Did Mike Rossi (viral marathon dad) cheat his way into Boston?

Just started following Mike on twitter, so hopefully there will be some fireworks in the coming months.

Fire Barb McKeever! wrote:

abingtonrunner2 wrote:

Yes, GregTR matched the IP address from the Wikipedia editing to the IP I have from emails with Rossi. So in that instance it was most definitely Rossi who kept trying to rewrite or erase history.

As for the Rojo IP address gotcha, Camp Hill is nowhere near where Rossi lives, which doesn't mean that it was not him, but it is not as clear cut.

Thanks for setting the record straight. Much of this thread has become a bit of a blur to me, and I'm sure others as well.

I wonder whether Wikipedia got a letter from a certain AOL lawyer, demanding that they remove Rossi's name.

Wikipedia didn't get a letter from any AOL lawyer, but instead, the czars of Wikipedia didn't think the entry, especially given the back and forth of deletions, additions, deletions, additions, etc., nor all the ones that had previously been there about marathon cheating was warranted. Some of the Wikipedia folks have some crazy ideas and are fairly power hunger. GregTR could better address the politics of what occurred there.

abingtonrunner2 wrote:

Wikipedia didn't get a letter from any AOL lawyer, but instead, the czars of Wikipedia didn't think the entry, especially given the back and forth of deletions, additions, deletions, additions, etc., nor all the ones that had previously been there about marathon cheating was warranted. Some of the Wikipedia folks have some crazy ideas and are fairly power hunger. GregTR could better address the politics of what occurred there.

I can somewhat understand how monitoring the content of that page could be a pain in the a$$ for them. However, if they're not going to treat the subject objectively - based on available evidence, then they should delete the entire marathon course-cutting page, rather than subjectively choosing what can and cannot be posted there.

It would be interesting to hear GregTR's take.

abingtonrunner2 wrote:

Fire Barb McKeever! wrote:

Thanks for setting the record straight. Much of this thread has become a bit of a blur to me, and I'm sure others as well.

I wonder whether Wikipedia got a letter from a certain AOL lawyer, demanding that they remove Rossi's name.

Wikipedia didn't get a letter from any AOL lawyer, but instead, the czars of Wikipedia didn't think the entry, especially given the back and forth of deletions, additions, deletions, additions, etc., nor all the ones that had previously been there about marathon cheating was warranted. Some of the Wikipedia folks have some crazy ideas and are fairly power hunger. GregTR could better address the politics of what occurred there.

That whole wiki war was just crazy.

Fire Barb McKeever! wrote:

abingtonrunner2 wrote:

Wikipedia didn't get a letter from any AOL lawyer, but instead, the czars of Wikipedia didn't think the entry, especially given the back and forth of deletions, additions, deletions, additions, etc., nor all the ones that had previously been there about marathon cheating was warranted. Some of the Wikipedia folks have some crazy ideas and are fairly power hunger. GregTR could better address the politics of what occurred there.

I can somewhat understand how monitoring the content of that page could be a pain in the a$$ for them. However, if they're not going to treat the subject objectively - based on available evidence, then they should delete the entire marathon course-cutting page, rather than subjectively choosing what can and cannot be posted there.

It would be interesting to hear GregTR's take.

They did delete the entire page or so I thought. It appears they deleted all the individual entries. There had been a listing of names and a brief summary. You are free to try to add to it or begin a new one.

Fire Barb McKeever! wrote:

abingtonrunner2 wrote:

Wikipedia didn't get a letter from any AOL lawyer, but instead, the czars of Wikipedia didn't think the entry, especially given the back and forth of deletions, additions, deletions, additions, etc., nor all the ones that had previously been there about marathon cheating was warranted. Some of the Wikipedia folks have some crazy ideas and are fairly power hunger. GregTR could better address the politics of what occurred there.

I can somewhat understand how monitoring the content of that page could be a pain in the a$$ for them. However, if they're not going to treat the subject objectively - based on available evidence, then they should delete the entire marathon course-cutting page, rather than subjectively choosing what can and cannot be posted there.

It would be interesting to hear GregTR's take.

Let's not forget but instead enjoy his Urban Dictionary entry ("Rossied"):

Also, some other Urban Dictionary entries for "Rossi" which preceded his infamy:

#1 - he certainly blocks a lot of people

#2 - is comical

#4, #5 and #6 speaks for itself

#7 appears to be a fairly accurate description on a few accounts

I thought you guys would get a kick out of this:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6846711

I'm getting rid of my 2013 Boston Marathon jacket as I never wear it as I feel weird wearing it as I didn't qualify for the race.

I will send it to Mike Rossi free of charge if he requests it. He might as well act like he deserved to also have been at 2013 Boston.

I'm sure he will request it! There are some photos online of him wearing the '14 jacket at a Sixers game even though he never ran it.

That's great.

If anyone has anything from the 1952 Winter Olympics, maybe share that, as well. (I heard he was a Silver medalist in the luge).

I always thought he'd pay hundreds for the '13 jacket, don't rossi yourself out of some coin. http://memegenerator.net/instance/62072473

rojo wrote:

I thought you guys would get a kick out of this:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6846711

I'm getting rid of my 2013 Boston Marathon jacket as I never wear it as I feel weird wearing it as I didn't qualify for the race.

