Who do you think you are?Paul Mercurio's "connected" grandad

[Brute]

" Who do You think You Are" on SBS is probably not the kind of show usually recommended to followers of boxing, but tonight's show is a bit different. The guest checking his ancestry id actor Paul Mercurio, Gus Mercurio's son.

Much of the show was done while Gus was still alive and he contributed a lot to the program. According to the Sun Herald's Guide, there is something about one of Paul's grandfathers being a "connected" boxer! I doubt that Gus would have mentioned a Cosa Nostra link in his family if he thought he would still be alive when the show went to air, but it will be interesting to see the full story.

[Sweet P]

Thanks for the info Brute, I will have a look tonight

[Brute]

There he was, Gus's dad, Vincent Mercurio, aka McGurk, boxer, mafioso and Republican Party dignitary.

Anybody else see him waiting to shake hands with Richard Nixon and find himself wondering who was the bigger crook?

[Da Voice]

So far, living in Qld, I've only seen half of it, and am somewhat uncertain the purpose of it.

[Brute]

It is about helping well known people to find their family history. Apart from the Australian version it has been done in the UK and the USA.

[Da Voice]

Somehow, I think Paul was well aware of family history. Ol' boy Gus wasn't all that secretive in his later years.
1000+ Italian/Sicilian offspring's living in Oz have similar family background. I know of 2 families

[Da Voice]

At least I now know where "I'll spit in your eye" came from.
Included in an invitation to a weigh-in held @ Nerang RSL

[Brute]

Gave some insight into American politics. Old Vince was one of the people who got to choose who the Republicans ran for the Presidency. He made fictional Milwaukee, Wisconsin resident Fonzie look like a choir boy!

[Brute]

Somehow, I think Paul was well aware of family history. Ol' boy Gus wasn't all that secretive in his later years.
1000+ Italian/Sicilian offspring's living in Oz have similar family background. I know of 2 families

The main Italian crime syndicate in Australia, Bob Trimbole and Joe Sergi's Griffith outfit was Calabrian, not Sicilian. The media used to refer to them as Mafia but they were 'Ndranghetta. Mafia was easier to spell.

[Beltane]

Below is a link to the obituary for Gus, which gives a pretty good outline of his boxing, acting and personal life both downunder and in the USA:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituari ... 18poo.html

Gus as an actor was type cast as "we need a yank accent quick, lets get Gus" and Gus always put on a good show, portraying rough and tumble characters, but he was really just playing himself. As a ref he was one of the best and the Australian boxing community is much poorer with Gus's passing.

[Brute]

Somehow, I think Paul was well aware of family history. Ol' boy Gus wasn't all that secretive in his later years.
1000+ Italian/Sicilian offspring's living in Oz have similar family background. I know of 2 families

Gus really hated his father. He may not have spoken of him.