The LGBT media watchdog organization also criticized Rockwell Billiards, manufacturer of the item.

"It's highly inappropriate that what served as a very real example of the hateful violence the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community faces is now being used as a gimmick to sell a product," GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said in a statement issued by the organization. "The insensitive inclusion of the pool cue in the 'To Die For' marketing theme betrays the legacy of The Sopranos character and is unacceptable."

A message left by PageOneQ for Rockwell Billiards has not been returned.

The complete statement by GLAAD follows:

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August 13, 2007 -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today condemned a grotesque, violent new product marketed by actor Joseph R. Gannascoli and Rockwell Billiards. Gannascoli, who played the gay character Vito Spatafore on the hit HBO drama, The Sopranos has authorized his name to be used on a pool stick branded with the phrase "A Cue to Die For." The new product plays on the fact that Vito was beaten to death on The Sopranos with pool cues and then sodomized with one.

Rockwell Billiards, an Oregon-based company, proudly announced the new line of pool cues in a recent press release stating, "The cue is named 'A Cue to Die For' following in Gannascoli's theme from his cookbook novel, 'A Meal to Die For' and the way he was killed. Gannascoli played Vito Spatafore; the gay mobster, in HBO's hit series The Sopranos. Joe starred in The Sopranos from 1999 appearing in 43 episodes. He was finally whacked in episode #11 during season 6. Vito was brutally beaten to death with a pool cue when the mob found out he was gay."

"It's highly inappropriate that what served as a very real example of the hateful violence the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community faces is now being used as a gimmick to sell a product," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "The insensitive inclusion of the pool cue in the 'To Die For' marketing theme betrays the legacy of The Sopranos character and is unacceptable."

The Rockwell Billiards news release goes on to say, "The signature pool cue has found its way into numerous billiard halls across the United States and into the hands of many celebrities including Joe's good friend and co-star of The Howard Stern Show, Artie Lange. Artie is a long time pool player and was presented with a cue during one of Joe's recent appearances on The Howard Stern Show. Visit Vito's web site: www.joesoup.com and check out A Cue to Die For, A 'Meal to Die For' and coming soon ... A Cigar to Die For." The press release then gives contact information for media interested in

interviewing Gannascoli. "Joe Gannascoli (Vito) is available for radio and television interviews. To schedule, call Doug Friedman at (973) 985-1050. Rockwell Billiards: John Candy (877) 231-1466 www.rockwellbilliards.com"

GLAAD is calling on Rockwell Billiards and Gannascoli to remove the name, "A Cue to Die For," from this product immediately and apologize for using such a vulgar symbol of violence and anti-gay bigotry to make a profit.

About GLAAD

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, visit www.glaad.org.