Since there's only 4 left...

[TempoGL]

Julio Franco knows, and he's pissed about being so shitty in the game...

do we have official confirmation of this?

[Gantry]

It's my birthday, so yes...

[TempoGL]

It's my birthday, so yes...

* confirmed *

[OctoFranco]

Bumping in the hopes that some news may have trickled in in the two months I've been absent.  Was devastated to hear the news about the Italian J. Franco, though to be honest not quite surprised...

[OctoFranco]

From an article on mlb.com:

Franco's in the booth: John Franco, who was released by the Astros earlier this season, is back in baseball -- in the broadcast booth.

Franco will be working for ESPN Radio during the Astros' series with the Braves, and he hopes it will spark interest for future gigs.

"I'll give it a shot," said Franco, who officially retired following the regular season. "This is what I probably want to do in the next year or two, a little TV, a little radio."

Franco was genuinely happy to see his old teammates, most of whom he hadn't spoken with since his release in early July. He emphasized that he had no hard feelings against the Astros.

"When you don't pitch well, things like that happen," he said. "I wasn't pitching well -- too many inconsistencies. We weren't playing well at the time. They wanted to see what the younger players can do. No hard feelings. I went home, relaxed, spent time with my family."

I never heard anything about this, so I figure it will also be of interest to the Dee-Nee community...  Also for the record, both Bobby Cox and Julio Franco himself predict that Julio will be back for 2006.  Roger of course still not tipping his hand with regard to next season.  No word whatsoever with regard to Benito.

[Attezzobal]

Franco's really good at reporting shit to the higher ups. So I assume that his career at ESPN (He's already on ESPN Radio) will go smoothly, Leiter's the same way (with regards to being a clubhouse snitch)

[OctoFranco]

Franco's really good at reporting shit to the higher ups. So I assume that his career at ESPN (He's already on ESPN Radio) will go smoothly, Leiter's the same way (with regards to being a clubhouse snitch)

Is that how the media found out that Piazza was gay and that the entire Mets roster were potheads?

[Attezzobal]

Wouldn't surprise me, although Fred Wilpon doesn't work for the media (with the exception of the back back pages of the Daily News of course).

Bobby V's reaction at a press conference when asked will always be the greatest thing ever to me "Did you see them out there!! Marijuana would just make them go slower!!" or something along those lines but better and funnier and more interesting.

[JoeDirt]

Does anybody remember a story a few years back that involved John Franco and ties to the mafia?

[TbT]

why?  did the mafia strongarm espn a tad to get him a job?  ala the irish mob on death to smoochey.

[Attezzobal]

Does anybody remember a story a few years back that involved John Franco and ties to the mafia?

Yes.

[fknmclane]

Here you go, Joe.

[Attezzobal]

The Bonanno family's original boss was Joe Bonanno, who was usually just referred to as Bananas, or Joe Bananas Bonanno. Anyway, it was one of the more powerful New York crime families in it's heyday (I believe around the 40's), Joe Bananas took over the Castellamarese family, eventually Lucky Luciano's family came to power as well.

I hate being born a New York Italian.

The Gambino family ruined the fun of the Mafia for my generation.

[BeeJay]

Did he have a banana phone?

[Attezzobal]

There was gonna be more, but it's boring and I hate admitting that I know it...

But yes, one of the most powerful crime bosses in the history of New York, and America, used a banana phone.

Sammy the Bull used to use a 'football shaped phone'.

[OctoFranco]

I hate being born a New York Italian.

You need to get some J. Franco-like national pride.  And not just the MN/ND part.

Also I had no idea you knew that much about the mafia.  I am going to ask you for more stories next time we hang out.

[Gantry]

I'm definitely behind, but I have officially removed John Franco and Santiago from the WATN and I'm pretty sure that Clemens isn't going to come back if he gets to another World Series.  Please keep on trucking Julio...

[JoeDirt]

Here you go, Joe.

Great find!  Thank you kind sir.

[JoeDirt]

I hate being born a New York Italian.

While Hollywood has glamorized the Italian mafia, the fact is that there simply is nothing glamorous to murder and corruption.  I don't understand how being in the Italian mafia has become so in vogue...I suppose it's thanks to The Godfather and Tony Sapprano--but in reality, those are just shows.  It's sort of like if there was a movie that made Ted Bundy look like a hip guy and then the public saw him as cool because of the movie.  That sounds so dumb--but that is what happened with the mafia and the American public.

[Attezzobal]

I'm not sure if you're arguing with me or not...But I agree with every word of your post.