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

Heavy Breather wrote:

Hey Rojo,

If you don't want to do an article on cheater Mike Rossi, how about an article on minimizing cheating for BQs. LHVM can video and mat every square inch of the course, but applying a "day of" complaint criteria appropriate for a very different event would likely make those measures moot.

I think it is reasonable for Boston to have criteria for the integrity of their qualifying races. It could be the best thing that could come out of this sad tale.

Couldn't agree more. Boston should not even consider BQ's from races that are this easy to cheat at. Mike Rossi is the only one that got caught. Imagine how many people cheated and didn't get caught. Heck, Rossi could have driven a double decker tour bus of cheaters as as longer as nobody saw anything everyone is in the clear.

Look at the way M_i_ke is spelled.

Keepin' it Real wrote:

So boycotting an event held by a non-profit organization that raises money for people less fortunate than most of any of us on here posting is what you are advocating ? Really ?!?!? .... over a decision that was made that didn't go your way , so the people and their families that VIA helps should suffer ? Your credibility just got tossed out the window !!!

Aren't you the same guy who tried to justify the creepy-beyond-belief Mike Rossi "like" of some 9 year old daughter of a Mike Rossi critic?

OK Mike, you are a creep in addition to being a cheat.

Congrats!

The case is different with the screen name. This is the same poster as "Keepin It Real" if you pay attention the random spaces in the sentences and liberal use of exclamation points. Also, Mike Rossi's Dopey Challenge Facebook posts had that same style for what it's worth.

If that is Mike Rossi, he mentioned in previous posts that the race director has proof that Mike Rossi actually ran the race (we're just not privy to it). That should be a pretty easy thing to confirm if Rojo wanted to just ask the RD if that is the case.

It would look pretty bad for Rossi if we could somehow prove that he is in fact posting lies on here and stiring the pot on here.

Memo to Mr. Intelligent:

1) You may want to learn how to spell 'course' prior to claiming that you are posting intelligently.

2) The fact that 'hater' is a 'name' that is only used by middle school kids does not quite disqualify it from still being a 'name' - close but not quite.

The marathon was very careful with how they worded their findings, but overall it says that he did cheat. Notice that they didn't say "after viewing all the evidence we have concluded that Mike Rossi did run the race". It says that after viewing the evidence that can't prove that he didn't run the race.

There is a huge difference.

I don't have any pictures to prove that I banged Kate Upton, but you don't have any pictures to prove that I didn't. So as far as I'm concerned that makes it true.

But then by saying they are adding timing mats and video cameras they are essentially saying, "We didn't catch him this time, but there won't be a second time for him".

So he got away with it this time. But he has a Boston medal and a story about a principal's letter that he can't tell to other runners without the chance that he will be laughed at. Look at it this way - can Barry Bonds brag about his home run record when everyone knows he juiced?

The only thing running Boston is good for is bragging rights and we have taken that way from this cheater. His name will never show up in the Google results without the word "cheater" next to it.

Maybe the RD is too chicken to do his job, but as far as our job I say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

muebele wrote:

Everybody needs to just take a step back. The Lehigh marathon is not that big a race and is a point to point course, not easy to patrol. Are we really doing any good trying to wreck this race? You can't disqualify someone from a race because they shouldn't have run so fast because you checked athlinks? So like it or not, there is no proof he cheated. Hopefully this will cause the marathon, and other marathons to put in more safeguard to prevent this from happening.

Actually there is a TON of proof that you cheated, Mike.

Nice try though.

OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony wrote:

Well, since you can cheat at the Via marathon and get away with it, I’m signing up for it, but not running it, so I can do Boston, which is my real goal.  Would anybody here like to carry my chip with you as you run to a BQ?  I’ll pay you $100.  I promise not to shoot my mouth off to my kids’ teachers, so nobody will know.  Thanks!

Seriously, this puts Mike in a class with OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony. Scumbags all.

Ummm...No, it really doesn't.

Rossi is a cheater, a liar and a scumbag. But putting him in a class with murderers is WAY over the top.

Hi Sarah and doubler wrote:

Well his time is official and verified now.

Hurrah for him. He earned it deserved it and gets to keep his glory.

Time for most of you posters to eat crow and finally stop whining and complaining.

Get out and go for a run.

Bet he goes sub 3 next year healthy at VIA and sticks it to all of you.

I'll take that bet, Mike. There will be enough folks from here at VIA next year that you will be spotted. Mats or no mats, photos or no photos, you will be followed.

Except of course that you know this and therefore won't enter since you won't be able to cheat.

So yeah, I'll take that bet.

Over the top as far as equating Mike with murderers, but it does go to show how much LESS is needed to convict him of cheating. Few see murders when they occur. In that LESS is MORE, Mike Rossi ran LESS and got MORE. And we are here to pile on.Mike Rossi is a cheat, liar, scumbag, and a very, very, bad person. A very bad person.

