THE BLACK HAND FORUM

If anything I would say he was officially official boss in 1998-1999, when Natale got locked back up. Because even if they now say he was only a lightning rod, when he was on the street Joey was only official Underboss. So even if you count the years he was in prison its still only about 17-18 years. Hey maybe one day Joey will be up there with those guys but hes got a ways to go. The biggest part of being in the mafia is to make money. And I have yet to see people say how much money theyre making under Merlino. Merlino dont really seem like hes making much money. Shit i bet Mazzone and Johnny Chang are making more then Merlino. Them guys are the real deal. I have nothing against Joey but he didnt really know what he was doing before he went to jail. I think he probably matured a lot and realized he could have been much better as a boss had he done things differently.

[quote="joeycigars"][quote="JCB1977"]Cigars,

I've spoken my peace, I made my point, I gave my opinion. Different times, those guys "ran the city, true Godfathers." Joey never ran the city of Philadelphia...Bruno did. And so did all the others. Joey has a slice of Philly and a few things in NJ, he's a tough guy, not a businessman. Sophisticated he is not...in the least bit. My two cents.[/quote]

I agree , he is not a businessman , and it is different times , But he still has his title and adding years on, Thanks for the list... nice[/quote]

He does have some time. I agree with you there ("IF" he in fact was calling the shots the whole time.)

[quote="JCB1977"]Cigars,

I've spoken my peace, I made my point, I gave my opinion. Different times, those guys "ran the city, true Godfathers." Joey never ran the city of Philadelphia...Bruno did. And so did all the others. Joey has a slice of Philly and a few things in NJ, he's a tough guy, not a businessman. Sophisticated he is not...in the least bit. My two cents.[/quote]

I agree , he is not a businessman , and it is different times , But he still has his title and adding years on, Thanks for the list... nice

Cigars,

I've spoken my peace, I made my point, I gave my opinion. Different times, those guys "ran the city, true Godfathers." Joey never ran the city of Philadelphia...Bruno did. And so did all the others. Joey has a slice of Philly and a few things in NJ, he's a tough guy, not a businessman. Sophisticated he is not...in the least bit. My two cents.

JCB1977 You can give all the credit you want to Ligambi on the street and he did a great job of keeping the seat warm , But with out Merlinos crew and street balls taking over the Philly Mob and holding on to it , There would be no Ligambi as Boss

JCB1977 thats a kick ass list to be on and Merlino is in there although not close to the top but that can happen

I would put Merlinos reign at about 21-23 years and still going , Depends how you count his ascension to boss , And some wont count years in prison I would ,and also count the the Natale years are all Joey , Also when the winning faction didn't recognize Stanfa thats when it started IMO

[quote="joeycigars"]Joey Merlino is one of the 3-4 longest reigning Bosses in LCN all time he still has a way to go there will be a movie one day[/quote]


Maybe a movie about his public lifestyle as opposed to his "don" position. Whether he has been in the main chair the whole time is open for interpretation, but he certainly has had trouble staying on the street. Even if a boss is in the big chair while incarcerated, how effective could that actually be? The REAL credit goes to Ligambi IMHO, he was on the street giving directives and keeping order and managed to beat his RICO trial. But to put Merlino up there with the likes of long reigning dons is a misrepresentation. How long do you say he was boss? He's got ways to go before he is put on a pedastal with these guys:

Stefano Maggadino- 52 years (1922-1974)
Carlos Marcello- 42 years (1948-1989)
Joe Zerilli- 41 years (1936-1977)
Joe Bonanno- 37 years (1931-1968)
Russell Bufalino- 35 years (1959-1994)
Tony Accardo- 35 years (1957-1992)
Jack Tocco- 35 years (1979-2014)
Ray Patriarca- 34 years (1950-1984)
Santo Traficante- 33 years (1954-1987)
Jimmy Lanza- 33 years at least (1961-1994 at least) He died in 2006
John Scalish- 32 years (1944-1976)
Frank Balistrieri- 32 years (1961-1993)
Nick Civella- 30 years (1953-1983)
John LaRocca- 28 years (1956-1984)
Jack Dragna- 25 years (1931-1956)
Vincent Gigante- 24 years (1981-2005)
Mike Genovese - 22 years (1984-2006)
Angelo Bruno- 21 years (1959-1980)
Joe Todaro Sr- 21 years (1985-2006)
Joe Cerrito- 19 years (1959-1978)

***Joey doesn't compare to this list of bosses with long reigns. While I give him credit for doing his sentence like a man, one has to truly wonder Joey's role in any success that Philly has had from a criminal standpoint.

7:43 - 8:00 in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F13X0QnjdAo

[quote="Chris Christie"][quote="JeremyTheJew"]lol, in this thing of ours the guys license plate was CAPO #1. I thought that was funny.[/quote]

*Throws hand up in the air: "Ahhh Dis fuckin guya... gonna get us all pinched!"

That was the best part of that whole shitty movie.[/quote]


For such a low key guy didn't Carlo Gambino have some kind of personalized license plate?

Joey Merlino is one of the 3-4 longest reigning Bosses in LCN all time he still has a way to go there will be a movie one day

[quote="JeremyTheJew"]lol, in this thing of ours the guys license plate was CAPO #1. I thought that was funny.[/quote]

*Throws hand up in the air: "Ahhh Dis fuckin guya... gonna get us all pinched!"

That was the best part of that whole shitty movie.

lol, in this thing of ours the guys license plate was CAPO #1. I thought that was funny.

How about "this thing of ours" by Danny Provenzano? Just kidding.

He has a cartoon about wiseguys coming out. True story. Soprano voiceovers

The Bonnano mini series was entertaining but cheesy as hell. It made Bonnano look like the voi e of reason in everything and everyone else to be babbling idiots. Every scene was everyone screaming at each other than Don Peppino come in and offer up his 2 cents which than everyone would be like "Youre absolutely right!"

Boss of bosses was stupid playing the whole "Keep the kids away" scenario. Trying to make Paul look like a tragic figure.