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(car horns honking)
SO IS SOUTHIE TOUGHER? IS THAT A PRODUCT OF THE MOVIES OR...
NO, NO, NO, IT'S TOUGH.
WHAT IS THE PERFECT HANGOVER BREAKFAST?
***.
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS WORLD,
AT ONE POINT IN THEIR LIFE, NEEDS AN ***-KICKING.
♪♪♪
(man) AAH, YEAH!
I'M ANTHONY BOURDAIN.
THAT'S RIGHT!
I WRITE. I TRAVEL.
OH, LOOK OUT NOW!
I EAT, AND I'M HUNGRY FOR MORE.
♪ OOH, YOU'VE GOT TO ♪
♪ GET LOST ♪
♪ NO RESERVATIONS ♪
THEY SAY "KNOW YOUR ENEMY."
AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT I DO,
THOUGH I'VE BEEN TO BOSTON MANY TIMES.
I KNOW I'M A YANKEE FAN,
THE BLEED-PINSTRIPES KIND,
AND THAT BOSTON AND THEIR BELOVED RED SOX
ARE OUR HISTORIC ENEMIES-- A DEEP, HEARTFELT RIVALRY
GOING BACK NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS.
BUT IT'S COMPLICATED.
I STARTED COOKING NOT ALL THAT FAR FROM HERE,
MOSTLY WITH MASSACHUSETTS PEOPLE.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE BANDS--
THE MODERN LOVERS, THE REMAINS, THE UNBAND--
CAME OUT OF HERE OR NEAR HERE.
AND MY UNHOLY AND INAPPROPRIATE LOVE OF BOSTON
GOES BEYOND THAT,
AS MY FAVORITE, MOST CHERISHED CRIME NOVEL OF ALL TIME--
"THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE"--
IS ABOUT AS BOSTON AS IT GETS.
AND THE PETER YATES FILM VERSION WITH ROBERT MITCHUM,
SHOT IN THE EARLY '70s,
IS, WELL, SOMETHING OF AN OBSESSION WITH ME.
THAT'S WHAT BOSTON WILL ALWAYS LOOK LIKE TO ME,
BECAUSE, WELL, THAT'S THE WAY I WANT IT TO LOOK, RIGHT?
THIS IS MIKE RUFFINO,
BASSIST IN THE BEST BAND YOU NEVER HEARD OF--
THE UNBAND.
HE ALSO COMPOSED MOST OF THE FUNKY,
'70s-STYLE SOUNDTRACK TO THIS SHOW.
NOT TOO LONG AGO, HE WROTE A TERRIFIC MEMOIR
OF HIS YEARS ON THE ROAD,
CALLED "GENTLEMANLY REPOSE,"
A BOOK WHICH EXPLORES, AMONG OTHER SUBJECTS,
THE RIGORS OF EATING AND DRINKING
ON A ROCK 'N' ROLL BUDGET.
THIS IS IT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
THERE'S NO MORE FOOD EVEN.
SO LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS RIGHT UP FRONT, OKAY?
THIS IS NOT THE BEST OF BOSTON
OR WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOSTON
OR EVEN A REMOTELY FAIR AND BALANCED PORTRAIT
OF A GREAT CITY.
SO CHOWDER--
ONIONS, SALT PORK, NO CELERY--
DEFINITELY NOT CELERY.
NO CELERY.
POTATO.
YEAH, I THOUGHT SO. WELL, SO THAT'S THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS ABOUT ME AND MY FRIEND MIKE
TRYING TO HAVE A WICKED (bleep) TIME
IN BOSTON.
AND IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT,
YOU CAN JUST (bleep) OFF OVER TO SAMANTHA BROWN.
SOMETIMES A THING BECOMES A CLICHé
'CAUSE IT'S JUST SO DAMNED GOOD.
AND THIS PLACE IN EAST BOSTON
IS THAT DAMN GOOD.
MY COLON DOCTOR
IS MARRIED TO HIS ANESTHETIST.
OKAY.
AND THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY GOOD-LOOKIN' PEOPLE.
AND I'M A LITTLE CREEPED OUT BY THAT.
IMAGINE, YOU'RE LAYING THERE ON THE TABLE.
THEY ASK YOU TO ROLL OVER ONTO YOUR SIDE.
THE ANESTHETIST--YOU KNOW, MRS. COLONOSCOPY--
SUDDENLY LETS IN ALL OF THE PAINKILLER--
OR THE STUFF TO KNOCK YOU OUT...
RIGHT.
AND THEN IN YOUR LAST SECONDS OF CONSCIOUSNESS,
YOU THINK YOU SEE, LIKE, A MIRROR BALL
START TO SPIN ON THE CEILING, YOU KNOW,
THE SOUND OF BARRY WHITE IN THE BACKGROUND,
AND THEY'RE BOTH TAKING THEIR CLOTHES OFF, YOU KNOW...
GONNA START TO SWING.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SORT OF AT THEIR MERCY.
THEY COULD BE JUKIN' YOU WITH A G.I. JOE HEAD.
YEAH?
YOU NEVER KNOW.
YOU KNOW, "OH, MY (bleep) FEELS A LITTLE--A LITTLE SORE."
WELL...
YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A CAMERA
AND A PAIR OF LAWN CLIPPERS UP THERE.
RIGHT.
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
WHO KNOWS--YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'M JUST SAYIN'. THESE THINGS OCCURRED TO ME.
YEAH.
BELLE ISLE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS,
SERVING UP CHOWDER, FRIED CLAMS, FRIED SCALLOPS,
FRIED HADDOCK, SHRIMP, AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
A CLASSIC CHOWDER, THOUGH THICKENED WITH A ROUX,
WHICH I GUESS IS ACCEPTABLE-- SURE TASTES GOOD.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
GOOD?
YEAH, YEAH. SOME MIGHT SAY LIFE-GIVING.
I MIGHT SAY THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT STUFF THAT THEY CALL "MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER"?
NO.
IT'S NOT A CHOWDER.
NOT SO MUCH. NO, IT'S--IT'S A SOUP.
IT'S A SOUP.
NEXT--A LIGHTLY BATTERED PILE OF SHRIMP,
CLAMS, LOBSTER, HADDOCK, AND SCALLOP,
SMOTHERED IN A HALO OF ONION RINGS.
THE SECRET IS THAT ALL THE FISH IS FRESH DAILY,
AND OF COURSE, THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF IT ALL.
WOW. I MEAN, I'LL TELL YA, YOU KNOW,
FOR ONE PERSON, THAT WOULD BE--
THAT WOULD BE A LOT.
SUICIDAL.
YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE A SOFT, ALBEIT SLIGHTLY CRUNCHY,
PILLOW TO REST OUR WEARY HEADS.
YEAH.
WOW.
THEY'RE NOT SKIMPING ON THE LOBSTER.
NO.
JIM, THE OWNER OF THIS JOINT,
HAND-SELECTS THE BEST, HARDEST-SHELL MAINE LOBSTERS
AT THE PIER EVERY MORNING
FOR THE WHOPPING 1/2 POUND OF MEAT
THEY PUT IN THE LOBSTER ROLLS HERE.
IT'S AN AWESOME EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES.
WELL?
IT'S FANTASTIC.
AND THE BEST THING ABOUT IT IS WHAT HE DOES TO THE LOBSTER.
YEAH?
ALMOST NOTHING.
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT HIM TO DO.
