Howie Carr ping. Avi Nelson on Mon., prob a best of
on Tue., Howie back Wed.
Old gang hopes to win one for the Zipper
By Howie Carr | Sunday, December 30, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com
Top 10 things overheard at the Zip Connolly fund-raiser at the South Boston Yacht Club on Thursday night:
10. “How are things in Taormina - I mean, Glocca Morra?”
9. “Why isn’t this being held at the Naples Yacht Club?”
8. “Don’t get too close to Dooley - I think he’s wearing a wire.”
7. “People forget: Jimmy never strangled any of Stevie’s girlfriends unless Stevie asked him first.”
6. “I haven’t seen Finnerty beaming like this since the day the judge described him as ‘thoroughly corrupt.’ ”
5. “Hey, watch out for that guy in wingtips - he’s handin’ out subpoenas!”
4. “I know direct deposit’s a lot simpler, but I still miss getting that kiss in the mail every month.”
3. “Anybody know what ‘subornation’ means?”
2. “No Judge, you won’t be getting your car keys back tonight.”
1. “I swear I seen Whitey right behind that Bhutto lady’s car just before the shooting started.”
So what if they had a fund-raiser (a “time”) for corrupt FBI agent Zip Connolly, and Billy Bulger didn’t even show up? He speaks at Dapper’s funeral but somehow can’t bring himself to attend what amounts to a wake for his boon companion, the FBI agent who was also a made member of his brother Whitey Bulger’s mob. I thought Billy was a stand-up guy.
Billy’s no-show reminds me of that old joke of James Michael Curley’s about the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Co. Billy dusted it off every March 17th:
“Invincible in peace, invisible in war.”
It’s always wise, though, to funnel some do-re-mi in the direction of a guy who knows, literally, where all the bodies are buried. Even if the statute of limitations has run out on just about everything except Whitey’s murders, the Corrupt Midget can still be humiliated in ways other than the occasional photo finish with the grand jury.
For instance, “60 Minutes” has never been able to get enough of the Whitey Bulger saga. Coming up next: Johnny Martorano’s story, as told to Steve Croft. Johnny will be one of the major prosecution witnesses in Zip’s Florida murder trial - whenever it takes place, if it ever does - and surely that’s what the money raised will do: buy even more continuances and delays for Zip. In Zip’s case, justice delayed is not justice denied. It’s an absolute imperative.
Martorano promised his first post-prison interview to CBS newsman Ed Bradley, one of his offensive linemen at a Rhode Island prep school back in the late 50s. Bradley always said the team called Martorano “the Milkman,” because he always delivered. Bradley died last year, but Johnny kept his promise to CBS.
The “60 Minutes” piece may run as early as a week from tonight.
Think what an “exclusive” with Zip would be worth to “60 Minutes.” For a while there, Lindley DeVecchio was giving Zip a run for the coveted title of “Most Corrupt G-Man in History.” But that case was just thrown out of court in New York. So when it comes to bent feds, Zip remains, you’ll pardon the expression, Number One with a Bullet. Even if he beats the murder rap, old 22928-038 will be locked up until June 28, 2011.
Whitey used to say, “Christmas is for cops and kids.” The CM and his sidekick Finnerty missed Christmas by three days, but better late than never. Happy Kwanzaa, Zip.
The funniest thing in Laurel J. Sweet’s story in this newspaper Friday was the quote from Finnerty about his “childhood friendship” with Zip. Remember back in 2003, when Billy Bulger was under oath in front of Congress, and one of the solons asked him if Zip was his “childhood friend”? Billy harrumphed that given their seven-year age difference, it would be imprecise at best to describe himself and Zip as “childhood” friends.
Now comes Tom Finnerty, who like Billy is 73 years old. But since it suits his purposes, he cops to being the mobbed-up fed’s boyhood chum. As always, the Bulgers and their liegemen are too cute by half.
Since in his dotage Billy Bulger seems committed to assisting down-on-their-luck crooked hacks from his own sordid past, I just have one final question for him:
When are you having a time for convicted felon and Advil junkie Tom Finneran?
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1063512
Don’t know about you but I’ve read Howie’s book, found it to be fascinating and spt on, what’s scary is I lived in Southie at the time Whitey and his goons were running loose....