Damn, I never really knew anyone in the mob.
At least, as far as I know… Well, yesterday, I was talking with my parents about the infamous Frank Calabrese and found out there are two of them. And, the one we knew is NOT the one from the Chicago Mafia! Apparently, this is a repeated case of mistaken identity. The Tribune accidentally ran a picture of the “safe” Calabrese in an article about the “connected” Calabrese. The “safe” Calabrese is sueing. The Tribune printed a retraction, of course, but the character damage had been done.
Sadly enough, this kind of thing goes on all the time. People run their mouths about how terrible someone is without ever really digging into the real facts, all because it’s a good story. I can’t count how many times I recounted meeting the “safe” Frank Calabrese and painted him as a dangerous gangster, when all along, he’s just been the good family man that he seemed. I hope the guy wins his libel case. People should be much more careful what they put into print about someone. Even if they share the same name!
The worst part of it all, though, is that I lose a good Chicago mob story. Well, I guess it’s time to go out and mingle with the wrong crowd!
Advice from your Uncle Jim:
"Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build it."
--Sam Rayburn