ESSENCE OF MAYONNAISE, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
WITH OUR DIGESTIVE TUBES SUFFICIENTLY COATED,
MIKE AND I HEAD OUT AND CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY.
SOUTH BOSTON--YOU THINK YOU KNOW IT FROM THE MOVIES.
SOUTHIE.
AND THE PERCEIVED WISDOM IS THAT IT'S IRISH.
IT'S WORKING-CLASS, AND IT'S TOUGH.
AND IT IS, INDEED, ALL THOSE THINGS STILL.
WHEN SOME OF THE FIRST HOUSING PROJECTS
WERE BUILT HERE AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION,
IRISH AND ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS FLOCKED HERE,
LEADING TO WHAT SEEMED AT TIMES TO BE ENDLESS WARS
OVER TURF, OVER RACE, OVER PRESTIGE,
DRUGS, MONEY, AND POWER.
AND LIKE SO MANY SIMILAR PLACES,
IT'S, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT THINGS,
EITHER BENEFITTED GREATLY
OR SUFFERED FROM GENTRIFICATION.
BUT I'M OBSESSED WITH THE SOUTHIE OF MY DREAMS,
OF THE "EDDIE COYLE" DAYS,
FILLED WITH MOBSTERS, BANK ROBBERS,
AND A VERY PARTICULAR BREED OF BOSTONIAN.
(car engine revs)
♪♪♪
MIKE AND I ARE ON OUR WAY
TO VISIT THE ONE MAN WHO KNOWS MORE
ABOUT THE SOUTHIE ORGANIZED CRIME SCENE
THAN PROBABLY ANYBODY IN BOSTON--
LOCAL RADIO HOST AND AUTHOR HOWIE CARR.
(Howie) THE AVERAGE SMOKER CHOPS SEVEN YEARS OFF HIS LIFE.
(Anthony) CATERING TO A MOSTLY CONSERVATIVE CROWD,
HOWIE'S BEEN A FIXTURE OF BOSTON RADIO,
TELEVISION, AND NEWSPAPERS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
FOR OUR FIRST HOUR HERE TODAY, WE ARE, UH,
WE ARE GONNA BE JOINED BY A--BY A SPECIAL GUEST,
AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE. ANTHONY BOURDAIN.
GOOD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU.
YOU MIGHT WELL ASK,
WHAT'S WITH ALL THE RIGHT-WING RADIO HOSTS ON YOUR SHOW?
ANSWER--HANGING OUT ONLY WITH PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH ME
IS ABOUT AS BORING A PROSPECT AS I COULD IMAGINE.
SECONDLY, MR. HOWIE CARR IS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE,
ABOUT AS BOSTON AS IT GETS.
SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT--THAT YOU HAD EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS
ABOUT COMING TO BOSTON, THAT PERHAPS IT WASN'T, UH,
UP TO YOUR, UH, CULINARY STANDARDS, PERHAPS?
PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME,
"ARE YOU GONNA COME AND DO, YOU KNOW, BOSTON'S BEST--
A SHOW ABOUT BOSTON'S BEST RESTAURANTS?"
AND ANYTIME WE GO TO A DESTINATION, ANY CITY,
WE'RE LOOKIN'--YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO HERE
THAT THEY DON'T DO IN CHICAGO, OR THEY DON'T DO IN NEW YORK?
MM-HMM.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING UNIQUELY BOSTONIAN.
SO WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE A SHOW
THAT WOULD HAVE ITS OWN FLAVOR AND LOOK.
AND WITH REPEATED VIEWINGS OF "THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE,"
I THINK WE FOUND A WAY TO DO A SHOW HERE.
OH, YOU'RE AN "EDDIE COYLE" FAN, TOO?
I THINK IT'S THE GREATEST CRIME NOVEL EVER WRITTEN
IN THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE,
AND I'M OBSESSED WITH THE FILM.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET ALONG FINE, UH, ANTHONY.
AND THE--THE--
(woman) Hey, Howie?
YES?
A friend of chef Bourdain's is calling in.
OH, OKAY. OH, TED NUGENT.
OH, AWESOME.
TED NUGENT IS HERE.
MY UNCLE TED.
ALL RIGHT.
(Ted) Greetings, Howie, Tony, Boston, Massachusetts.
HOW YOU DOIN', UNCLE TED?
I'm doin' so good, Tony, it's stupid, man.
I-I'M JUST, UH, CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK
OF THE WHOLE, UH,
MICHELLE OBAMA-VERSUS-PALIN FOOD FIGHT.
Well, come on, tofu versus a pissed-off moose?
What do you think, pal?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
TED, YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE PRIVATE PYLE
IN "FULL METAL JACKET" HERE. IT'S A PATRIOTISM ISSUE.
MICK, YOU'RE NEXT WITH HOWIE CARR AND ANTHONY BOURDAIN.
GO AHEAD, MICK.
(Mick) I've gotta tell you, I'm sittin' here,
gettin' a real kick out of you talkin'
about our fighting men and women.
Have you seen these guys?
I'VE BEEN TO A BASE IN, UH, KOREA,
AND I LOOKED AT THE-- YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SERVE
ON THE--ON THE BASE? THE KING, THE CLOWN, THE COLONEL.
BILL, YOU'RE NEXT WITH HOWIE CARR, ANTHONY BOURDAIN,
AND TED NUGENT. GO AHEAD, BILL.
(Bill) I do not want a dictated diet.
I want the right to eat what I like,
regardless of whether or not it's healthy.
I SUPPORT FULLY, UH, ALL, YOU KNOW,
OF--OF ADULT AMERICANS' RIGHT TO EAT THEMSELVES TO DEATH.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'M DOING FOR A LIVING.
Concur.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S UNCHRISTIAN.
DO YOU THINK JES--WHAT, DO YOU THINK JESUS WAS SITTING THERE
AT THE LAST SUPPER-- WAS HE--WAS HE HAVING
AN EXTRA HELPING OF TIRAMISU? I DON'T THINK SO.
This is a free country, sir.
(Ted) Yes, it is a free country,
but unfortunately we're paying for your health care,
because you don't care about your health.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA HAVE FOR DINNER TONIGHT, TED?
Dead stuff, man.
(all laughing)
SO YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR A RESTAURANT TO GO TO, RIGHT?
YEAH.
OKAY, I'M GONNA-- I AM GOING TO SUGGEST, UH,
MICHAEL'S DELI IN BROOKLINE.
LET'S DO IT.
YOU'RE A DELI-- YOU'RE A DELI GUY, RIGHT?
I AM--I AM--THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DRINKIN' A CREAM SODA
SPEAKS WELL OF YOU, SIR.
CHEERS.
(laughs)
♪♪♪
♪ NO RESERVATIONS ♪
♪♪♪
A DELI IN BEANTOWN? I DON'T KNOW.
I'M PRETTY SURE WE GOT THAT COVERED IN NEW YORK.
BUT HOWIE LOVES IT.
I MEAN, THEY DO HAVE A SANDWICH NAMED AFTER HIM,
SO HE'S KINDA GOT TO, RIGHT?
(Howie) I TOLD HIM THIS IS THE BEST DELI IN BOSTON.
THIS COULD STACK UP AGAINST ANYPLACE IN NEW YORK.
OH, THAT'S A HIGH THRESHOLD TO LIVE UP TO, MY FRIEND.
I--WELL, WE'LL SEE.
SO WHAT-- WHAT SHOULD I EAT?
I'M GONNA HAVE THE HOWIE CARR.
IT'S--IT'S A REAL BASIC SANDWICH.