I will send it to Mike Rossi free of charge if he requests it. He might as well act like he deserved to also have been at 2013 Boston.

rojo wrote:

I thought you guys would get a kick out of this:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6846711

I'm getting rid of my 2013 Boston Marathon jacket as I never wear it as I feel weird wearing it as I didn't qualify for the race.

I will send it to Mike Rossi free of charge if he requests it. He might as well act like he deserved to also have been at 2013 Boston.

That's great Rojo, you know that Rossi really wants the jacket but will have to create a fake name to actually claim it. And Mike you might want to try something more original than "Mike Ross" when making your jacket request.

Rojo, you dirty dirty dog... Great stuff

rojo wrote:

I thought you guys would get a kick out of this:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6846711

I'm getting rid of my 2013 Boston Marathon jacket as I never wear it as I feel weird wearing it as I didn't qualify for the race.

I will send it to Mike Rossi free of charge if he requests it. He might as well act like he deserved to also have been at 2013 Boston.

I was 46 when I ran 3:10:xx, 45 when I ran 3:45, I ran my first marathon at 44. Only slightly younger than the Lehigh cheater Mike Rossi that cheated to get into the Boston Marathon. I didn't start running at all until I was in my early 40's and never did any fast running.

Fat hurts wrote:

WWRD wrote:

Could Mike get to 3:11 in 2 years? Yes I think so. I'm a hobby jogger with no particular talent, I didn't start running at the same age as the cheater Mike Rossi, and went from 3:45 to 3:10 in 13 months between my 3rd and 4th marathons. But Mike would have to work hard, I'm not sure someone of his character is capable of this.

How old were you?

Also, it sounds like you have a lot more talent. Rossi hasn't seen that kind of progression in his first two years so there is no reason to believe that he has the ability to get down to 3:11 in the next two years under any circumstances.

WWRD wrote:

I was 46 when I ran 3:10:xx, 45 when I ran 3:45, I ran my first marathon at 44. Only slightly younger than the Lehigh cheater Mike Rossi that cheated to get into the Boston Marathon. I didn't start running at all until I was in my early 40's and never did any fast running.

Fat hurts wrote:

How old were you?

Also, it sounds like you have a lot more talent. Rossi hasn't seen that kind of progression in his first two years so there is no reason to believe that he has the ability to get down to 3:11 in the next two years under any circumstances.

Have you seen his gait? It is awful. It looks painful, no wonder he feigns injury. His running gait is akin to that of a uncoordinated kid throwing a ball. Bio-mechanically wrong on every level. I would bet that he did not participate in any sports growing up (yeah, I know, he still hasn't matured and grown up) and thus why getting a BQ was worth the cheating effort - validate his self-worth image of a middle-age man who just wanted his participation medal.

Have you seen his gait? It is awful. It looks painful, no wonder he feigns injury. His running gait is akin to that of a uncoordinated kid throwing a ball. Bio-mechanically wrong on every level. I would bet that he did not participate in any sports growing up (yeah, I know, he still hasn't matured and grown up) and thus why getting a BQ was worth the cheating effort - validate his self-worth image of a middle-age man who just wanted his participation medal.

THIS.

Prior to his cheating being exposed, Rossi had some Facebook rant against children getting participation trophies for sports. It was made fun of on this thread hundreds of pages ago as Rossi himself had several pictures of a shrine he had made to his marathon/half marathon finisher medals.

He probably took it down after we made fun of him, but my guess is Rossi still doesn't understand that his marathon finisher medals are exactly the same as little league participation trophies, only more sad as they are for adults.

Honest question - do you think Mike has learned anything through this process? I don't. He races under a different name and then posts about it. That tells me he is unable to grasp such things.

But, on the plus side, it has been nice in here as Rossi and the Rossi defenders (Camp Hill anyone?) have been quiet.

Ah...and the participation medal holder "ALWAYS EARNED...NEVER GIVEN"https://www.facebook.com/michaelrossi22smh...one pathetic mf

runningantelope wrote:

Prior to his cheating being exposed, Rossi had some Facebook rant against children getting participation trophies for sports. It was made fun of on this thread hundreds of pages ago as Rossi himself had several pictures of a shrine he had made to his marathon/half marathon finisher medals.

He probably took it down after we made fun of him, but my guess is Rossi still doesn't understand that his marathon finisher medals are exactly the same as little league participation trophies, only more sad as they are for adults.

Based on his social media comments, Rossi has not learned a thing. Still Jr High maturity level.

Still blames others for his own mistakes.

When the cheating first came to light, Rossi tried to claim that the principal's son made up the whole thing to get back at Mike for his viral letter.

Complete BS. Bad enough he had already caused the principal grief with his ridiculous letter that only served to let the entire world know what a hero he, Mike Rossi, was for running the Boston Marathon. Then he completely lied to his employer, family and "friends" that he actually ran 3:11, and that the principal's son was attempting to attack him with unfounded cheating allegations. Rossi is a total D Bag.