Sad News: Frank Meza Found Dead In LA River

Buttcoin wrote:

kmaclam wrote:

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706142723-01-frank-meza-exlarge-169.jpg

I think it was the 2014 CIM that he admitted, "I don't run that kind of time" and that he wouldn't protest the DQ.

So the 2016 CIM medal is included in the collection but there is no 2014 CIM medal.

from the CNN article:

"In 2014, when Meza was in his mid-60s, the Sacramento area's California International Marathon threw out his time of 2 hours 52 minutes because of what looked like anomalously speedy split times over the final miles, the paper reported.

Meza told The Times that when race officials approached him about those splits, he gave them no explanation.

"I don't run that kind of time," he said, according to The Times. "I actually told them, if you disqualify me, I won't protest. I don't want any doubts to be there.""

But he wants doubt in all his other marathons?

Buttcoin wrote:

kmaclam wrote:

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190706142723-01-frank-meza-exlarge-169.jpg

I think it was the 2014 CIM that he admitted, "I don't run that kind of time" and that he wouldn't protest the DQ.

So the 2016 CIM medal is included in the collection but there is no 2014 CIM medal.

from the CNN article:

"In 2014, when Meza was in his mid-60s, the Sacramento area's California International Marathon threw out his time of 2 hours 52 minutes because of what looked like anomalously speedy split times over the final miles, the paper reported.

Meza told The Times that when race officials approached him about those splits, he gave them no explanation.

"I don't run that kind of time," he said, according to The Times. "I actually told them, if you disqualify me, I won't protest. I don't want any doubts to be there.""

Nope, The 2016 CIM was his 2nd ban from that event and it was from this race he received his lifetime ban. Your post highlights what is so frustrating about all this. If posters on here (runners who have seen all the damning evidence) don't get it, how do we expect John Q Public, or even his family and cohorts to see the truth? In a way I feel like we're on here telling people the earth is round, but there are those who insist it is flat. We persist with the facts and evidence because it's the truth. And we've got this 'flat earth' leader in Frank who knows the truth and has misled people he loves and can't live with that. So, so sad! The worst possible outcome to all this. Frank is gone and now the 'truth' becomes less important in a way.

I’ve followed Letsrun for a while and have followed (and read) the entire original thread from around when it started and this “shame” business has been bugging me. Someone said it in the original thread: what ever happened to shame and when did it become verboten.

Meza set up an elaborate scheme to cheat and create better and better times over a decade. He used it to create the perception that he was a world class (for his age) athlete. He included his running acumen in his professional life.

To those that post about his mentorship. I’m wondering: did he take the usual tact of: hard work and perseverance pays off? In other words: was his mentorship all based on lies? Is it ok to lie if it produces positive results?

Frank Meza was a liar, a cheat, and a thief. I understand sympathy for his family and, no doubt, they’re going through an awful emotional time, but Frank Meza should have been ashamed. And if took the sunlight of LR and MI to disinfect Meza’s dishonesty, then so be it.

#1 - If you know what LetsRun.com is (a "free-for-all"), why complain about it? Just leave if it offends you.

#2 - By using The New York Times and Los Angeles Times and Washington Post as example of journalistic integrity and ethics you offer more about yourself than you probably wanted to. Belief that their "governing bodies" are somehow above reproach is silly. The illusion the NYT, LAT and WP are altruistic is what I see as the *real* problem. At least we know what LetsRun.com is.

Very sad story. Rest in peace

"However, someone affiliated with this site did come forward. Access Hollywood did their story. And a man is dead.

No, cheating is never okay.

But neither is shaming.

I have said this before and will again.

Serious filters need to be put on what is posted here.

It can't be a free-for-all"

______________________________________________________________

The above quote is missing one essential ingredient --- if FM would have simply come clean, the "Shaming" would have stopped. I have a weekly poker game for low-stakes ($100) buy in. If one of the players got caught cheating you better damn well be sure he would get shamed...and maybe physically roughed up.

Again -- I have more respect for obscene truth-tellers than eloquent liars.

Why are we so WEAK as a society nowadays? CHEATING is wrong. If you own up to it you can be forgiven.

As my Gramps would always tell me "Cheaters NEVER prosper!"

There are organizations that monitor, test, and enforce penalties on professionals. There are no such entities when it comes to amateur runners. We have to police ourselves and there really are no penalties for amateur cheating other than dq and public exposure. Lots of people think the exposure is targeted only at the individual in question. I see it as targeted to everyone that’s thinking about cheating in the future.