SINCE HOWIE IS SO PROUD OF HIS NAMESAKE SANDWICH,
I'VE GOTTA GO FOR IT.
CORNED BEEF AND BRISKET ON A ROLL
CAN'T BE A BAD THING, AND IT ISN'T.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU HAVIN', MIKE?
HOW ABOUT SOME TONGUE?
(man) OKAY, GOOD CHOICE.
MIKE'S BEEN THINKING ABOUT TONGUE ALL DAY,
BUT THEN, HE WAS IN A BAND FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE.
HE ORDERS UP THE THINLY SLICED HOUSE-MADE TONGUE ON RYE.
AH, HERE WE GO-- OUR APPETIZERS.
AND SOMEHOW WE ARE DIRECTED TO TRY
THE LETHAL, YET VERY TASTY PASTRAMI KNISHES--
MEAT AND MUSTARD TUCKED INSIDE A FLAKY CRUST.
HEY, THAT'S REALLY GOOD. OH, JEEZ, LOOK AT THAT.
(Mike) THAT THE HOWIE CARR?
THAT'S THE HOWIE CARR.
THAT IS A TITANICALLY SIZED SANDWICH.
THE TONGUE IS VERY THIN-- I LOVE IT.
YEAH.
IT'S REALLY GOOD.
AS EXCITED AS I AM ABOUT THIS SANDWICH,
I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT "***" BULGER.
THIS MISERABLE (bleep) WAS A LEGEND.
STILL ON THE LAM AFTER YEARS AS AMERICA'S MOST WANTED,
HE WAS PROBABLY TIPPED OFF BY HIS OLD FBI PALS
WITH WHOM HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN AN UNHOLY, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ARRANGEMENT
FOR DECADES.
*** BULGER IS THIS SERIAL KILLER,
BROTHER OF THE FORMER, UH, SENATE PRESIDENT,
DID TIME ON, UH, ALCATRAZ.
16 YEARS AGO,
I GUESS THIS WEEK, HE VANISHED.
BASICALLY, ***,
THE MURDEROUS HEAD OF THE IRISH MOB,
GOT A FREE PASS TO WHACK OUT OVER 20 PEOPLE...
(gunshot)
TERRORIZE WHOEVER HE WANTED,
LITERALLY GET AWAY WITH ***,
WHILE SNITCHING OFF HIS BUSINESS RIVALS
AND DISPENSABLE ASSOCIATES TO THE FBI.
HIS BROTHER BILLY, CONVENIENTLY ENOUGH,
WAS THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURE IN THE STATE,
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
HIS FBI HANDLERS, MEANWHILE,
WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LET *** KNOW
WHO MIGHT BE GETTING READY TO SNITCH ON HIM,
A PROBLEM HE INVARIABLY SOLVED BY KILLING THEM.
ALL THAT TIME,
HOWIE HERE WAS RATHER MORE CANDID
WITH HIS OPINIONS OF *** AND HIS GOOD WORKS
THAN WAS, PERHAPS, JUDICIOUS.
*** CERTAINLY DIDN'T APPROVE.
IF YOU GOT OUT OF LINE,
AND YOU--YOU WROTE SOMETHING ABOUT HIM OR HIS BROTHER,
I MEAN, THEY--HE WOULD THREATEN TO KILL YOU.
HE'D HAVE THE MESSAGE DELIVERED THROUGH--
USUALLY THROUGH ONE OF HIS FBI AGENTS
THAT HE CONTROLLED.
MEANING THEY WOULD COME BY AND SAY,
YOU KNOW, "WE HATE TO ALARM YOU
"BUT WE PICKED UP THROUGH IMPECCABLE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
A THREAT HAS BEEN MADE AGAINST YOUR LIFE."
EXACTLY. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DID WITH ME.
THEY--THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN ME IF I'D HAVE MADE A MISTAKE.
A BULGER STOOGE LATER TOLD OF BEING DETAILED
TO STAKE OUT HOWIE'S HOUSE
WITH AN EYE TOWARD SETTLING THAT PROBLEM
IN THE TRADITIONAL FASHION.
SUPPOSEDLY THEY HAD MY HOUSE IN THE SUBURBS STAKED OUT,
BECAUSE IT WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM A CEMETERY,
AND THAT THEY WERE-- THEY WERE, YOU KNOW,
AIMING RIFLES AT ME, AND THEN THEY DECIDED NOT TO.
I'M NOT SURE IF I BELIEVE THAT. THAT'S--THAT'S MORE--
BUT THE STORY'S MADE MORE INTERESTING
BY THE FACT THAT HE WAS A RAT.
YEAH, HE WAS A RAT.
HE WOULD KILL PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE RATS,
AND THEN HE WOULD TAKE OVER PROVIDING THE INFORMATION
THAT THE RAT THAT HE HAD KILLED FOR BEING A RAT
HAD BEEN PROVIDING TO THE FBI.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST THE ULTIMATE HYPOCRISY.
WELL, IT'S A GOOD SYSTEM IN HIS CASE.
FROM CHARACTERS LIKE ***,
SOUTH BOSTON, OR SOUTHIE, HAS GAINED A REPUTATION
FOR BEING HOME TO A LOT OF TOUGH ***
QUICK TO VIOLENCE.
BUT IF IT'S A SAVAGE, EPIC BLOODLETTING,
THE KIND OF MEMORABLE, ***-KICKING HUMILIATION
YOU'LL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, THIS WOULD BE THE PLACE TO FIND IT.
♪♪♪
SOUTH BOSTON'S BOWLARAMA,
WHERE CANDLEPIN IS KING.
THE BALLS ARE SMALLER.
INSERT STALLONE JOKE HERE.
THE PINS ARE SKINNY, AND IT'S HARDER--
MUCH HARDER TO KNOCK THEM ALL DOWN.
(woman) THAT WAS A GOOD SHOT.
(man) THANK YOU.
THE KINGS, AS LOCALS CALL IT,
HAS BEEN A SOUTHIE INSTITUTION SINCE THE '30s,
AND ITS INNER WORKINGS REGULARLY EAT UP THE FINGERS
OF THE GUY WHO FIXES THEM.
NOW ANTHONY--WE'RE GONNA GO EASY ON HIM TODAY, YOU KNOW?
ALL RIGHT.
WE MEET UP WITH JACKIE AND SHANE,
MEMBERS OF THE KINGS CANDLEPIN BOWLING LEAGUE,
FOR A FRIENDLY GAME.
I JUST HOPE MIKE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS SPORT THAN ME.
I'M--I'M COUNTING
ON YOUR DEEP ROOTS IN THIS AREA
TO BAIL ME OUT.
I WILL DIG DEEP
AND FIND MY--
DEEP ROOTS ARE-- DEEP ROOTS ARE FROM WHERE?
HINGHAM. HINGHAM.
OH, OKAY. (speaking indistinctly)
PEOPLE FROM HINGHAM--THEY COME TO SOUTHIE, WATCH OUT.
YOU'LL GET A BEER AND A BEATIN'.
RIGHT.
I'VE HAD BOTH.
RECENTLY.
YEAH, YEAH.
HOW ABOUT A DOLLAR?
A FRIENDLY WAGER OF A ROUND OF BEERS
WITH SOME FRIENDLY LOCALS, AND MIKE AND I GET DOWN TO IT.
(Shane) THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.
(woman) COME ON!
YEAH!
