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

the loophole wrote:

Maybe it's been said already somewhere in the 11,000+ posts in this thread, but given the Brojos' latest challenge to Rossi, it bears resurrecting:

Where, in the Lehigh Valley Marathon rules (or, for that matter, the rules of any race), does it explicitly state that in order to get credit for "finishing," with a certain "finishing time," you have to cover the entire course on foot, under your own power?

As runners, we take this for granted. But from a legal perspective, I'm not sure how it holds up.

Some races (for instance, Badwater) explicitly state in the rules that the participant must cover every inch of the course on foot, under their own power, within the time limit, to get credit for "finishing," with a certain "finishing time." This provides specific grounds for disqualification.

But most races don't spell this out, instead assuming that it's commonly understood that participants will cover the course as laid out, and complete the entire course on foot, under their own power, or risk disqualification.

As likely (and as reprehensible) that it is that Rossi likely crossed the Lehigh Valley Marathon starting line to active his chip, left the course, got in his car, drove to a point near the finish, got back on the course, and crossed the finish line, as far as I can tell, there was nothing in the race rules that explicitly forbade this action as a means of "finishing" the race.

(This would also explain the odd use of the words "accurate" and "inaccurate" in the LVM statement regarding Rossi's finishing time. If there were no specific rules set forth for disqualifying a runner, they're on shaky ground in disqualifying him based evidence that suggests that he "cut the course." As a certified Boston-qualifying course, the race is responsible for reporting "accurate" finishing times, and nothing that Rossi did would have made his finishing time "inaccurate." Maybe if he had tampered with the race clock or official results, they would have had grounds to disqualify him. But no matter how Rossi got to the finish line, it's difficult to dispute the time on the finishing clock as he crossed the line, especially since there is a photo of him crossing the finish line with the clock clearly visible.)

In fewer words, what Rossi likely did was morally repugnant, but technically not against the rules.

My concern now is that he will find a race with similarly poorly-worded rules that would not explicitly forbid the same kind of cheating, and exploit that loophole to legally (albeit not honorably) win the money.

the loophole wrote:

Maybe it's been said already somewhere in the 11,000+ posts in this thread, but given the Brojos' latest challenge to Rossi, it bears resurrecting:

Where, in the Lehigh Valley Marathon rules (or, for that matter, the rules of any race), does it explicitly state that in order to get credit for "finishing," with a certain "finishing time," you have to cover the entire course on foot, under your own power?

As runners, we take this for granted. But from a legal perspective, I'm not sure how it holds up.

Some races (for instance, Badwater) explicitly state in the rules that the participant must cover every inch of the course on foot, under their own power, within the time limit, to get credit for "finishing," with a certain "finishing time." This provides specific grounds for disqualification.

But most races don't spell this out, instead assuming that it's commonly understood that participants will cover the course as laid out, and complete the entire course on foot, under their own power, or risk disqualification.

As likely (and as reprehensible) that it is that Rossi likely crossed the Lehigh Valley Marathon starting line to active his chip, left the course, got in his car, drove to a point near the finish, got back on the course, and crossed the finish line, as far as I can tell, there was nothing in the race rules that explicitly forbade this action as a means of "finishing" the race.

(This would also explain the odd use of the words "accurate" and "inaccurate" in the LVM statement regarding Rossi's finishing time. If there were no specific rules set forth for disqualifying a runner, they're on shaky ground in disqualifying him based evidence that suggests that he "cut the course." As a certified Boston-qualifying course, the race is responsible for reporting "accurate" finishing times, and nothing that Rossi did would have made his finishing time "inaccurate." Maybe if he had tampered with the race clock or official results, they would have had grounds to disqualify him. But no matter how Rossi got to the finish line, it's difficult to dispute the time on the finishing clock as he crossed the line, especially since there is a photo of him crossing the finish line with the clock clearly visible.)

In fewer words, what Rossi likely did was morally repugnant, but technically not against the rules.

My concern now is that he will find a race with similarly poorly-worded rules that would not explicitly forbid the same kind of cheating, and exploit that loophole to legally (albeit not honorably) win the money.

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

Jack Shit wrote:

The graveyard shift is boring now without Ken and the East Coasters, even though those East Coasters were trolls it was still entertaining.

Ken, that cease and desist letter means jackshit, you can still post.

Best-ever cease and desist:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/blog/2010/06/officially-our-bestever-cease.html

THAT'S IT! The name of my next band.

Ken & The East Coasters

How cool is that? It just rolls off the tongue. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

I know exactly what a cease and desist letter it. People who are going to sue don't send them. Because a smart lawyer would just sue and let me keep posting stupid sh!t to help me build his case. But if he did sue Mike's lawyer would be in for two very huge surprises.

1.) when the IP addresses are sorted out he's gonna find I didn't make most of the comments attributed to me via anonymous screen names. Especially the nasty comments about his family. Those are most likely from Mike's own minions trying to turn people against me - thinking I was posting anonymously as well.

2.) Mike has done crazy sh!t and could be facing up to a half dozen counter suits for things he has done and said about people. I don't think his buddy, the attorney has any idea what he is getting himself into.

I haven't posted anything over the last few days because I think the brojo's story is getting traction and I didn't want attacks on me to distract from that. But I have not been silenced.

