Mike Smith Part II: Smith explains why he agreed to work with Galen Rupp

Mike Smith is getting a taste of what it's like to be Galen Rupp on these boards. That is all he need to know.

tin can man wrote:

I've never seen a person use more words to say less. We all get Smith is trying to be "deep" but these aren't questions asking him about the meaning of life. His answer to the question "Why are you convinced that he’s clean and he’s worth working with?" is an obvious non-answer and it's shameful. I had a lot of respect for what Smith has done at NAU but I've now lost a lot of respect for him as a person.

What answer could be given there that would appease you?

“After years and years of investigations, Galen is still here and still a 2020 Olympian. He’s clean.”

“Just like everyone else, I don’t know what truly happened. However, I trust the USADA process and I wanted to work with the greatest American distance runner ever” (Smiths choice).

“I think he’s dirty, but screw it”

He doesn’t have a perfect answer - no one does. He trusts Rupp and that’s enough for him.

Quarantined wrote:

Why is it "reasonable inference that Galen abused testosterone under Salazar?" Doesn't the fact that the investigation proved him to be INNOCENT, he has been one of the most tested athletes on the planet for last 3 years, and he has never tested positive - suggest the exact opposite inference?

LOL, the investigation didn't prove Galen to be innocent of anything. An absence of charges doesn't prove innocence. Anyway, the following set of facts is why it's a reasonable inference that Galen abused testosterone under Salazar:

1) Alberto Salazar has a prescription for testosterone.

2) While being coached by Alberto Salazar, Mary Decker Slaney tested positive and served a ban for abusing testosterone.

3) Alberto Salazar was known to be obsessive about raising his athletes' testosterone levels, so much so that he had Galen Rupp taking "testosterone medication" (whatever that means; Alberto claims it was the legal supplement Testoboost but there's no reason to take him at his work on that, and regardless, a coach giving a testosterone supplement to a HIGH SCHOOL KID would still raise plenty of red flags) in high school.

4) Alberto Salazar conducted an unsanctioned experiment with Dr. Jeffrey Brown (also banned) to determine the precise amount of testosterone cream that would trigger a positive test.

5) Despite employing a licensed massage therapist, Alberto Salazar was known to personally massage Galen Rupp on a regular basis, especially before big races.

6) Alberto Salazar was known to send Galen Rupp's urine to the freaking Mayo Clinic to make sure that it wouldn't test positive for anything.

I could go on and on; there are more facts that only add to the legitimacy of this inference. But I've made my point.

We all know that most dopers aren't caught. Lance never failed a test either, and he probably would have never been caught if he didn't make his ill-advised comeback in 2009. (Actually, I believe he did fail at least one test that was quickly suppressed by the UCI, but you get the picture.) I don't see how anyone can consider the facts and come to the conclusion that Galen achieved his success on hard work, an altitude house, and Breathe Right nasal strips alone.

"If someone spotted Tupac at the Trials, we would want evidence that Tupac was at the trials. "

This is the most absurd non sequitur ever. Yes, people would want evidence that Tupac was at the trials because Tupac is deceased. Alberto is not? This dude is insane.

I would have way more respect for Smith if he had just said something like this instead of that incoherent psychobabble:

"Look, there's no way for me to know everything that happened between Alberto and Galen. But the opportunity to coach the greatest American distance runner of all-time is special and rare, and as a competitor, I couldn't resist the chance to help resurrect Galen's career as he shoots for a marathon medal in Tokyo. I can assure the public that I run a clean program with all of my athletes, and I think my track record speaks for itself in that regard."

fortherecord wrote:

I’m impressed at how well-spoken Mike Smith is. A lot of concepts that seemed to go right over several commenters heads. This forum does not deserve his time. Casting pearls before swine.

He really seems to have angered the yokels with all his big words and fancy talk.

Didn't he say this in his first answer? Did you miss that Bub.

Agreed. There's nothing Smith could have said here to appease the Rupp haters.

The Rupp haters are looking like real fools now. Yah, lets trash the most dedicated and accomplished distance runner in the US perhaps ever. That sounds like a good way to promote the sport of distance running. I'm sure Rojo is so proud of his minions and what he created. I guess that was his dream.

You were making some decent points until you compared Galen to Lance Armstrong. All credibility is lost, and we are all now dumber for reading your post.

All he had to do is be honest, then it's up to us whether we agree with him or not. Instead, he goes into some ridiculous musings about the human condition and critical thinking and defending "a process".

In the end, it makes me think he knows Galen doped, is continuing to dope, and that Smith is now aiding and abetting the doping.

This is the guy who Rojo created. I can't imagine what he sees when he looks in a mirror.

Really have to agree with TinCan here. What answer would make the suspicious among us happy? One of these 2:

I asked him directly many times, including face-to-face and he answered 'no' to everything and I honestly really believe him. I am now answering, very directly, the question you asked me.

Or

I think he did cheat, probably still does, and couldn't turn down the money or fame of coaching whom I consider to be America's greatest distance runner. That is the most direct and, frankly, honest answer to the question you asked.

Either of these, he saves some face. Is the first better than the second? Sure, but the second is also honest and direct answer to a question. What he DID say doesn't seem to be honest and straightforward. I have a hard time imagining he wouldn't have said the first answer if that is, in fact, what happened and what he believes to be true. The fact that he DID NOT answer to that effect suggests to me that the second answer is likely close to the truth - closer than the first, anyway - and that he doesn't want to admit as much.

Don't get me wrong. He can't really afford to admit anything close to the second answer. It's hard to fault someone for not coming clean if that's what he's thinking. But keep in mind: what he DID say was certainly NOT the first answer.

Rojo has never been more transparent,.

GoodFit wrote:

Rojo has never been more transparent,.

And

GoodFit wrote:

This is the guy who Rojo created. I can't imagine what he sees when he looks in a mirror.

I don’t have any idea what you are talking about. Who are you saying I created - some mboard poster, Rupp, Smith? I’m totally lost.

Are you and Still Waiting talking to yourself ......... in the mirror. I have heard of multiple personalities, but this is ridiculous.

Why no question on L-Carnitine, Jonathon?

It's relevant to:

- Dr. Brown charges

- Mo Farah's denial then admittance

- Salazar's enthusiastic email to doper Lance Armstrong

- Fat utilization in the marathon

- Rupp's incredible (almost Kipchoge-like) marathon consistency.

Why no real questions?

Rupp won't answer. Why not Mike?

Rojo is now questioning the integrity of both Jonathan Gault and Mike Smith. Wow!

The point was (obviously) that it's silly to use "He never tested positive!" as a defense for a suspected doper. Lance Armstrong is the apotheosis of PED abuse in sports and never failed a test (or maybe he did once, as I noted). Did Barry Bonds? Waldemar Cierpinski?

If Alberto/Galen were indeed microdosing testosterone with the explicit knowledge of how much cream would trigger a positive test, then it makes perfect sense why he never failed one.

I (obviously) wasn't comparing Lance's specific situation to Galen's.