We all know that nicknames seem to feature very prominent in Mastandrea culture.  Today in Florida, we await the arrival of one of Big Vin's most famous nicknamed friends; 
JOE GAGALIA (born Joseph Vadala).  Now, indeed the nickname sounds unusual, but I think the origins of it are downright fascinating.  The word, "gagalia", dates back to an early 1990s christmas party my mother once had with her friends from Victory Memorial Hospital.  At the party, a husky-voiced female coworker named Angela sits down beside Big Vin and begins a converstaion. She opens by saying "I am Maltese, and the Maltese language is very close to Italian". Assuming that Vin can understand her , she begins speaking in her native tongue.  I actually called Vin to get this conversation correct.  According to the Big Kahuna, the exchange went something like this:
Angela: "Le gagalie"
Vin:  "Gagalie?"
Angela "Si, le gagalia!"
Vin: "Oh.....gagalia. "
Later, on the family questions him about the conversation, to which he replies:  "I don't know what the hell she was talking about, all that lady knows how to say is GAGALIA."
The following morning, as he drives to work, just keeps repeating to himself "gagalia...gagalia."
Like a Hari Chrishna chant, he is captured within its sound. He arrives at work, greets his coworker Joe Vadala.
Vin: "Hey Joe.  Gagalia."
Joe: "Hey, Vinny"
Cary Gallo: "Did he just you call you Joe Gagalia?"
Joe: "Yeah, he did"
Cary Gallo: "Oh. Joe Gagalia"
The name was official.
In years to come, most people assumed Gagalia was actually his last name, but the truth is its Maltese for something. Bonus points if someone would take this history lesson and expand into a research project.  Find a bilingual Maltan, and then find out what the hell a gagalia is.  To the winner goes a nice flaky sfogliatelle.