Yogi, the story about the rhyming contests was lifted from Joe Bonanno's autobiography, "A Man of Honor" (sic). All autobios are self-serving, as is Bonanno's. But he has plenty of interesting stories in it--whether or not they're true. He gives the most detailed account of the famous Castellemmarese War, and also describes the workings of the Commission.

As you may be aware, Rudy Giuliani, when he was the top Federal prosecutor for New York (before he became mayor), "got hit by the thunderbolt": he realized from Bonanno's description that the Commission fit the pattern for a "racketeer influenced corrupt organization" under the recently passed RICO law. He brought the famous "Commission Case" and sent several NYC Dons away for 100-plus years. "I ran the Mafia out of New York," he boasted. It was an exaggeration, but he did deal them a body blow from which they've never recovered.