I've made it clear that he started with me when I commented on a news story. I will not be bullied or intimidated.

And here is the C&D for anybody interested:

http://imgur.com/Jvb7Yhj

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

Jack Shit wrote:

The graveyard shift is boring now without Ken and the East Coasters, even though those East Coasters were trolls it was still entertaining.

Ken, that cease and desist letter means jackshit, you can still post.

Best-ever cease and desist:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/blog/2010/06/officially-our-bestever-cease.html

THAT'S IT! The name of my next band.

Ken & The East Coasters

How cool is that? It just rolls off the tongue. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

I know exactly what a cease and desist letter it. People who are going to sue don't send them. Because a smart lawyer would just sue and let me keep posting stupid sh!t to help me build his case. But if he did sue Mike's lawyer would be in for two very huge surprises.

1.) when the IP addresses are sorted out he's gonna find I didn't make most of the comments attributed to me via anonymous screen names. Especially the nasty comments about his family. Those are most likely from Mike's own minions trying to turn people against me - thinking I was posting anonymously as well.

2.) Mike has done crazy sh!t and could be facing up to a half dozen counter suits for things he has done and said about people. I don't think his buddy, the attorney has any idea what he is getting himself into.

I haven't posted anything over the last few days because I think the brojo's story is getting traction and I didn't want attacks on me to distract from that. But I have not been silenced.

I've made it clear that he started with me when I commented on a news story. I will not be bullied or intimidated.

And here is the C&D for anybody interested:

http://imgur.com/Jvb7Yhj

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

Jack Shit wrote:

The graveyard shift is boring now without Ken and the East Coasters, even though those East Coasters were trolls it was still entertaining.

Ken, that cease and desist letter means jackshit, you can still post.

Best-ever cease and desist:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/blog/2010/06/officially-our-bestever-cease.html

THAT'S IT! The name of my next band.

Ken & The East Coasters

How cool is that? It just rolls off the tongue. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

I know exactly what a cease and desist letter it. People who are going to sue don't send them. Because a smart lawyer would just sue and let me keep posting stupid sh!t to help me build his case. But if he did sue Mike's lawyer would be in for two very huge surprises.

1.) when the IP addresses are sorted out he's gonna find I didn't make most of the comments attributed to me via anonymous screen names. Especially the nasty comments about his family. Those are most likely from Mike's own minions trying to turn people against me - thinking I was posting anonymously as well.

2.) Mike has done crazy sh!t and could be facing up to a half dozen counter suits for things he has done and said about people. I don't think his buddy, the attorney has any idea what he is getting himself into.

I haven't posted anything over the last few days because I think the brojo's story is getting traction and I didn't want attacks on me to distract from that. But I have not been silenced.

I've made it clear that he started with me when I commented on a news story. I will not be bullied or intimidated.

And here is the C&D for anybody interested:

http://imgur.com/Jvb7Yhj

abingtonrunner wrote:

LoserMikeRossi wrote:

THAT'S IT! The name of my next band.

Ken & The East Coasters

How cool is that? It just rolls off the tongue. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

I know exactly what a cease and desist letter it. People who are going to sue don't send them. Because a smart lawyer would just sue and let me keep posting stupid sh!t to help me build his case. But if he did sue Mike's lawyer would be in for two very huge surprises.

1.) when the IP addresses are sorted out he's gonna find I didn't make most of the comments attributed to me via anonymous screen names. Especially the nasty comments about his family. Those are most likely from Mike's own minions trying to turn people against me - thinking I was posting anonymously as well.

2.) Mike has done crazy sh!t and could be facing up to a half dozen counter suits for things he has done and said about people. I don't think his buddy, the attorney has any idea what he is getting himself into.

I haven't posted anything over the last few days because I think the brojo's story is getting traction and I didn't want attacks on me to distract from that. But I have not been silenced.

I've made it clear that he started with me when I commented on a news story. I will not be bullied or intimidated.

And here is the C&D for anybody interested:

http://imgur.com/Jvb7Yhj

The most interesting thing about that C&D letter, aside that his lawyer uses AOL for his email (really?), is what it does not include as a false allegation. It mentions false allegations of parental unfitness, violation of copyright laws and incompetence of his profession. However and most importantly (so pay attention trolls and Mike's minions), it does not mention anything about cheating, cheating at the Via Marathon or that he could not have possibly or is not physiology capable of running a 3:11 marathon. Those are not false allegations. Ken asserted all of those. The attorney effectively acknowledged and admitted what we all already knew, have steadfastly asserted and what LRC has now further exposed.

you're not a lawyer wrote:

abingtonrunner wrote:

The most interesting thing about that C&D letter, aside that his lawyer uses AOL for his email (really?), is what it does not include as a false allegation. It mentions false allegations of parental unfitness, violation of copyright laws and incompetence of his profession. However and most importantly (so pay attention trolls and Mike's minions), it does not mention anything about cheating, cheating at the Via Marathon or that he could not have possibly or is not physiology capable of running a 3:11 marathon. Those are not false allegations. Ken asserted all of those. The attorney effectively acknowledged and admitted what we all already knew, have steadfastly asserted and what LRC has now further exposed.

It is b/c that is not as damaging as the child abuse claims, damage to business, etc. Saying someone cheated in a marathon is neither personally damaging nor is it damaging to his livelihood.