(cheering)
THEY HAVE A CHEERING SECTION? OH, THAT'S NOT--
OH, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
TURNS OUT JACKIE AND SHANE HERE
DO NOT SUCK AT THIS GAME.
(Jackie) WHOA!
WHOA!
(cheering)
AND MY FRIEND MIKE HERE MAY HAVE LEFT ME
WITH THE IMPRESSION OF, I DON'T KNOW,
MORE INNER-CITY ROOTS
THAN, FRANKLY, BOWLING FREAKIN' EXPERIENCE.
YOU NERVOUS?
PROBABLY, I'M-- I'M CONSUMED WITH TERROR.
(laughs)
I'M BROWNIN' MY SHORTS RIGHT NOW.
AND MY FEAR WAS WELL-FOUNDED.
MIKE AND I BOWLED GUTTER BALL...
AFTER GUTTER BALL...
AFTER GUTTER BALL...
AFTER GUTTER BALL.
WE'RE WHIPPING UP A VIRTUAL SUCK-STORM.
AND THE LOCAL RED SOX FANS
HOOTING AND HECKLING FROM SIX LANES DOWN
AIN'T HELPING MY CONCENTRATION.
HEY, JETER WOULDN'T DO THAT.
OH, THAT'S LOW.
(laughter)
MY NAME, BY THE WAY, IS NOT "JETER," SIR.
HOW'S IT FEEL TO BE BEATEN BY A WOMAN, ANTHONY?
UH, HAVE YOU MET MY WIFE?
(laughing)
WE CAN PUT THE BUMPERS UP FOR YOU IF YOU WANT.
OH.
OH, RUBBING IT IN. OH.
LUCKILY, I FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE MY GAME.
HEY, ANTHONY, ANY LITTLE SIDE BET YOU WANT TO MAKE?
A DOLLAR, COME ON.
WHEN JACKIE BETS ME A DOLLAR THAT I'LL GET A GUTTER BALL,
I NAIL IT.
OH, MY GOD! (laughing)
(cheering)
A LITTLE BETTER.
NO DOLLAR--GUTTER.
(jeering)
DOLLAR--NAIL IT.
OH, YEAH. AH, THIS GUY'S A PRO.
WORKS LIKE A CHARM.
HOW COME WHEN THERE'S MONEY INVOLVED,
YOU GET SPARES?
YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL--YOU'RE LIKE ONE OF THOSE BOONDOCKS--
SOME HAVE CALLED ME "***."
A BRIEF-- ALL TOO BRIEF RUN OF LUCK
FOLLOWED BY-- LET'S CALL IT WHAT IT IS--
A CRUSHING AND SHAMEFUL DEFEAT
OF THE WORST KIND.
(Jackie) JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW,
YOU LOST BY 51 POINTS.
IS THAT BAD?
(Shane) 158 TO 107.
DON'T FORGET THE BEERS.
OH, NO, WE WON'T FORGET THE BEERS.
DON'T FORGET. DON'T FORGET.
HI, CAN I HAVE THE BEERS FOR THE--THE WINNERS.
I SPRAY-PAINT "BUCKY" DENT'S NAME
ON THE MEN'S ROOM TOILET STALL ON THE WAY OUT,
BUT IT'S SMALL SATISFACTION
AFTER THE *** RAMPAGE ON THE LANES.
WE HEAD OUT INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
HOPING TO FIND REFUGE IN A PINT OR THREE
AND THE WARM EMBRACE
OF SOMEONE NAMED DR. McGILLICUDDY.
♪ NO RESERVATIONS ♪
LAST NIGHT IN SOUTHIE,
ENDED UP IN THE UNFORGIVING GRIP
OF A BEVERAGE CALLED DR. McGILLICUDDY.
BAD DOCTOR. BAD.
A PEPPERMINTY LIQUEUR POPULAR WITH THE NATIVES, I GATHER,
OR SEEM TO RECALL BETWEEN CONVULSIONS.
BETWEEN THAT AND THE JAMESONS AND THE BEERS,
THERE'S A HORRIFYINGLY MINTY HUE TO THE MORNING.
BUT NO FEAR--
MIKE KNOWS WHAT TO DO.
HE'S A PROFESSIONAL.
WE PICK THE TIME, THE PLACE, AND THE MENU.
WE BOTH AGREE ON WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE
AND WHERE IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
♪♪♪
THE GALLEY DINER
IN AN INDUSTRIAL CORNER OF SOUTHIE
HAS REMAINED PRETTY MUCH UNCHANGED
FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS.
PAUL AND COLLEEN AND FAMILY HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE
OF SOME HARDWORKIN' AND VERY HUNGRY CUSTOMERS--
VERY HUNGRY.
SO WHAT AM I EATING HERE?
YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME HASH. IT'S EXCELLENT HERE.
IT'S GOOD. MY FATHER MAKES IT. GOOD. MADE A NEW BATCH TODAY.
HE DID?
YEP.
YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME HASH.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
NOW I LOVE CORNED BEEF HASH, JUST LOVE IT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR CANNED-CAT-FOOD VARIETY.
THE STUFF HERE IS A DELIGHTFUL BLEND
OF CORNED BEEF, POTATOES, AND PEPPERS.
THROW SOME RUNNY EGGS ON TOP, AND I AM ALL OVER THAT.
YEAH, I'M A HAPPY MAN ALREADY.
YEAH.
HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
NOW HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU EATEN HERE?
IN MY LIFE? HARD TO COUNT.
TO THE BEST OF YOUR RECOLLECTION.
TWO.
BUT WHAT YOU GOTTA SEE TO BELIEVE
ARE THE FREAKIN' OMELETS HERE--
A MOUNTAIN OF HOUSE-BAKED HAM, CHEESE, AND VEGETABLES,
ONLY NOTIONALLY CONFINED BETWEEN THE FOLDS
OF SOMETHING THAT CAN JUST BARELY BE CALLED AN OMELET.
IT'S MASTODON-SIZE. IT'S (bleep) HUGE.
ADD A HEAP OF HOME FRIES AND A STACK OF TOAST,
JUST IN CASE THAT WASN'T ENOUGH...
WOW, NOW I KNOW WHY THE BIG DIG TOOK SO LONG.
I MEAN, AFTER YOU EAT ALL THAT,
YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY DOUBLE-TIMING IT, RIGHT? NICE.
THIS IS WHAT CORNED BEEF HASH AND EGGS SHOULD TASTE LIKE.
IT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, RIGHT?
OH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU STAY OUT TOO LATE--LIKE, WAY TOO LATE--
THIS AND THEN BED.
YEAH.
WHAT ARE THE ICONIC BOSTON SPECIALTIES?
LOBSTER WHEN YOU CAN GET IT.
THAT WAS A RICH MAN'S FOOD BACK THEN, BUT NOW IT'S EVERYWHERE.
FRANKS AND BEANS ON SATURDAYS.
THAT'S--
I JUST HAD THAT THE OTHER DAY, ACTUALLY.
TELL MY WIFE TO GO-- YOU KNOW, LIKE IN "EDDIE COYLE,"
HE TELLS HIS WIFE TO GO UPSTAIRS WHILE, UH,
WHILE HE'S MAKING SOME PHONE CALLS.
I SAID, "YOU GO IN THE OTHER ROOM, ALL RIGHT?
I GOTTA DO SOMETHING HERE."
AND I, YOU KNOW, OPEN A CAN OF BAKED BEANS,
CUT UP SOME HOT DOGS IN THERE, ATE 'EM OUT OF THE PAN
IN THE CORNER. IT WAS A REAL JOY.