+1

Ok, now we are conversing. Please consider this. Cyber bullying and public shaming is a problem. I would hope you wouldn’t desire to spread word of your buddies cheating at cards to the entire world, creating a hysteria that impacts his family. Most of us on LR wanted FM held accountable for cheating out on the roads in our races. Some, took it way way too far. Literally trying to ruin his life. Why?!! These folks succeeded. Too bad. This is a sickness!! Best of luck policing your “friendly” card game.

How much creditably is given to anonymous posters? When I see an anonymous post anywhere its value is always suspect. That said, there is too much garbage posting that needs to be filtered out. Have the regular forums require registration, and have a separate forum called ‘enter at you own discretion’ that allows anonymous posts.

Roderick has a bit of a guilty conscience, the rest of us saw the scam right away. Don’t be an enabler of crooks, Roderick. They can make amends if they want, or even lie low & STOP CHEATING.

Ok, now we are conversing. Please consider this. Cyber bullying and public shaming is a problem. I would hope you wouldn’t desire to spread word of your buddies cheating at cards to the entire world, creating a hysteria that impacts his family. Most of us on LR wanted FM held accountable for cheating out on the roads in our races. Some, took it way way too far. Literally trying to ruin his life. Why?!! These folks succeeded. Too bad. This is a sickness!! Best of luck policing your “friendly” card game.[/quote]

Here is why Roderick. He was a Doctor and a Coach of boys who was acting crazy. That pushes people buttons. It scares the crap out of people. I know that isn't the motivator for most people here but for many of his critics it was. Do you think it would have gone viral if he was a homeless guy who's only sphere of influence was a mangy dog?

He apparently killed himself over his secrets. What that is to me is Murdering oneself. It's as extreme as murdering someone else just a different personality twist. What if he had the other predilection? He gets to keep cheating and he convinces himself nobody knows again , which apparently he could do.

How safe are they? Some of the cheaters Derek has caught do seem like if they thought they could keep their secrets by offing just one or two people that they might. It happens all the time.

Took Me Awhile is furiously trying to cover for his enabling. No doubt his own role wouldn’t pass scrutiny & he has a guilty conscience.

"I would hope you wouldn’t desire to spread word of your buddies cheating at cards to the entire world, creating a hysteria that impacts his family. .."

Source -- Roderick

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roderick,

I would let everyone in the poker community, and all the card room pit bosses know who the cheat was. The cheat card player could never get another card game --- I have seen it happen. And if the cheat card player was taking down World Series of Poker titles I would indeed let the world know (including the MSM). And if said card player cheat was a respected doctor and poker coach I would double down my efforts to make sure he was exposed.

This whole thing really is HUGE for letsrun. Until now the forums have been a post anything you want with no consequences extravaganza. Is that now about to change???

Others noted that “Took Me Awhile” & other trolls challenged deadesq to find more evidence, which they did, so the trolls are feeling guilty & trying to cover for themselves.

From the LA Times article: "They took away the one thing that was his pride," said widow Tina Meza, also a medical doctor.

I realize that in grief people often say things that are hyperbolic, but is anyone else struck at the strangeness of this quote ? I mean, the guy had a list of professional and community accomplishments as long as your proverbial arm, but the onething he was proud of was his marathon times, gotten by completely dishonest means?? Even if you thought he ran those legitimately, what about all the rest? Surely if his quotes about "Doing it just for fun" have any merit, the marathons would be among the least cause for personal "pride".

Just a huge disconnect there, IMO

I am more interested in the "manufactured lies" as opposed to the "manufactured sub 3 marathon times?"

MohammedAA wrote:

YMMV wrote:

From the LA Times article: "They took away the one thing that was his pride," said widow Tina Meza, also a medical doctor.

I realize that in grief people often say things that are hyperbolic, but is anyone else struck at the strangeness of this quote ? I mean, the guy had a list of professional and community accomplishments as long as your proverbial arm, but the onething he was proud of was his marathon times, gotten by completely dishonest means?? Even if you thought he ran those legitimately, what about all the rest? Surely if his quotes about "Doing it just for fun" have any merit, the marathons would be among the least cause for personal "pride".

Just a huge disconnect there, IMO

That’s because she is planning a civil suit and wants $$$$.

money from who? Derek Murphy isn’t wealthy or likely covered by any insurance.