Rupp Interview after 10k - LetsRun asked him about Verne Gambetta and 'innovation vs. cheating'

RobertELee wrote:

Here is what is amazing about the question: IT WAS ASKED ....

Do you know what the word "amazing" means?

I think the question or line of questioning might have been better in a better forum; it seemed a little inappropriate, to me, in that conversation, that time and place. The guy just had a great race in a big meet, ran a PR, broke the AR, ran the fastest time in the world this year, etc.

To raise the topic and frame it against things like pollen masks and air purifiers against that seems, well, silly.

Why would Rupp have read the article? I'd be HIGHLY surprised if he actually did see it.

rojo wrote:

A couple of fellow journalists actually came up to me to congratulate me on asking the question.

wejo and rojo love saying this.

If the question was a good one and you are happy with it, just let it go and let it be judged on it's own merits. There is no need to defend of embellish after the fact.

rojo wrote:

I was very proud of the question, thought it was hangled professionally...

You can run... but you can't hide...

p.s. you need to stop editing others original posts and changing titles.

Rojo

As an outside observer, I don't really understand all this insider stuff.

Are you suggesting that NOP, Salazar and/or Rupp are individually or collectively cheating in some way that is clearly an infraction of the current rules governing track?

If so, please describe in some detail the infraction that you are suggesting. Hiding behind or quoting some third party as a reason to suggest cheating and taking no accountability is perhaps the most unprofessional and cowardly thing that any journalist could do.

Do you personally believe that NOP, Salazar and/or Rupp are cheating the system based on the current accepted laws in T&F?

If you can't give a yes/no response, I would put you in the coward category.

I don't think the question discredited the new American Record, it simply asked Rupp for his opinion. While it does corner Rupp a little bit, Rupp gave a good response. I think he also took the question for what it was worth: air purifiers and masks aren't cheating in Rupp's book. Go a little deeper, such as the topic of microdoping, and the question would have been totally inappropriate.

I like reporter's challenging athletes. It defeats generic and rehearsed responses. I get tired of hearing "So how did you feel during the race?" and "With 300m to go and so-and-so on your tail, what were you thinking?" and "What was going through your mind when you crossed the line with a new personal best?"

Oh but the question was "dishonest", and if you don't get it, you need a moral compass. You specifically referred to the mask and purifier when you told Rupp that Gambetta said that such things could be called cheating (listen at around the 6:02 mark in the video). The "cheating" is being done by you, unless you can show any of us that Gabetta ever specifically mentioned a mask or purifier in his interview comments. It is beyond belief that you were not knowingly misleading Rupp as to what Gambetta said. Like I state, you need to look into a mirror.

How often do you really get to interview someone and get an honest response? Why are you mad about the question? There's a lot of criticism here of AlSal's "gimmicks." He knew that question and gave a response. That's fair.

The question was not "are you micro doping" or of that sort. And while not appropriate at that moment is that not a valid question as well?

DaveW wrote:

...or collectively cheating in some way that is clearly an infraction of the current rules governing track?...

Where have you been? Current rules do not mean anything. PED now includes gray-zone products and methods. Gray-zone bans can be imposed retroactively, in the spirit of sport according to WADA.

Yellow journalism...though I hesitate to call anything you clowns do "journalism."

The question in itself was fine. But why are you directing it at Rupp? Especially just after a major AR setting performance. You know Rupp's answer. Obviously he doesn't think its cheating. He is wearing the mask. Go interview Gambetta if you honestly care about this question. There is no way you know what he is talking about. His article is rambling and doesn't make much sense. Or go ask the powers that be at the USATF or whoever sets the rules. Really this is just the Grunewald issue. What is the process to determine what is legal and not legal? Is Nike leveraging its huge amount of money and power to unfairly influence that process? Those are questions that are totally inappropriate to direct at Rupp. Laughing Gas is write that the question comes off as dishonest. You look like somebody who wants to stick it to Rupp and not interested in serious sports reporting. You are right that Rupp did answer appropriately. I would also add that he looked like he was laughing at you and what a stupid question it was.

rojo wrote:

Laughing Gas wrote:

The question was not only inappropriate, it was dishonest. Listen to Rojo's question...after reading Gambetta's interview. Rojo dishonestly implied that Gambetta had said that the mask was "cheating". Now, shame on Rojo, he doubles up by making it a big deal that someone prompted Rupp's reply. Watch the interview--no delay in Rupp's response, which by the way was a great response to a stupid and more importantly "dishonest" question. What kind of person would be proud of a dishonest question? Look into the mirror, Rojo.