WHAT IS THE PERFECT HANGOVER BREAKFAST?
***.
TO THAT END, I DECIDE TO TEST MIKE'S HANGOVER THEORY.
THAT'S GONNA TAKE A DRIVE TO DORCHESTER
TO THE EIRE PUB,
WHERE THE BARKEEPS STILL WEAR UNIFORMS,
THE SANDWICHES ARE THICK,
AND THE WHISKEY AND BEER FLOW FREELY.
(indistinct conversation)
WE MEET UP WITH MIKE'S FRIEND AND SOMETIME BANDMATE,
THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS "MINK JAGUAR,"
"MINK ROCKMOORE," AND CURRENTLY "MINK ENTRY."
SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THIS GUY?
HIGH SCHOOL.
OH, SO FROM HINGHAM.
NO.
NO, IT'S...
HOW DOES IT WORK HERE?
WHAT--WHAT DOES THIS ALL GO BACK TO?
SO THE UGLY TRUTH IS FINALLY YANKED
STILL BLEEDING FROM A DARK FISTULA OF DECEIT.
MIKE'S FROM WHAT YOU'D CALL
A MORE LACE-CURTAIN BACKGROUND,
BASICALLY COMMUTING TO THE MEAN STREETS OF BOSTON.
OVER GUINNESS AND BEEF BARLEY SOUP,
WE DISCUSS THE OLD DAYS.
WHO WAS BIG IN BOSTON AS YOU WERE OUT THERE?
WE WERE A HARD-ROCKIN' ROCK BAND
AT A TIME WHEN THE NEW KIDS THING WAS GOING ON.
IT WAS LIKE-- BAD TIMING.
WHATEVER WAS HAPPENING, WE WEREN'T IT.
WE, OF COURSE, ARE THE (bleep) UNBAND,
SO PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE UNBAND WERE, IN THEIR HEYDAY
OF THE LATE '80s AND EARLY '90s,
SOMETHING OF A LEGEND,
ACHIEVING THE SUPREME HONOR OF HAVING BEEN
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY BANNED IN BOSTON.
THEIR PERFORMANCES WERE SO ALLEGEDLY ROWDY,
SO ***, THAT THEY FREQUENTLY
HAD TO CHANGE THEIR NAMES TO GET WORK.
BANNED IN BOSTON.
WE WERE BANNED FROM ALL KINDS OF CLUBS.
AND WHY--WHY WERE YOU BANNED IN BOSTON?
WHAT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES?
THERE WAS SOME GOBBING, SPITTING ON PEOPLE.
RIGHT.
ONE OF OUR FANS THREW SOME KIND OF RAT OR HAMSTER.
IT WAS FROZEN.
PEOPLE ARE THROWING FROZEN RODENTS AT YOU.
PERHAPS THEIR DRUMMER'S REPUTATION AS A FREE SPIRIT
HURT THEIR PUBLIC PROFILE.
WELL, I THINK FOR US, A LOT OF TIMES
IT WAS A LACK OF BEING ABLE TO, UH,
GET ACROSS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING,
BECAUSE I'M SURE PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND.
THEY WOULD.
THEY--WELL--
THERE WAS A PERFECTLY REASONABLE EXPLANATION...
EXACTLY.
FOR EVERYTHING THAT WAS OCCURRING AT THESE GIGS.
YES.
THAT'S RIGHT.
IF THE OWNERS HAD ONLY LISTENED--
OWNER AFTER OWNER AFTER OWNER.
BUT THEIR ROAD TO THE TOP SEEMED BLOCKED AT EVERY TURN
BY SMALL-MINDED, CLOSED-MINDED SUITS
WHO JUST DIDN'T, IT SEEMS, UNDERSTAND GREATNESS,
THAT ALL THE REEKING, BLEEDING, DRUNKEN,
PHLEGM-ENCRUSTED MAYHEM
WAS IN FACT A POST-IRONIC COMMENTARY ON THE TIMES--
META, IF YOU WILL.
THAT IS THE ROUGHEST THING ABOUT THE TRAVEL--
NOT HAVING A PLACE TO...
TAKE A GOOD (bleep).
YEAH.
YEAH.
SO YOU'VE GOTTA...
A GOOD, SOLITARY (bleep)
WITH SOME--SOME KIND OF A DIGNITY TO--TO THE...
RIGHT.
PROC--THE PROCEDURE.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
MAYBE THERE'S A GAS STATION. PROBABLY THERE ISN'T.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE-- YOU PULL UP INTO A GAS STATION
WITH A LITTLE CONVENIENCE STORE--THE BATHROOM--
AND THERE'S ONE PERSON BACK THERE
ROLLING THE HOT DOGS ON THE THING,
AND YOU--YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU'RE RUNNING--
YOU RUN RIGHT INTO THE BATHROOM.
YOU MAKE SOME HORRIFYING, EXPLOSIVE (bleep) NOISE.
(laughing)
YOU COME OUT OF THERE
KNOWING THAT THIS TERRIFYING WAFT,
THIS STENCH IS GONNA FOLLOW YOU OUT THE DOOR...
YOU'RE COMPROMISED--
AND YOU'RE, LIKE, ON YOUR WAY TO THE--
"HEY, SO--HEY, THA"-- WHAT DO YOU DO, SAY "THANKS"?
YOU KNOW WHAT I DO? I JUST WALK OUT,
LEAVE A $5 BILL ON THE COUNTER.
"BUY YOURSELF SOMETHING NICE."
YEAH, YEAH.
"SORRY ABOUT THE DAMAGE."
WANT TO KNOW WHAT SOUTH BOSTON'S REALLY LIKE?
WELL, WATCH THIS SHOW. BUT AFTER YOU DO THAT,
CHECK MY WEB SITE AT...
♪ NO RESERVATIONS ♪
A TINY PENINSULA CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF BOSTON
BY THE OLD SHIPPING LANES IN BOSTON HARBOR--
WHEN YOU'RE IN SOUTHIE,
WELL, IT'S BOSTON, BUT IT AIN'T.
TRADITIONALLY WARY IF NOT ACTIVELY HOSTILE TO OUTSIDERS,
THE RESIDENTS HERE HAVE ALWAYS PRIDED THEMSELVES
ON DOING WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET BY.
IT'S A HARDWORKING PART OF TOWN...
(breaths heavily)
(bell dings)
(cheers and applause)
IN A COMMUNITY WHERE FAMILIES TENDED TO BE LARGE
AND TOUGH GUYS IN NO SHORT SUPPLY,
THE ABILITY TO DEFEND YOURSELF
WAS SEEN AS A DEFINITE PLUS.
PETER WELCH TRAINS OLD AND YOUNG ALIKE
IN THE GRAND TRADITION OF DEALING PUNISHMENT OUT
AND WHEN NECESSARY TAKING IT ON THE CHIN WITH STYLE.
SO IS SOUTHIE TOUGH, OR IS THAT OVERSTATED?
IS THAT A PRODUCT OF THE MOVIES OR...
(man) NO, NO, NO, IT'S TOUGH.
IT'S TOUGH.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. IT'S TOUGH.
YOU GROW UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE BEING ABLE
TO HANDLE YOURSELF MEANS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE YOU MAY HAVE TO STICK UP FOR YOUR THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS.
OR YOU MAY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DEFEND YOURSELF
WALKIN' DOWN THE STREET AT SOME POINT.
