Who’s the psycho? The guy lying about his times unnecessarily? Why are you invested in protecting some like this? Is it you, Sean?
Who’s the psycho? The guy lying about his times unnecessarily? Why are you invested in protecting some like this? Is it you, Sean?
Gotta ask wrote:
Code word wrote:
Leave the dude alone.
Why?
How dare you condemn this man. Who among you can honestly say you've never cheated? On your wives! Or your husbands! What he did took courage. And where I come from, Canada, we reward courage. So I hereby decree that you keep the grant... and let's give this brave man the ovation he deserves.
holterskolter2 wrote:
4:59 wrote:
Why would this affect his employment?
Cooper Teare went to a tiny religious high school? I assume religious schools are all about integrity and conduct and expect their employees to live with those values.
Wait, nevermind, I forgot how hypocrital most of the modern religious schools are now. I dont know Tony personally, so can't speak to his integrity. The other coaches I know at his school are extremely religious, though, to the point that anybody not as devout as them is looked down upon and judged.
B.S.
Father and Former Coach wrote:
Saddest and most disturbing fact is that he keeps doing it over years and years. At his age it doesn't make sense except if he ahs an ego problem. Always be leery of that a coach with an ego issue to the point he'll cheat... as he will cross that line with a kid (falsify times) as well, especially if it feeds or threatens his ego. I would not let him coach any of kids.
How could he falsify times for his runners? The results for just about every single race are available online.
Code word wrote:
Leave the dude alone.
These days there's confusion between perception and reality (the Big Lie). Close your eyes and believe what you choose to believe. Who needs truth, honor and integrity? If you can convince people you're wonderful and great, that means you're a success, right?
From the article: "The Honor Coach award is the highest honor a coach can receive in our section and “represents the best of high school education and athletics,” There you go! If a lot of people are fooled into believing it, then it must be true, right? Welcome to America!
FunRun99 wrote:
Father and Former Coach wrote:
Saddest and most disturbing fact is that he keeps doing it over years and years. At his age it doesn't make sense except if he ahs an ego problem. Always be leery of that a coach with an ego issue to the point he'll cheat... as he will cross that line with a kid (falsify times) as well, especially if it feeds or threatens his ego. I would not let him coach any of kids.
This one feels like another Frank Meza. I bet both of them had big egos to fill and that they're this great runner to complete their personas. Ironic they were (or maybe still) both high school coaches. But what I don't understand is high school kids are really good with computers. If this guy told his kids that he is going to run such and such marathon, his runners could easily look up his time and know those were fakes. Maybe he is still a great coach but he said he instills values in his kids to do well in all areas of life. That I cannot see here. This isn't just one off cheating. This is going back years and years.
It's interesting they cut off the comment section at the end.
Would the school let Tiger Woods (marital ethics) coach the golf team?
llort_vbo wrote:
Who’s the psycho? The guy lying about his times unnecessarily? Why are you invested in protecting some like this? Is it you, Sean?
Serial cheaters are psycho too. Doesn’t mean that those losers trying to get him to lose his job are not.
This is the funniest article I've ever read. The time spent doing the deep dive on investigating his mat times are NY TIMES worthy. I applaud this person's efforts. Coach Fong's only problem is he has coached some great athletes and now the spotlight is on him. If not for that he would be slippin' past course mats in 2022 and beyond. Thank you LRC for this amazing piece.
Crow-Magnon wrote:
Would the school let Tiger Woods (marital ethics) coach the golf team?
Not the same thing. This coach cheated in the sports that he is coaching over and over again. If Tiger cheated in golf, he shouldn't be coaching golf to kids. And it's not merely cutting the course or turning back early because he had a bad day. He made a conscious decision to cheat and planned it accordingly. Jumping in at the later point in the race and disappearing to reappear at the finish line. He didn't start the Boston at the starting line. Think about it. He flew all the way across the country to cheat. He booked plane tickets and a hotel room which is quite expensive during the race week. He is so psychologically adept at this that he did this many times over the years. You still think he should be coaching high school kids? Right out of the coach's mouth he said he likes to inspire kids to do well both in sports and outside of it.
FunRun99 wrote:
He is so psychologically adept at this that he did this many times over the years.
Most coaches would not have anywhere near the brains and balls to pull this off. I'd rather have someone who could orchestrate these kinds of plans without detection for decades than some Joe Schlomo who hasn't coached a sub 4:40 miler since 2003.
Great coach + great cheater + the cunning of a mongoose = A guy I want coaching my kid any day of the week.
Code word wrote:
FunRun99 wrote:
He is so psychologically adept at this that he did this many times over the years.
