Why Did Sammy Gravano Name The Bull

On March 12, 1945 in Brooklyn, New York, Salvatore “Sammy” Gravano was born to Giorlando and Caterina Gravano. As a child he frequently walked with his father and would encounter gangsters on the streets. Giorlando would cross the street when encountering such gangsters, noticing that this had become a routine Sammy asked his father to identify the people. His father replied “they are bad people” (Don’t Look, 2013). At the age of ten Sammy’s bicycle was stolen and with the help of local mob members he was able to regain possession and was awarded the nickname “the Bull.” Sammy’s troubles did not end there, he was also being bullied in school; the bullying continued until Sammy started fighting those who bullied him. “He realized that violence

Unfortunately, for Gravano he took the violence to another level when he aimed it at the principle and was expelled from the school. He was then forced to attend a school equipped for juvenile delinquents. At the age of 16 he dropped out of the school for juvenile delinquents because he had decided that wealth was not something he wanted to work for. Adopting this new way of life, not working for wealth, Gravano allied himself with a street gang in Bensonhurst, New York, called the Rampers and he started committing burglaries and stealing. Gravano was dedicated to the Rampers but in 1964 he was drafted into the army and forced to break his dedication. While in the army Gravano appreciated the hierarchical structure, the rules, and the traditions that came along with his service. Due to his appreciation of such Gravano became a Corporal and was discharged after two years. Following his service Gravano returned to the Rampers and he stayed committed until he was introduced to his uncle in 1968. His uncle, Tommy Spero, was a powerful associate involved in the Colombo crime family. A short time after meeting Spero, he was ordered by him to kill Joseph Colucci. Spero saw

Castellano began to work in the construction business forming his own company in which he gave power to Vincent “the Chin” Gigante, the head of the Genovese crime family. The actions of Castellano left Gravano felling betrayed. It wasn’t only Gravano who felt that way, John Gotti decided that it was time to take action. Gotti wanted to eliminate Castellano and he needed Gravano by his side. On December 16, 1985 Castellano was killed. In the aftermath of his death, Gotti became the head of the Gambino crime family and Sammy became the captain. One year later in May of 1986, John Gotti surrendered himself to the feds and faced federal racketeering charges. It was clear that Gotti was still very much in charge and that Gravano would be his right hand man on the streets. Gravano accepted his new role and “he felt that killing was the best way to police the mob on the streets” (Don’t Look, 2013). The first order Gotti gave Gravano as his right hand man was to murder Robert “DiB” DiBernardo. Gravano readily complied. Following the murder, Sammy turned his attention to Gotti, he focused on getting him acquitted, which he did by bribing a jury foreman. Gravano was