WITH PETER IS BOXING LEGEND TOMMY CONNORS--
MENTORS AT A SOUTHIE INSTITUTION
THAT GOES BACK 80 YEARS.
AT--AT SOME POINT, EVERYBODY WHO'S EVER COME
FROM SOUTHIE--
YOU--YOU AT LEAST CAME TO THE FIGHTS.
YOU STARTED IN THAT PROGRAM.
YOU MAY BUY EACH OTHER A BEER,
OR YOU MAY CRACK EACH OTHER ACROSS THE FACE AT SOME POINT.
OR BOTH, MAYBE.
BUT AT--THEY-- OR BOTH.
YOU THINK IT CAME FROM THE--
"WE MUST DEFEND OURSELVES FROM OUTSIDERS,"
OR "I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF FROM THE TOUGH ***
WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET"?
I'D SAY BOTH.
BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THE-- THE BOXING PROGRAM.
YOU MAY HAVE HAD FOUR FIGHTS ON YOUR WAY.
SO BY THE TIME YOU GET THERE, YOU'RE PRIMED AND READY TO GO.
PETER AND THE COACHES HERE TEACH EVERYTHING
FROM TRADITIONAL STAND-UP QUEENSBURY RULES BOXING
TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS.
IT STARTED AS A COMMUNITY CENTER
TO KEEP KIDS OFF THE STREETS, BUT SOME WHO TRAIN HERE
GO ON TO FULL-FLEDGED CAREERS.
SO WHERE EXACTLY DID YOU GROW UP? SOUTH SHORE.
SOUTH SHORE. HINGHAM.
WHERE DOES HE COME FROM, THOUGH? 'CAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
HINGHAM.
I MEAN, TELL ME THE DIFF-- YEAH, BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE?
HINGHAM. HINGHAM. FISHIN'.
SO THEY FISH. FISHERMEN ARE TOUGH.
IT'S ON THE SHORE. THERE'S A BEACH THERE. IT'S--
SO YOU--YOU'RE A LITTLE MORE LAID-BACK.
A LITTLE BIT.
"SHOULD I--SHOULD I BEAT UP THE SMALLER KID
OR SHOULD I JUST GO TO THE BEACH" KIND OF A THING?
NOT NECESSARILY MY THOUGHT PROCESS, BUT YEAH.
OKAY, WE KNOW BY NOW THAT MY FRIEND
FROM THE MEAN STREETS OF HINGHAM HERE
DID NOT GROW UP WORKING A SPEED BAG BETWEEN *** HITS.
BUT TOMMY CONNORS STARTED HIS TRAINING AT 15.
HE'S FOUGHT OVER A HUNDRED PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS
AND HOLDS THE BOSTON GARDEN RECORD
FOR FASTEST K.O. EVER--
13 SECONDS,
INCLUDING THE COUNT.
(bell dings)
GREATEST BOXER THAT EVER LIVED?
I'D SAY "SUGAR" RAY ROBINSON.
SUGAR RAY ROBINSON.
NáPOLES.
JOSé NáPOLES.
FAIR ENOUGH.
JOSé NáPOLES.
REALLY?
NOT ALI?
AH, NO.
YOU KNOW WHO MY HERO ALWAYS WAS? CHUCK WEPNER.
OH, WHAT A CHIN ON CHUCK.
"THE BLEEDER"--
HIS NICKNAME WAS "THE BAYONNE BLEEDER."
THESE GUYS KNOW EVERYTHING.
AND WHILE RECONNOITERING THE PREMISES,
MIKE AND I CHAT WITH VARIOUS PERSONS
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE INTERSECTION
BETWEEN ELEMENTS GENERALLY BELIEVED TO BE CRIMINAL
AND THE WORLD OF BOXING.
IN SECONDS, PEOPLE IN A POSITION TO KNOW
LAUGHABLY TELL US THE INSIDE SCOOP
ON MOST OF THE ENDURING QUESTION MARKS
OF BOXING HISTORY.
WE HAVE FOUND THE ANSWER TO...
HOW DID "SUGAR" RAY LEONARD BEAT MARVIN HAGLER?
(bell dings)
ALSO THE DURAN-LEONARD "NO MAS" FIGHT...
AND THE--THE BENNY "KID" PARET- EMILE GRIFFITH FIGHT.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE-- "MAGIC PUNCH."
WE GOTTA FIND-- ALI-LISTON.
OH, WE DIDN'T GET THAT.
WE GOTTA GET THAT.
HANG ON.
BE RIGHT BACK.
DREAMS SHATTERED,
I LOOK TO CONSOLE MYSELF WITH A SURE THING--
A BIG, FAT, GREASY SANDWICH,
SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE ME HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING.
FORTUNATELY, JUST A SHORT WALK FROM THE GYM IS RONDO'S,
A TEMPLE OF BIG-SANDWICH ARTS.
CALL IT A SUB, A GRINDER, OR A SPUCKIE IF YOU LIKE.
I CALL IT HAPPINESS.
HI, HOW ARE YOU DOIN'?
(woman speaking indistinctly)
REALLY GOOD. UM... WHAT AM I HAVING?
I'M, UH, WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
I THINK, UH,
STEAK AND CHEESE WITH MUSHROOMS...
PROVOLONE?
PROVOLONE CHEESE, A LITTLE HOT STUFF.
WHAT SIZE?
THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.
MIKEY, WHAT ARE YOU HAVING?
I THINK THE ROAST BEEF.
MIKE ORDERS UP ROAST BEEF WITH THE WORKS.
YOU GONNA BE DRINKIN', TOO, MIKE?
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PUT ON, 'CAUSE IT MAY COME UP LATER.
THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
YOU KNOW, SMALL PORTIONS IS NOT THE THING AROUND HERE.
ME? STEAK SANDWICH--
PAPER-THIN SHREDS OF BEEF-LIKE MATERIAL
FRIED WITH ONIONS AND MUSHROOMS AND LAYERED WITH PROVOLONE.
LET'S SETTLE THIS QUESTION ONCE AND FOR ALL.
WHAT'S A SUB, AND WHAT'S A GRINDER?
WHAT'S--WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
WHAT MAKES A GRINDER DIFFERENT THAN A SUB?
YOU KNOW--
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TELL ME. I DON'T KNOW.
YOU TELL ME, AND WE'LL BOTH KNOW.
I HAVE NO IDEA. SO YOU TELL US.
CAN ANYONE TELL US WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A SUB AND A GRINDER?
SO THAT SETTLED THAT. I MEAN... (laughs)
WE TAKE OUR SLOPPY, OOZING SPUCKIES
OVER TO THE TABLE
TO DISCUSS THE FINER POINTS OF THE BOSTONIAN LEXICON.
(Peter) SEE HOW HE COOKS IN THE HOT STUFF WITH IT...
(Anthony) RIGHT. RIGHT. HOT STUFF.
WITH THE STEAK?
THAT'S A, LIKE--SEE, THAT'S A TERM WE DON'T HAVE.
I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, BUT IT'S--
IS IT HOT SAUCE? IS IT RELISH? IS IT PEPPERS?
YOU CALL A PEPPER-- YOU KNOW--I DON'T KNOW.
HOT.
HOT STUFF. THIS IS A-A KING AMONG SANDWICHES.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD-- DELICIOUS, IN FACT.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, UH, IN SOUTHIE--
UH, SPORTS IN, UH, IN WHICH KIDS PARTICIPATE
IN ORDER OF POPULARITY?
WELL, YOU GOT LACROSSE, BASEBALL,
BASKETBALL, SOCCER.