Most coaches would not have anywhere near the brains and balls to pull this off. I'd rather have someone who could orchestrate these kinds of plans without detection for decades than some Joe Schlomo who hasn't coached a sub 4:40 miler since 2003.
Great coach + great cheater + the cunning of a mongoose = A guy I want coaching my kid any day of the week.
That’s because you are a HS kid and don’t have children of your own. Once you have kids the rules change.
I'd like to give him the benefit of doubt.
It looks like he has some pretty good results in Chicago that look legit and often he has been a pacer. In the Boston qualifying races he only missed a mat and the final time of ~3:20 is believable given his past performances. Perhaps in the past races where he missed mats he was helping out as a pacer and just run a portion of the course to help the pacing group at the beginning and at the end of the course.
From the one of the message board posters in the article:
Meredith A Mills November 19, 2021 at 3:43 pm
This is fascinating! I know Tony as we ran for the same club and I have always insisted that he cheated in the 2007 CIM race. I passed him just after the half marathon point (you can see from the results that I was about 15 seconds behind him at the half). He was hurting. He walked off the course and said to someone that he was dropping out. CIM is a small race and I am pretty aware of who is around me – I never saw him pass me again and lo’ and behold he came into the finish just ahead of me (wearing different clothes even). I told several people over the years that he cheated in that race! They only had a timing mat back then at the half so it would have been harder to catch someone who hopped into a car then and drove to the 40K mark and hopped back in. Yes, he is a respectable runner still at his age, but yes, he is a cheater. Meredith Mills
Running cold wrote:
I'd like to give him the benefit of doubt.
It looks like he has some pretty good results in Chicago that look legit and often he has been a pacer. In the Boston qualifying races he only missed a mat and the final time of ~3:20 is believable given his past performances. Perhaps in the past races where he missed mats he was helping out as a pacer and just run a portion of the course to help the pacing group at the beginning and at the end of the course.
Did you actually read the article?
It is true that for any ONE race, you have to give very careful consideration about missed mats, as we know there can be technical issues.
I also know that in my ~20 marathons and half marathons, I have never had a mat NOT register me.
Now to pull this together...This fellow we are talking about not only had MULTIPLE missed mats in a race, he has MULTIPLE missed mats in MULTIPE races over 14 years!
You see there is a point where probability steps in and says "hey this is so unlikely as to not be possible."
This is where we are with this guy, this is where we were with Meza / Litton / Philly Mike.
Might be late here but this needs to be said. I stumbled upon this forum while having nostalgia for my old coach, Tony Fong, and searching Google. Although I may not know much about his personal running experiences or these specific events, I can certainly vouch for his character.
Tony Fong was, without a doubt, one of the most influential figures in my life and in the lives of many others who went through SJND.
He imparted valuable skills that have contributed to my success, and he created a sense of camaraderie that felt like a second family for all his runners. Some of the best moments in my life occurred under his leadership, and I'm proud to acknowledge that fact. I firmly believe that I wouldn't be where I am today without his mentorship, and I still maintain lifelong friendships with the team. Tony was truly a saint to us and to the entire SJND community.
I'd like to share a story about Tony that might not be widely known. We hardly talked about it outside of the SJND family because ultimately Tony is just a man and private citizen. He never wanted the extra attention. But I think it is important to give you all a real idea of who he really is.
In 2012, just two days before sectionals and about a week before the State Championships, Tony's wife passed away. I recall being called into the athletic director's office and being informed that we might not have a coach for the remainder of the season. This news was disappointing, especially considering that we were favorites to win sectionals and were seen as the dark horse for the State Championship. However, Tony returned that day. He was in pain (more than most of us can imagine) but he knew he had a job to do and wasn't about to let us down so close to the finish line. Witnessing his love and unwavering commitment to his duty left an strong mark on me. Tony never gives up and is always there for others.
As for the discussions about missing mats or Tony's personal running accomplishments, I can't speak to them. I certainly never heard about it from him or anyone else until now. He never boasted about his marathon achievements, let alone his times, so I fail to see the significance of cheating for him. Knowing Tony, it's more likely that he woke up late but still wanted to run so he entered the race at the wrong place. I see any mishaps more likely due to his enthusiasm for racing rather than malicious intent. That just not him. But even if he did have lapses, would it change my opinion of him? Not in the slightest. Tony is an exceptional individual, and I would wholeheartedly entrust my own child to be coached by him any day.
Media loves the drama and painting people as truly evil. But I think it is important to not forget the immense positive impact Tony Fong has had on many lives and the SJND community as a whole. His character and dedication are truly remarkable, and he deserves at least some respect.