In his book The Enforcer Bill Roemer takes credit for giving Tony Spilotro his nickname when Roemer referred to Spilotro as a "little piss-ant."

The Enforcer along with Pileggi's book, Casino, are both good reads about Tony Spilotro.

Also, it's Billy McCarthy (not McCartney) who, along with Jimmy Miraglia, Spilotro tortured and killed in his first assignment. The "contract" wasn't really his. It was originally work for Chuck Nicolletti and Phil Alderisio...but they were suddently pre-occupied with a police matter and the job fell to Spilotro. It's because he was on Mad Sam DeStefano's crew, McCarthy and Miraglia owed money to DeStefano, and DeStefano knew the neighborhood and their hangouts better than anyone else. So with Chucky and Philly busy, Mad Sam called on the new kid to handle the business.

tony b.