Why did Johnny keys allegedly request only that Sammy the bull take his shoes off before excepting his murder without a fight? I’m not familiar with this sign of “respect”. And, are there any other similar signs of respect?

Something between him and his wife...why he wanted the shoes off. Prolly a sign of love to his wife...

Interesting. My understanding is he didn’t put up a fight at all and just requested they take his shoes off which Sammy did. Unusual for sure

It is an old-time custom, and a "respect" thing with wiseguys. Nobody wants to die in the street like a dog, left at the gutter.

It's more symbolic than anything. To die in the comfort of your own home, in your own bed, is an optimal way to go, correct? You die with your "shoes off" so to speak.

So even though a guy may get clipped. To have your shoes taken off, and placed beside you is a symbol of that, and it's said "he died with his shoes off" Understand?

Its also like even though you got whacked, the killers respected your memory and who you "were," that they took your shoes off for you.

Its an old Mafia tradition, and a thing among the old-timers.

Okay, thank you nymafia makes perfect sense

You are very welcome.

In the book underboss by Gravano he specifically said “Johnny Keyes asked for his shoes to be removed and when I asked him why ,he said it was something between him and his wife, that she would know”. That’s directly from Underboss by Gravano

Funzi Tieri was a piece of shit snake.

All those Genovese leaders were..It was just business nothing personal...they did the same thing to Brun, Bruno wanted Local 54 and the Genovese used theyre connections to Chicago to get the inside track and used Nicky Scarfo as they’re proxy...

That’s when they started losing power .... not in NY but in the extended areas .... that would of never happened in 75 when we had a couple west side skippers that were here ... granted they may have been getting up there in years but still .

They definitely tried to get a piece of AC but 1980 came and crushed the mob ...

Johnny Keys was an old school gangster so it make sense that he wanted to follow old traditions. Also it was a sign of respect. Even though he was involved in killing a boss he was respected as a mobster. Sammy Gravano has said that he was super impressed with Johnny Keys and how he handled his impending death

I would guess that it would also signal to his wife that he knew they were going to kill him, and he took it like a man; it wasn't a situation where they walked up and shot him in the back of the head, or where he begged for mercy: To find the shoes next to him would indicate he knew what was coming, and took it old school.

Read the book......u've been around...ur not stupid...i have seen ur posts...ur not stupid....luv.. Hood..