THEY'RE, UH, TAKING ALL THE KIDS FROM US--FROM BOXING.
ARE PARENTS GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE?
VERY-- VERY SUPPORTIVE.
OH, THEY BRING 'EM TO US.
WHERE CAN YOU GO TO BRING YOUR SON OR YOUR DAUGHTER--
MAINLY BOYS, BUT WE DO GIRLS, TOO--
BUT WHERE CAN YOU GO TO BRING YOUR CHILD
FOR "EL ZERO"-- FREE?
THE BEAUTY OF TEACHIN' A KID HOW TO THROW PUNCHES
AND HOW TO BE IN THE RING--
THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS ON TOP.
THERE'S ALWAYS SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE HUMBLED IN THAT.
THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES...
AH.
AGAINST A CERTAIN-- A CERTAIN OTHER OPPONENT.
SO DO YOU THINK BOXING TEACHES HUMILITY?
DISC--
DISCIPLINE AND HUMILITY.
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS WORLD,
AT ONE POINT IN THEIR LIFE, NEEDS AN ***-KICKING.
YOU--IT IS--IT IS AN ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE,
GETTING YOUR *** KICKED.
WHEN I GOT MINE, I DIDN'T ENJOY IT.
IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR *** KICKED, AND YOU'RE
A FIGHTER, THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN FIGHTING TOO LONG.
HOPEFULLY, MIKE AND I HAVE PICKED UP ENOUGH HERE
TO KEEP IT TOGETHER IN SOUTHIE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
♪ NO RESERVATIONS ♪
♪♪♪
LIKE MOST AMERICAN CITIES,
BOSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOWN OF IMMIGRANTS.
AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THE IRISH AND ITALIANS, FOR SURE.
THAT'S WHO GETS MOVIE TIME.
BUT THE PORTUGUESE,
PARTICULARLY THE AZOREAN PORTUGUESE,
HAVE BEEN COMING TO NEW ENGLAND IN GENERAL,
AND EAST CAMBRIDGE IN PARTICULAR, FOR MANY YEARS.
WHEN I GOT MY START WASHING DISHES AND COOKING ON CAPE COD,
THAT WAS WHERE I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED
TO THE ASSERTIVE, UNIQUE, DELICIOUS FLAVORS
OF THE AZORES,
PORTUGUESE ISLANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC.
I LOVE THAT STUFF, ALWAYS HAVE.
SO I GOTTA HAVE SOME GOOD NEW ENGLAND PORTUGUESE COOKING
WHILE I'M HERE-- THAT'S A MUST.
AND MIKE, RESPONDING TO MY EVERY NEED,
HAS FOUND ME SENHOR RAMOS.
I WAS HERE MANY YEARS AGO. IT WAS OPEN LATE.
YOU KNOW, 1:00 IN THE MORNING OR SO, IT WAS OPEN.
AND SO YOU'VE EATEN AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT BEFORE?
YEAH.
AND NOT AT THE FIRST GLASS OF WINE.
BUT I REMEMBER THE FOOD BEING EXTRAORDINARY.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THE TRIPE, GOTTA DO THE TRIPE.
I'M TRYING TO PICTURE YOU BACK IN THE DAY,
YOU KNOW, EATING A BOWL OF TRIPE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
THEY'RE WERE ODD TIMES.
IT LOOKS LIKE A RUN-OF-THE-MILL PIZZA JOINT,
BUT NO, 'ROUND THE CORNER FROM THE PIZZA,
AN UGLY-*** DINING AREA WITH A SHOCKINGLY AWESOME MENU
OF EXACTLY THE KIND OF STUFF I LOVE TO EAT.
IF YOU TRAVEL ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND,
YOU WON'T FIND A PIZZA PLACE THAT SELLS TRIPE AND BEAN.
JOHN AND HIS WIFE DORA TREAT ME AND MIKE
TO A FAMILY-STYLE FOOD FEST OF AZOREAN DELIGHTS.
WE STARTED WITH DOBRADA.
THAT'S A CLASSIC DISH OF WHITE BEANS AND TRIPE
AND A DELICIOUS PORTUGUESE SAUSAGE CALLED LINGUICA.
JUST THE SOUND GIVES ME A SCENT.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE.
(John) YEAH.
TRIPE AND BEANS, GOOD.
WELL, EVERYTHING THAT'S HERE TODAY
IS PASSED DOWN TO US, AND MY DAD,
THE PRIMARY, UH, TEACHER, AND MY GENERATION,
BECAUSE NOBODY WANTED TO EAT TRIPE...
RELUCTANT.
OR LIKED IT.
I LEARNED TO APPRECIATE IT AND ACTUALLY--
IT'S A HOT MENU ITEM NOW.
OH, IT IS.
THEN, AND THEN, PORK AND CLAMS, TOGETHER.
THIS IS THE GREATEST COMBINATION.
THIS IS REALLY ONE OF AZORES' GREAT GIFTS TO GASTRONOMY
IS COMBINING PORK AND SHELLFISH.
THE PORK IS CUBED AND MARINATED IN WHITE WINE
AND GARLIC AND SPICES,
THEN BRAISED IN A LIGHT TOMATO SAUCE
WITH, LIKE, MORE WINE AND FINISHED WITH THE CLAMS.
ADD SOME POTATOES, OLIVES, RED PEPPERS,
AND YOU HAVE A MEAL, MY FRIENDS, OH, YES, YOU DO.
REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I MEAN, THIS IS--I'M VERY HAPPY.
LIKE THIS PORK, THE CLAMS TOGETHER, OH, NICE.
AND OLIVES, BY THE WAY-- GOOD THING.
AND THE POTATOES.
OH, WHAT IS THIS?
WOW.
THEN THERE WAS A CLAY POT OF BRAISED BEEF CALLED ALCATRA.
THE BEEF IS SLICED, MARINATED OVERNIGHT,
THEN COOKED WITH SLAB BACON, ONIONS, ALLSPICE, GARLIC,
AND SLOW-COOKED FOR HOURS AND HOURS.
THE MEAT COOKS SO LONG, IT JUST BREAKS APART.
YOU COOK IT ALL THE WAY THERE IN THE LIQUID,
SO IT'S BASICALLY A BRAISED STEW.
YEAH.
THAT IS GOOD SAUCE.
THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PUT A CHUNK OF LARD IN THERE.
SO THAT YOU COULD PUT IT AWAY.
MM-HMM...
SIT UP TOP.
AND YOU COULD BASICALLY PUT THIS WHOLE STEW
INTO THE COOL PART OF THE CELLAR.
OH, YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
AND A NICE FAT CAP WOULD FORM OVER THE TOP.
EXACTLY, EXACTLY, YEAH.
THANKS FOR NOT DOING THAT.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE DELICIOUS.
I'VE BEEN TO THE GYM SEVERAL TIMES THIS WEEK.
THAT IS THE MOST DEPRESSING THING I HAVE HEARD ALL WEEK.
YOU JUST COMPLETELY RUINED MY WEEK.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS FOOD.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. THE BROTH, THE SAUCE, OH, NICE.
DID I MENTION THAT WE'RE DRINKING VINHO VERDE,
LOTS OF IT?
(speaking Portuguese)
MY FRIEND MIKE DID WELL.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE PORTUGUESE MEAL I WAS LOOKING FOR.
♪ NO RESERVATIONS ♪
A DRINK, A DRINK,
IN ONE OF THE FINEST PLACES TO DRINK,
A MAN COULD ASK TO BE.
