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

Code red wrote:

There is no proof he did not run

Just evidence that makes it suspicious

I doubt a DQ is coming, deserved or not

I am not a runner, but it's my understanding that the whole reason they have photographers along the route is for this specific reason - to take photos of every racer, and if they aren't photographed it is proof they weren't there.

I think to not DQ him would call in question the whole integrity of the photography as proof system. In which case they should just not bother hiring these guys and make the entry fees cheaper.

Maybe the real solution is not photographer, or timing mats, but to make it a requirement that every runner have a GPS and if they don't they are just running for fun and cannot use their time to qualify for Boston or NY.

I hear where you're coming from, but that is not the purpose of the photographers. The photographers are there as a money-making venture, trying to sell pictures to athletes in their "moment of glory." Sure, there's the corollary benefit of providing some evidence in situations like this, but that is not their primary purpose.

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

Code red wrote:

There is no proof he did not run

Just evidence that makes it suspicious

I doubt a DQ is coming, deserved or not

I am not a runner, but it's my understanding that the whole reason they have photographers along the route is for this specific reason - to take photos of every racer, and if they aren't photographed it is proof they weren't there.

Photographers are there to make money selling pictures. Most of us experienced runners don't even bother about buying those, some first timers still do. Again, photographers are there for another reason. It can be used as evidence for a DQ, but that is not the reason they are there.

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

Code red wrote:

There is no proof he did not run

Just evidence that makes it suspicious

I doubt a DQ is coming, deserved or not

I am not a runner, but it's my understanding that the whole reason they have photographers along the route is for this specific reason - to take photos of every racer, and if they aren't photographed it is proof they weren't there.

I think to not DQ him would call in question the whole integrity of the photography as proof system. In which case they should just not bother hiring these guys and make the entry fees cheaper.

Maybe the real solution is not photographer, or timing mats, but to make it a requirement that every runner have a GPS and if they don't they are just running for fun and cannot use their time to qualify for Boston or NY.

I'd say the photographers are there more for people who want pictures of themselves running than for determining whether or not people cheated.

If there is anything else that needs to be done - i'll do it.

Rossi >>>> Work

somebloke wrote:

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

I am not a runner, but it's my understanding that the whole reason they have photographers along the route is for this specific reason - to take photos of every racer, and if they aren't photographed it is proof they weren't there.

Photographers are there to make money selling pictures. Most of us experienced runners don't even bother about buying those, some first timers still do. Again, photographers are there for another reason. It can be used as evidence for a DQ, but that is not the reason they are there.

Okay, they are there to make money. But they have no idea who are the pros and who are the beginners, so it is in their best interest to photo EVERYBODY. And even if a runner might not mug for the camera or be blocked by other runners the odds are they EVERY runner will get photo'd, even if in the background of another runner.

Plus, I imagine towards the end of the race, after many people crop out and the herds of people start to thin out, that filming EVERYBODY that passes the photographer is much more likely. So what are the odds that Mike Rossi is the most unlucky son of a bitch on the planet and happened to run past a photo point while they were taking a piss?

Yeah dude, we get it. That's the entire point of this thread, and it's been repeated countless times in the last 150+ pages. Thanks for the insight.

That assumes a burden of proof on the runner rather than on the race director. Is that the standard going to be imposed? I doubt it.

I am aware of no instance where a runner has been DQ based on no photos and suspicious time improvement.

Missed timing mats - sure

A history of cheating - sure

Failure to appear in video at a stationary point - sure

This will be a tough call for a race director or panel.

I would suspect a runner of EPO based on this kind of improvement. I find the runner's time highly suspect but is the standard going forward for all runners going to be no photos = DQ

Brace yourself for no DQ.

Not defending the guy he seems eminently unlikeable and suspect. I'm just saying the standard is unlikely to be that if you are not in photos you are DQ.

This is an easy defense in any court just have a camera exper come in and talk about deleted photos missed shots etc. Hopefully the panel will have some additional evidence that is not bandied about on LR.

.... As I said before, I have no real opinion about Rossi cheating or not cheating, and so far , I've seen nothing but circumstantial evidence on here, no real evidence..... that being said , I will take this opportunity to demonstrate

what real evidence is as opposed to circumstantial evidence, and I will use the 2 methods that this thread of accusers is using against Rossi and I will show you how it can turn against you .....a few of you posted the waiver for viewing to support your arguments, however the waiver says nothing about photographic evidence or lack of it having any impact on verification if a runner completed the course, however it does state that wearing of headphones does constitute a DQ , so far I have scanned thru just 3 pages of photos off the US Candids and BIB #'s 1856 1134 335 2069 1629 1216 2187 1090 1254 and a girl in a white sleeveless shirt with "YOLO" written on it are all wearing headphones ..... therefore I can declare as POSITIVE EVIDENCE , not circumstantial , that these people could be DQ'd due to all of you opening up this can of worms with Rossi . How'd you all feel now , if the LVM RD starts mailing out DQ's to all of these I just listed plus at least another 50 they could find just scanning thru the photos that you all have made them do ? Thats the difference between circumstantial , and positive evidence . I didn't say those people were "PROBABLY" wearing headphones , I said they positively were because of 100% clear positive photographic evidence .

QUESTION: If you were planning a wedding, or know somebody who was, would you....

A.) notconsider hiring Mike Rossi as your DJ based on his cheating to get to Boston?

B.) Or would his pompous letter to the principal be enough to turn you away?

C.) Or just that he is attention whore and would probably try and be the center of attention at the wedding deter you?

This ^ is an eminently sensible post.

"We DQ you because you ran too fast!"

"WTF?"

"Well, we also do not have any pics of you running."

Even though the guy is both guilty and a d-bag, a DQ does not seem guaranteed to me. Not by a long shot.

SaraB wrote:

Doktor Freud wrote:

Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?

Yes, lots of stuff. I could, for example, go round lots of different forums asking people if they have nothing better to do with their time. Or maybe just troll the trolls? Do you have nothing better to do with your time Doktor Freud than to ask me if I have nothing better to do with my time? Then you could ask me if I have nothing better to do that ask you if you have nothing better to do than ask me, who asked you, who asked me... We could keep this going forever in a trolling vortex.

You seriously think that you made a point?

Totally agree. Brace yourselves for no DQ. Mike Rossi is clearly a doooosh, but there won't be a DQ, and this story will disappear (with the exception of the LR message board, where it will live in infamy).

Wearing headphones isn't cheating. This thread is about a runner that cheated. If you are concerned about runners breaking rules by wearing headphones, I suggest that you start a separate thread.

Since you're keeping it real, how 'bout if you come back down to earth and join us in reality. Because your illustration of the DQ for wearing headphones ain't gonna happen even in the most remote of possibilities. It could; but it won't. The RD has discretion to DQ whomever he or she chooses based on judgment. Running a foot race is not a constitutional right.

BOOM !!

BOOM !!!

I'm sure the organizers of the race have this all covered legally in their contract. And this a private business, just like MLB, and the NFL. A private citizen could not go and sue the NFL if they didn't like Tom Brady's punishment for DeFlateGate.

And the organizers can DQ Mike Rossi for any reason they want. Lack of photos being just one of them. And with so many runners angry about this situation they would be fools not to DQ him. If they are trying to protect the integrity of their race they need to act with what is in the best interest of the many, and not the best interest of the one.

If they do not DQ Mike I can see attendance for this race falling off a cliff.

You guys really don't understand how unlikely it is that he ran the full course AND doesn't have any pictures. The numbers have been run and it is less than a .001% chance.

Deer Madam Race Director:

100% clear positive photographic evidence that did not make it from point A to point B on the marathon course