I wasn't defending the articles from last year which I thought were bullshit I was merely stating that it seems from reading about Cali and hearing other people's opinions who are more in the know than me on forums such as these that he is the true power in the Gambino crime family.

And again, Frank's a very powerful guy. But Cefalu is no one's puppet. There's no shadow or "true power" behind him. Take that however you want, but that's my main point, and I'm not wrong about it .

And I know that you're new here. So first of all, welcome to the board. But in regards to Frank, a lot of posters have built him into this mythical figure, just like they do with Barney. He's smart. He's powerful. But he's just a man.

I'm just pointing this out because people tend to make him and Barney out to be almost Illuminati-like. And they're just guys, who happen to work the street for a living.

And again, welcome to the board .

Thanks for the reply and welcoming me to the group. I hear what your saying about both Bellomo and Cali, I'll admit that I have had a tendency in the past to see them as perhaps more than they actually are. Domwoods74 told me the other day that if anything Bellomo has actually took a step back from crime family affairs since the death of his wife. I'm enjoying the group so far great place to find out about current LCN information. Cheers

George Borgesi only has about another year left before he transforms into a full grown lawn gnome that's when the problems are really going to start...

Put Barney and Cali in a room and see who walks out...

I am taking Barney 10 times out of 10 despite the age difference.

Domwoods74 is a good friend of mine. But do me a favor and ask him where he got that from. He'll tell you that it came from me .

But back on topic. Here's the blog post from last year. And just for shits and giggles, scroll down to the part where he claims that Cefalu is 76. He was only 66 at the time, it was pointed out to the author, and he STILL refused to change it. Now if he won't change a silly little thing like that, how credible can he be?

http://www.cosanostranews.com/2013/06/gambinos-name-cali-boss-as-cefalu-steps.html

If you want the truth, neither one of them are "fighters." But Barney's a little lankier and has the reach .

Just hearing stories of some of the brutality people suffered at his hands is why I say that.

I remember one autopsy of someone he allegedly killed had like multiple broken bones and all kinds of shit.

Urban legend. Check your pm.

Yeah, the info came from pizzaboy and as usual it was spot on

Thanks, Dom. And I told you that at least three months before anyone else started to make the same claim. The guy's a human being, regardless of what he does for a living. He married Camille when they were kids, and he took it very hard when she passed.

They're a very tight family (blood family, that mafia shit aside). Everyone needs time to grieve. And having said that, I seriously doubt he'll ever dive that far back in the pool again. People have been calling him a "kid" for thirty years. But he's pushing 60 now and he's a grandfather himself .

Pizzaboy was the inside source reporting on Corky taking the boss spot?



kidding, of course.

PB I dunno if I've told you this lately but you're the Man! Not to kiss too much add but probably more knowledgeable then most OC journalists, the best ones have close ties to their communities as I'm.sure you do.

Thanks, but when it comes to OC and its overall scope and history, there are much more informed posters on the boards. These guys are researchers and deserve their due.

I'm just a guy who's lived in a certain area and among certain people for the past 55 years. And if I'm adamant about something, it's because I believe it to be true. I try not to speculate.

But thanks again, buddy. You're a valuable addition here yourself .

You're welcome buddy. Despite the random trolls here and there this is a great board I'm glad to be a part of it.

Sure thing. But maybe we should get this thing back on topic .

Re the Cosa Nostra blog post and Scopo/EVL: I have no opinion about Philly and I'm constantly driving that point home. But he'd get a lot more respect on the forums if he printed a retraction once in awhile. Jesus, Pete Hamill and Jimmy Breslin have written retractions during their careers, and they're both legendary journalists.

I think the problem here may be that Carmela/Tag was the first one to call him out on that Frank Cali piece. He got defensive about it back then, and then dug his heels in to the point where he couldn't even admit that he got Cefalu's age wrong. It's no biggie. Just admit it and move on.

But like a lot of men on these boards (and in real life), it's entirely possible that he just doesn't think that a woman can have an informed opinion about this stuff. And on top of that, certain men just can't deal with strong women. And trust me, I'm no women's libber. I haven't washed a load of clothers in almost thirty years of marriage .

Anyway, let's get back to George (or not George) being the boss. We have a lot of friends here from the Philly area. This is their topic, and they deserve to post about it without reading through all of our bullshit (and I say our bullshit because I'm guilty here, too ).

Yeah I agree , all that family before your actual family is a thing of the past

And think real hard about that part of the "oath," Dom.

Anyone who promises to "leave the deathbed of his wife or children," all because some goombah wants his envelope, is sick in the fucking head to begin with.

I have a wife, three kids, and an aging father to take care of. If anyone ever told me to leave them in their time of need, well, you know where I'm going here.

I'll be honest with you guys, despite the terrible article it probably contains SOME truth. I'm in the area and have heard about him reclaiming stuff left and right. Also I am close to the Baretta family and him and Mazzone are best buddies, from everything I have heard Steve Mazzone has no interest in "the big seat" lol. Also I wanted to clarify a couple things for the people from England or Kansas or whatever. In the past in Philly they generated A LOT of money. When everyone says it's a shell of its former self and write it off as a joke or scraps I think they are jumping the gun a little bit. Obviously it's not as lucrative as before but I know for a FACT that a few of these guys who are associates were pulling in something like over 150k or 200k a year, and I also know for a FACT there are like at least over 10 books in less then a ten mile radius collecting serious money every year. What I'm saying is that although they are not making money like the 80s, they are not.exactly taking the bus either.

There you go, back on topic .

Re "The Big Seat": I never heard that term before Tony Soprano said it about Uncle Junior. Now it's all over the boards. Life imitates art .

Also for my Foreign friends when you are on supervised release or parole or whatever you can.still make moves. I was on ISP program which is.intensive supervision and you can.still make.moves . I am a nobody, ex drug dealer current construction worker for 36k a.year but.trust me I.coulda ran a whole mob if I was in that position

FWIW it sounds cool though, the big seat!! Haha

I can believe Borgesi throwing his weight around (Rocco Maniscalco was allegedly killed for not paying street tax to Borgesi's guys) but I'll believe he's running the show when the feds/cops say so (not a blog).

I'm almost 55. Regular bowel movements are cool to me .

Reminds me of the two old fellows sitting on the bench talking

The one old Geezer says to the other "Oh what I wouldn't do to be able to take a good shit, I gotta a huge problem"

The other guy says "Me too I have a problem, like clockwork every morning at 6 oclock I piss like a bear in the woods and shit like a red goose"

The other guy says "why is that a problem?"

The other guy says "Because I don't wake up until 830!"

I hope you're joking with this post, for what it's worth nobody knows how tough either are in a fist fight, you pick Barney based on what? How many murders he's ordered? These guys aren't fighters, they may have been as teenagers but that's when they stopped throwing hands, they let others fight for them.

Exactly, Cefalu partly schooled Cali in 'the life' yet Cali's mentor is his figurehead the take the fall? It amazes me how naive people are, they here a blog article and run with it.

If you look right above the article it says in bold he believes Cali is boss. Poor bastard

I said that for all intents and purposes I believed that Cali was the real power in the family. I stand corrected and unlike certain blog writers I can admit when i'm wrong. I'm an amateur Mob enthusiast who is here to learn more and find out more about LCN.

There you go. Good for you, pal .