Tominello, 67, is considered a mathematical genius. He was convicted in 1989 of running the Chicago Outfit's illegal sports book operation under the supervision of the legendary Donald "The Wizard of Odds" Angelini and Dominic Cortina.The rest of the column is about a real estate deal in Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's home neighborhood of Bridgeport. Kass' column gets a little convoluted at times, but it's worth looking at, both for what it says and -- more interestingly -- what it doesn't say.
In 1989, Angelini, Cortina and Tominello all pleaded guilty, a week after their indictment on federal racketeering charges. Tominello served less than a year in federal prison. Angelini and Cortina have since died. But Rayjo still thrives, at least in real estate.
But I was going to talk about words first. By the way, I love that nickname for the bookie. "The Wizard of Odds."
The "Outfit," in Chicago, is what is more commonly called the Mafia or the mob. So why doesn't Kass use the more common word? My guess is he's slyly patting his readers on the back, insinuating they're so with it and knowledgeable they don't need to have it explained to them. But in case anybody needs it (and some readers will), Kass slips in the explanation in the next 'graph when he speculates that Bridgeport developer Thomas DiPiazza, a mutual friend of Tominello's and Daley's who has consulted with the mayor on other real estate ventures, "has a mobbed-up business associate."
You'll want to read this part carefully, because Kass suggests a little more than he comes out and says. And in the next 'graph after that, he adds:
Of course the mayor will say he didn't know about it. And that may be true. He might not have ever heard the name Rayjo in his entire life, even though they're about the same age and grew up in the same neighborhood. Can't coincidences happen in Chicago?What's the effect of this disclaimer? What is Kass saying here? And what is he not coming right out and saying?
Kass goes on, with one of the better quotes I've read lately. It comes when he calls Tominello's lawyer for comment.
"I really can't answer any questions. Have a good day sir," said [the lawyer], before hanging up the phone. Tominello did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him, through his attorneys and at his homes. That's too bad. It would have been nice to hear how he transformed his life, from Outfit bookie to Mr. Real Estate with Tommy D.Kass adds, in the same innocent tone he's used before:
Investing in real estate with guys who know Mayor Daley isn't a crime, not even for a bookie. Understanding Chicago doesn't come by reading official press releases, but by reading the tracks of exotic creatures in public records.I'm not going to say Kass' column is a hatchet job. It appears to be well sourced, both through interviews with people who have knowledge of Chicago real estate and examination of public records. It's not unknown for real estate developers to have relationships with elected officials. Nor is it unknown for them to have relationships with the Mafia or the Chicago Outfit. And, most important of all, Kass is writing a bylined column. That means he's allowed to speculate.
But I think he's also patting himself on the back, and patting his readers on the back, by hyping Chicago's rough, tough, streetwise image (not to mention his own) and the city's reputation for political corruption.
11 comments:
I think that Kass is being fair, he didnt really rip on anyone, he gave the facts. The facts, whats true is just as important to read as is the writers opinions. Maybe he had a little problem with it being in Chicago, but none the less, nothing like the last story with the "outing of reps"
I don't think John Kass was being very fair, his story was full of sacrasm which made you believe his assumptions about Mayor Daley were true. I think he could have done a better job of showing both sides of the story.
How fair is John Kass?
I feel, that on regards to the events that had taken place for the individuals in this article that he has extremly fair in what he wrote. Although it may seem questionable rather or not these gentlemen did things under the table, as we will call it!!! From the sound of those deep rooted Italian names, you never knows what sort of things might actually take place in the society, not only in Chicago.
All in all though i feel that he wrote a good article. He simple listed some of the factual information that took place for the gentlemen. He never pointed the finger or called these guys out... Rather what they did was right or wrong, we may never know and that may be in our best interest!!
Well, I don't think he's being unfair in what he's bringing up, I'd say it's probably a little more for entertainment values anyways... but he better know what he's talking about, because making accusations like those towards people supposedly affiliated with the mob is a bit of a risky venture.
I don't know, I am kind of on the fence for this question, but leaning more towards the he is not being that fair side. He uses a lot of sarcasm, and kind of is one sided. Also, he does use that streetwise tough-guy attitude. He uses a very sarcastic and big-brother picking on little brother type attitude as well. He gives a lot of important facts, quotes, and information, but it seems to be kind of skewed. I do agree at the end of the Mackerel Wrapper (in the last few lines) that he is hyping up his cities as well as his own tough image, almost being a hardass type of person.
I think Kass is being unfair in this article. Everything he is saying is circumstantial. The things he is saying about the mayor and others may be true, but there is no evidence to prove it. Instead of reporting a factual story, he is creating his own.
i believe that he isnt being very fair...he is making up assumptions that the mayor has a political realestate scandal going on. Just because daley grew up in the same neighborhood as "Rayjo" he may have never even met him. Like the article says coincidences can happen in Chicago, its a huge city. Even though the truth is that he probably does have some knowledge of who "rayjo" is. I do not see any real crime being done in this situation...yeah chicago has been known for its political scandals...and yes a criminal who was convicted of illegal gambling and who is now out of jail free, doesnt mean that he cant be successful now, and so what, who really cares if real estate is being bought from him
I think John Kass was being fair, but could have writtten the article better. I got the sence that it was very opinionated. It seems as though he it trying to get readers to take sides. He did try to speak with the other side but was turned down. So it is only fair to the readers that he reports what he knows, but he could have left some of the sarcasm out.
I think Kass was fair in his article.I appriciate that he tries to deliver the truth to his readers but I think he needed more info from the people invovled to make the story better.
Kass was being fair when he discussed how the men knew each other and how they associated with each other. Those were all facts. When Kass mentioned the connection with Mayor Daley was an assumption and is not yet proven. he made the reader believe that Mayor Daley was associated with a serious criminal. The man was a bookie, he saw an opportunity to gain a lot of money and he took it. He also did his time and was released back to society. Mayor Daley being friends with a former bookie, is that a crime? He was trying to persuade readers to believe Mayor Daley is a bad guy, and thats not fair.
The writer, John Kass, was being fair to both Tominello and Dipazzi because they were accuesed of committing a fedral crime and that they are still probably continuing to pull scandals on people in real estate. Also, Kass used terms that illustrate what both men were and what they did to other people. Kass was also stating that both men were considered to be part of the Mafia because of the activities they did during the 1960s. Therefore, Kass was being fair by stating these remarks because this kind of activity relates to what the Mafia did back in the early days of Chicago.
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