The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight — Jimmy Breslin

"It was a big bestseller when it was originally published in 1969. It became a major motion picture that provided Robert DeNiro with his first film role. Its title has entered into the language as a catch phrase. And it''s terrific fun!

The Gang That Couldn''t Shoot Straight is the story of Papa Baccala, a Brooklyn Mafia boss, and Kid Sally Palumbo, a would-be capo who ""couldn''t run a gas station at a profit even if he stole the customers'' cars"". There''s also Kid Sally''s grandmother, who will go to extravagant lengths to see her boy make his mark. A love interest? Sure. Kid Sally''s sister tumbles for an artistic type who rides a bicycle and has recently arrived from Calabria...

The high adventure begins with a six-day bike race that is only partly responsible for a rash of obituary notices reading: ""Died. Suddenly"". Eventually it all gets worked out in fine Sicilian fashion -- and, in the end, everybody gets his, in a manner of speaking."