SO MANY FINE DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS TO CHOOSE FROM.
TOO MANY. WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO.
WELL, AS FINISHING OFF THE EVENING
AT SOUTHIE BAR MURPHY'S LAW
IS ADVISED AGAINST, EVEN BY LOCALS,
WE DECIDE, AS SOPHISTICATED GENTLEMEN
WHO ARE NOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE,
TO BEGIN OUR COCKTAILING THERE.
THE FOLKS HERE ARE SO NICE,
THEY PROVIDED SWEATSHIRTS WHEN WE MENTIONED WE WERE COLD.
IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE
TO WILE AWAY AN AFTERNOON
OVER A PINT OR TWO OR MORE.
YEP, THAT'S THE STUFF.
AS TELEVISION PROFESSIONALS, ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS DRINK FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.
SOUTHIE OYSTER.
YEAH.
I'D LIKE A GOOD ALL-MAN BAR,
BECAUSE THAT'S THE SORT OF PLACE I LIKE TO DRINK.
ME, TOO.
AND EXACTLY AROUND THE TIME I LIKE TO DO IT.
PEGGY KELLEY HAS BEEN RUNNING THIS BAR FOR 13 YEARS,
AND SHE'S SEEN A LOT OF (bleep) IN HER DAY--
GOOD TIMES AND BAD,
BUT SHE KEEPS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
AND AN UNFORGIVING DOOR POLICY.
MY ONE RULE IS YOU HAVE TO BEHAVE IN HERE.
YOU GOTTA BEHAVE IN HERE?
YOU HAVE TO BEHAVE.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T BEHAVE?
THEN I DON'T EVER LET YOU IN AGAIN.
IS THERE A WAY BACK INTO YOUR GOOD GRACES?
IT DEPENDS WHAT YOU DO.
YOU PHYSICALLY HARM SOMEONE, THAT'S IT.
FOREVER. YOU'RE BANNED FOR LIFE.
FOREVER, FOREVER.
WITH PEGGY RUNNING THE DOOR,
MIKE AND I HAVE TO CHOOSE OUR NEXT MOVE VERY CAREFULLY.
A GAME OF SKILL WITH SOME OTHER GENTLEMEN--
OF COURSE, THEY SEEM DRUNK ENOUGH.
WE'RE TAKING THESE LOCAL YOKELS DOWN, BABY.
IT'S UNLIKELY.
AND INDEED, AS THE GAME PROGRESSES,
MY HOPES FOR EARLY RETIREMENT ARE QUICKLY DASHED.
IF WE WORK AT THE TAKEOUT AT WENDY'S,
WE WOULD'VE MADE MORE THAN THIS IN AN HOUR.
NOT YET.
ARE YOU GUYS FATHER AND SON? YOU LOOK LIKE TWINS.
REALLY?
YES, UH, I'VE BEEN MEANING TO HAVE A TALK WITH YOU, SON.
I HAVE EXTREME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS.
WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE
AND WHATEVER ALTERNATE LIFESTYLE CHOICES YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE,
I'LL STAND--
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
IN SPITE OF HIS INITIAL SHOCK,
THIS REVELATION BOOSTS MIKE'S SPIRITS AND HIS GAME.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WASHINGTONS.
THEN, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, WITH ONLY A FEW SHOTS
AND A FEW PINTS UNDER OUR BELTS,
MIKE AND I MAKE SHORT WORK OF THESE GUYS.
WE MOVE ON IN SEARCH OF NEW PREY, PERHAPS,
FINDING OURSELVES AT THE WELL-KNOWN L STREET TAVERN,
A WONDERFUL PUBLIC HOUSE
WHERE THE POLICY ON WEARING OTHER BAR'S SWEATSHIRTS
IS ADMITTEDLY A LITTLE INTOLERANT.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY HAVE TO COME OFF.
BUT THE 18-YEAR-OLD JAMESON MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR IT
AS DOES THE FLAWLESSLY POURED GUINNESS.
DID THEY MAKE YOU DO THIS?
YOU GOTTA PUT ON THE SHIRT WHEN YOU COME IN?
THIS IS A SOUTHIE THING, RIGHT?
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SOUTHIE?
IT'S JUST EVERYTHING I LOVE ABOUT THE WORLD.
PROPERLY POURED GUINNESS...
YOU DON'T NEED TO GO ANYMORE...
T-SHIRTS, FREE T-SHIRTS.
TO ANY MORE BARS TODAY. THIS IS IT.
THIS IS IT, THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.
THIS IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
THE WORLD ENDS. (laughs)
AND IT'S WHERE YOU CAN GET DRUNK.
AND THOUGH, PERSONALLY,
I THOUGHT ROBIN WILLIAMS UNFORGIVABLY (bleep)
THAT FILM THEY SHOT HERE, I DO LOVE THE COMPANY
AND THE COMPLIMENTARY BEEF STEW.
(speaking indistinctly)
ANY THOUGHTS THAT THIS PLACE GOT RUINED BY THE MOVIES
DISAPPEAR AS THE CROWD CLOSES IN
BEARING DRINKS AND MORE DRINKS.
(cheering)
WOW. DRINKING IN BOSTON IS FUN.
WHAT DID I TELL YOU?
THE ROOM TILTS,
AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW...
OH, GOD.
I'M HERE GETTING PELTED
BY SOME HOMICIDAL DELINQUENT
OUTSIDE THE QUENCHER TAVERN.
A TINY BAR SQUEEZED BETWEEN TWO HOUSES,
THE "Q" GOT ITS START AS A *** JOINT.
NOW IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD TREASURE
FILLED WITH FRIENDLY FACES WITH THICK NECKS.
(voices overlapping)
I INQUIRE ABOUT THE MISGUIDED YOUNG MAN OUTSIDE
WHO HURLED POTENTIALLY BLINDING HUNKS OF ICE AT ME
REPEATEDLY.
SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THIS KID HABITUALLY HANGS OUT
OUT IN FRONT OF A BAR IN SOUTHIE.
BUT HE'S GOING IN STRATEGIC AREAS
WHERE THERE'S HIGH TRAFFIC.
I LOVE THIS KID. NO WAY, REALLY?
OH.
THE DRINK OF CHOICE HERE IS ALCOHOL.
THERE'S BEER AND WHISKEY, APPARENTLY,
AND OH, YEAH, THIS--
A MIX OF JAGERMEISTER AND RED BULL
THAT'S--THAT'S JUST WRONG...
(cheering)
BUT NEARLY AS WRONG AS THIS STUFF,
DR. McGILLICUDDY, MORE LIKE DR. KEVORKIAN IN EFFECT.
IT'S LIKE IRISH COLGATE RIGHT THERE--DR. McGILLICUDDY.
15 OR 16 SHOTS LATER,
MIKE AND I MANAGE TO MAKE A GRACEFUL,
IF NOT EXACTLY ELEGANT, EXIT.
I HAVE AN IDEA OF A PLACE WE CAN GO.
THE NIGHT IS YOUNG,
AND MURPHY'S LAW, IT IS SUGGESTED, IS STILL OPEN.
YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE.
OH, OOH.
AND WHERE TO NEXT,
IN THIS WONDERFUL TOWN, THIS FINE METROPOLIS,
TWO GENTLEMEN TRAVELERS AT LOOSE ENDS?
ONWARD, ALWAYS ONWARD.
♪♪♪
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Captioned by Closed Captioning Services, Inc.