to be viewed as a virtuous story. Actually it shows has intimidating Paul could be despite being a "businessman"

You'll also scare your guys into snitching on you