Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/R. Keith McCormick (modern pentathlete)


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was WP:WITHDRAWN. (non-admin closure) &#9733;&#9734; DUCK IS JAMMMY &#9734;&#9733; 01:39, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

R. Keith McCormick (modern pentathlete)
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Sports Reference.com doesn't have this individual listed for the 1976 Olympics event that he apparently competed in. The US already had three modern pentathletes competing in 1976, which was the quota for each country in the team event. Further Google searches for the title of the book used as a reference bring back just 6 results, three of which go to either the Wiki article or mirrors of it. This and another article was created within minutes by the same user, who has not edited since. I'd like to assume good faith, but this looks hoax-like to me (at least in regards to the Olympic element).  Lugnuts  Dick Laurent is dead 18:28, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: See Dr. R. Keith McCormick's website where he makes the claim himself (the website also identifies him as the author of the book). הסרפד (Hasirpad) [formerly Ratz...bo] 19:18, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I've tagged the second article for db-a10 (speedy deletion as a duplicate). הסרפד (Hasirpad) [formerly Ratz...bo] 19:22, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * More notes:
 * Here is an interview with him, on a dubious-looking site (apparently a vehicle for self-initiated interviews), making the same claims.
 * In his own book, he also makes the claim.
 * In short, if there is hoax, it is not a Wikipedian hoax, but either a hoax on part of the subject or a much more complicated internet hoax, down to a site with our Doctor of Chiropractic's name. הסרפד (Hasirpad) [formerly Ratz...bo] 19:30, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Very interesting timeline:
 * "Keith McCormick" was added as the fourth member of the US 3-athlete team for modern pentathlon by in the end of August (diff)
 * About 10 days later, first created a Wikilink for "Keith McCormick", then
 * created an article for the same, then
 * changed "Keith McCormick" to "R. Keith McCormick (modern pentathlete)" - thus losing the wikilink, and then
 * created this page.
 * הסרפד (Hasirpad) [formerly Ratz...bo] 19:49, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Note that this claim was made online before its first mention on Wikipedia. הסרפד (Hasirpad) [formerly Ratz...bo] 19:53, 2 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Nice detective work!  Lugnuts  Dick Laurent is dead 20:08, 2 January 2013 (UTC)


 * This piece from the NYT in 1976 (pay link, sorry) lists McCormick as an alternate on the US Olympic team. There are other old articles that refer to him competing in international competitions, such as this one describing the results of the 1975 junior world championships. I think this is a case of imprecise language, rather than a fabrication. As written, he did technically "represent" the US at the Olympics - alternates march in the opening ceremony with the rest of the team, for example. People in this AFD will need to decide for themselves whether or not he's above the threshold for notability. -Hit bull, win steak(Moo!) 20:58, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I should add that the second-place finish in the team competition at the 1975 worlds or the US record, if either of those can be verified, would be enough to put him over the bar for me. -Hit bull, win steak(Moo!) 21:02, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * I leave the notability discussion for those familiar with the world of athletics; I am relieved, though, that it is not an outright hoax but rather a misrepresentation—or possibly the editor didn't understand the purpose of the page. I notice that in all the various sources McCormick is said to have "been part of the team that competed" (or something to that effect) but not that he competed. הסרפד (Hasirpad) [formerly Ratz...bo] 23:49, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Sportspeople-related deletion discussions. &#9733;&#9734;  DUCK IS PEANUTBUTTER &#9734;&#9733; 13:47, 3 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Pennsylvania-related deletion discussions. &#9733;&#9734;  DUCK IS PEANUTBUTTER &#9734;&#9733; 13:47, 3 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Comment Suggest deletion with no problem of this article being recreated if reliable sources exist. Currently this fails the BLP threshold. Thanks.  Lugnuts  Dick Laurent is dead 13:46, 4 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, — Theopolisme ( talk )  23:57, 8 January 2013 (UTC)

 
 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Courcelles 00:03, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

 
 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Courcelles 02:40, 22 January 2013 (UTC)


 * Weak keep – I've added the NYT source, and also two articles from Better Nutrition that discuss him and his book about osteoporosis. I think there's enough to squeak by our notability guidelines. Paul Erik  (talk) (contribs) 04:17, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
 * Nice one - happy to withdraw this now.  Lugnuts  Dick Laurent is dead 07:30, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.