Great story, great storytelling! This is an about an era, a time that will not come again... but still has resonance. I hope we never get so politically correct - and so disrespectful - that stories like this are suppressed. Wouldn't we all want to hear stories first hand from Buddy Bolden's friends? Or any of dozens of historical people who have become 2 dimensional dates in dusty books?
So why share this story? It doesn't flatter Maynard. It doesn't flatter or glorify anyone. As an Italian American, it's offensive to me and I find it shameful that it is being told by an Italian American. There's nothing romantic, honorable, nor funny about organized crime and the degree to which it has and continues to corrupt our government. Organized crime disgusts me. It's not funny at all nor is it entertaining.
It's a story, it's history. It doesn't have to flatter to glorify anyone. There's no shame in it, just the same you take from it, the story itself doesn't have any.
What a candy ass liberal Twit. Don't listen to Don Rickles talking about Frank Sinatra and do not ask me about the time Tino Barzi offered to take care of an situation for me.
