Steven R. Schirripa believes the word "goomba" is largely misunderstood.
So the actor, who plays Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri on the HBO mob drama "The Sopranos," is setting the record straight in his new book. In "A Goomba's Guide to Life," Schirripa explains that the word is considered a term of affection to describe some guys in the Italian-American community.
He said goombas are often bar owners or sanitation workers, but never brain surgeons or librarians. They also have a certain style — or lack thereof.
"I don't wear pinkie rings, though I have in the past," he told the Courier News of Bridgewater, N.J., for Thursday's editions. "I remember I had a dark green velour jogging suit in the '80s that was just fantastic."
He stressed that he didn't intend this as a "how-to" book, but wrote it just for fun.
"This is just a little look into my life, from my eyes. It's just how I see that world," he said.