Joe “Bananas” Bonanno
Known by some as Joe Bananas (A name he abhorred based on the connotation that he was crazy), Giuseppe “Joseph” Bonanno saw over 95 years on this earth while living a life of crime and privilege. If that isn’t amazing enough, you could factor in his survival within the American Mafia and seeing it change three times over. From being raised within the principles of Castellamarese’ men of honor, to being the youngest of the five bosses on The Commission, boss Joe was respected by gangsters and lawmakers alike. Hailing... [Read more]
Hannibal of Carthage
Like most popular North Africans in history, Hannibal’s race has been debated and questioned by modern day historians with their own agendas. While this is a disgraceful and disappointing argument for any historical figure (throw in Cleopatra VII with the lot) we will not dishonor today’s badass with such conjecture. Actor Vin Diesel has a movie in the works of Hannibal where he himself (of mixed heritage) will be playing the warlord. Vin is as much a fan of Hannibal as I am and in the way that fans put their hearts into scripts,... [Read more]
Boudica – Queen of The Iceni
“In stature she was very tall, in appearance most terrifying, in the glance of her eye most fierce, and her voice was harsh; a great mass of the tawniest hair fell to her hips; around her neck was a large golden necklace; and she wore a tunic of diverse colors over which a thick mantle was fastened with a brooch. This was her invariable attire.” – Cassius Dio’s description of Boudica, Icenian Queen. One of the most glorious female warriors in ancient history is the warrior queen Boudica – a Celtish badass who led... [Read more]
Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson
A few years ago, Denzel Washington played the character Frank Lucas in American Gangster, a tale about a hustler who took the drug game beyond the limited scope of his fellow hoods. In the early portions of the movie we see that Frank was tutored by a man who they simply called Bumpy, played by Clarence Williams III. Well as much as the movie put Frank Lucas over as a mastermind and Denzel Washington inaccurately portrayed him as a cool, poised Gangster, most historians know that Bumpy Johnson deserved a bit more than a slight mention... [Read more]
Charles “Lucky Luciano” Lucania
Although this will be a controversial entry, this will be the first of my Gangster badasses of the month. Now while I don’t praise criminality, I do understand the need that created it and I am an attentive student of organized crime history. This month’s badass is the original Capo de tutti capi (boss of all bosses) which was a title he did not want, as well as the nickname that was bestowed upon him. The man is Salvatore Lucania, most famously know as Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Charlie Lucky is a badass for quite a few reasons,... [Read more]
Sergeant Henry Lincoln Johnson
It is one thing to show super-human aptitude for a country that loves you, but to do so for a country that deems you to be sub-human – to the point that they withhold honors earned in the line of duty is beyond belief. When you watch movies depicting D.Day (Normandy), the Allied attacks on the Nazi surge, and anything dealing with the 1940’s militarily, it is easy to forget that black people existed, let alone fought. It being very much a white man’s world during these times, blacks were kept out of books and camera view, especially... [Read more]
Simo Häyhä aka White Death
War movies love to highlight snipers, and I know why, they appear to be mysterious, accurate and have the patience of 1,000 old school mothers packed into one. But you have to wonder, how much of what is shown in Hollywood is true? Are they revered or are they scoffed at as cowards? Are they really that accurate, or do they have a whole shit-ton of gadgets to help? The biggest question is, can one man, hidden away for days with a weapon, have the ability to wipe out droves of unsuspecting men like a movie? Apparently the answer to this... [Read more]
Badass: Audie Murphy – The Real John Rambo
If we’re going to talk badasses, I think it only appropriate to start with the man who comes to mind when I think of the congressional Medal of Honor. Audie Leon Murphy amassed a total of 33 medals in his day along with the congressional Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty”. Audie earned just about every medal there was to earn for being godly on the battlefield and then went on to star as himself in war movies before suffering from Post Traumatic... [Read more]
Clifford “T.I.” Harris Arrested Again!
Hazing at USF, are Greek Fraternities really a Gang Nation?
Mediocrity is not acceptable. Make success a habit!
Joe “Bananas” Bonanno
No More Excuses – Fatherhood Tips For The Baby Daddy
Foggy Lenses: A Sexual Guide for Super Nerds