Whoah There wrote:

OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony wrote:

Well, since you can cheat at the Via marathon and get away with it, I’m signing up for it, but not running it, so I can do Boston, which is my real goal.  Would anybody here like to carry my chip with you as you run to a BQ?  I’ll pay you $100.  I promise not to shoot my mouth off to my kids’ teachers, so nobody will know.  Thanks!

Seriously, this puts Mike in a class with OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony. Scumbags all.

Ummm...No, it really doesn't.

Rossi is a cheater, a liar and a scumbag. But putting him in a class with murderers is WAY over the top.

Bobby Brady safety patrol wrote:

He is officially faster than half this Board and has a legit BQ Boston.

All of you should watch the ox-bow incident film. Your lynching is wrong and a neutral RD and committee just affirmed his time.

Good for him. Score one for justice and fairness over the anonymous mob bravery on this board and the article that never was. Likely today he is out for a run on a great day. Take your jealousy and go for a run all you safety patrollers.

I think that it is pretty cool that you continue to post, Mike. Seriously, I do.

Put your $ where your piehole is wrote:

A neighbor wrote:

I think you missed completely that the weasel is threatening lawsuits for defamation. This has nothing to do with Lehigh anymore so it is not over according to his lawyers. Let's run is the obvious target. I could give a crap less about LVM or him . If he sued for defamation it is all on the table and I for one will donate to help defend. BTW what legalities are there against a race directors discretionary DQ? How would it hurt him if he refused to provide any proof? Why would anyone besides Mike know or care about either of those two very specific points?

Then why don't you publicly accuse him of cheating, use your real name, and dare Mikey to sue you?

Jesus, get a life. It's over. Move on.

OK, Mike. Here is my real name: Bill Wells. Now please go ahead and sue me.

Thanks.

I do kind of understand the actions of LVM. They are in a difficult position. If they DQ him, they'll be thought of as "unfair." If they don't, they'll be thought of as "cowardly." Either way, LVM gets the blame for Rossi's cheating, not Rossi.

Well played, Mike. You take your kids out of school, fully aware of the fact that you're breaking the rules, and you make the school look like the villain, not you. Then you cheat at a marathon, again fully aware that you're breaking the rules, and you make the event look like the villain, not you.

Maggie2 wrote:

Crazy idea. if you don't like this board, don't read it.

I've read every post, including the ones that are just a number, and this is the first time I remember seeing the thought of a folded bib and a specific other runner. I actually agree with you - why drag up allegations on another runner? - but it does look like the idea touched a nerve. It's clear that Mike is still reading along and chiming in on this board too (the Random capitalization is his tell). So I honestly thought you might be Mike. Sorry to waste your incredibly valuable time.

The question still ticking away for me is how/where Mike would've got the idea to do this.

Wait, are you really this dumb wrote:

.

Because it takes an evil genius to come up with a plan to cheat on a marathon with no timing mats?

This is what you wonder about?

ColumboDumbo wrote:

Doubler wrote:

The evidence is overwhelming that he did not legitimately run LVM.

What evidence?

The evidence you think you have?

What about the evidence that LVM may have that you are not privy to?

You people are seriously demented and delusional.

But it's fun to read. so please continue.

OK Mike.

cantstandcheaters wrote:

The comments expressing the disdain of this race and Mike Rossi are flooding in on their facebook page. Everyone should leave there comment so all their participants and supporters can see what kind of joke this race is.

yeah 30 comments from the same 15 lets run people who post under 59 handles apiece . wow , what a flood , somebody doesn't know how to do a rain dance.

Ding ding ding try again asshat.

blo-jo wrote:

cantstandcheaters wrote:

The comments expressing the disdain of this race and Mike Rossi are flooding in on their facebook page. Everyone should leave there comment so all their participants and supporters can see what kind of joke this race is.

yeah 30 comments from the same 15 lets run people who post under 59 handles apiece . wow , what a flood , somebody doesn't know how to do a rain dance.

Did the bib have a chip on it or were there foot chips? Sorry if this was mentioned 1000's of posts back. Either way I don't think this is what Rossi did, he seems like the type that did research and intentionally picked a race with no mats. Getting another involved increases the risk.

Agree, the inclusion of an accomplice would be an unnecessary risk. So many things could go wrong including that most conspiracies come unstuck when one of the perpetrators relents to the pressure. Far easier in this case to check with the RD prior as to whether there will be any official split times recorded as you won't be wearing a GPS-enabled watch for the race.

Mike Rossi RTed this from NBC10 in Philly:

"Local dad embroiled in marathon controversy has been cleared of cheating"

He is gloating over his lies, his cheating, his ill-gotten Boston medal. FUMR,