The question wasn't dishonest. Gambetta thinks many thinks that others call innovation is cheating. I was asking Rupp for a response to the Gambetta remarks on innovation versus cheating, Rupp understood that and answered appropriately.

I don't entirely disagree with you, especially the 2nd paragraph. I guess part of my perspective is a response to how almost tedious these questions are asked AT Galen Rupp. What was the one a few months ago where One of the brojos asked Rupp something similar that was so bizarre that Galen had to ask him to repeat the question like 3 times because he had no idea what the question was actually about?Are air purifiers and masks cheating in ANYONE'S book?It'd be nice to see guys with the brojos experience and knowledge about track, about coaching and running and training and racing, actually dig a little deeper into THOSE things when they interview athletes. If the standard "how were you feeling?" questions are too benign (and I agree they are), surely there are dozens of other lines of questions knowledgeable running fans/coaches/journos could ask be beyond the "are you cheating" stuff.

i need water wrote:

I don't think the question discredited the new American Record, it simply asked Rupp for his opinion. While it does corner Rupp a little bit, Rupp gave a good response. I think he also took the question for what it was worth: air purifiers and masks aren't cheating in Rupp's book. Go a little deeper, such as the topic of microdoping, and the question would have been totally inappropriate.

I like reporter's challenging athletes. It defeats generic and rehearsed responses. I get tired of hearing "So how did you feel during the race?" and "With 300m to go and so-and-so on your tail, what were you thinking?" and "What was going through your mind when you crossed the line with a new personal best?"

So, will Rojo come on here and respond as to whether he has some reason to suspect that NOP, Salazar and/or Rupp are cheating based on current T&F regulations?

And if Rojo believes this, why doesn't he reveal the truth based on his detailed journalistic investigation? To continue to throw out veiled accusations is a cheap and cowardly journalistic method used by people who are desperate.

Is Rojo going to let his minions answer for him and hide under his bed covers?

We will see.

I'm no Salazar/NOP fan, but to be fair here, both Magness and Gambetta got fired because they didn't bring anything to the program.

They're just great at talking but without any substance.

I was disappointed in the timing of the question. Galen had just broken the American record by running an amazing time. To me, it is at moments like this to build up the sport, congratulate Galen and be part of the celebration. There will be other times to ask the hard questions, it is not often an American runs an amazing race like that, lets enjoy it and celebrate.

rojo wrote:

I was the one that asked the question. I was very proud of the question, thought it was handled professionally and answered very professionally by Rupp.

The question kind of came out of leftfield and had a TMZ feel to me but it was handled by Rupp appropriately.

He did have a "what a douche" towards the question look on his face answering the question.

DaveW wrote:

So, will Rojo come on here and respond as to whether he has some reason to suspect that NOP, Salazar and/or Rupp are cheating based on current T&F regulations?

And if Rojo believes this, why doesn't he reveal the truth based on his detailed journalistic investigation? To continue to throw out veiled accusations is a cheap and cowardly journalistic method used by people who are desperate.

Is Rojo going to let his minions answer for him and hide under his bed covers?

We will see.

Agreed. Let your true opinion be known and stop tap dancing around it.

So, your take was ... he couldn't even ask a positive question after a 10k American record.

Why would any runner take a question from this guy unless he was on the LR preferred runners list?

By the way, does Rojo let the minions do his talking ... or does he sign in as his minions?

I like Rojo because he's crazy enough to ask questions others wouldn't. Makes for more interesting interviews.

DaveW wrote:

or does he sign in as his minions?

Are you a UofO graduate? Seems like.