Cedar Point and LeBron James...

I get turned off how too many glamorize athleyes and celebrities who rarely contribute more than being entertaining, to some people, depending on our tastes. I think renaming a coaster after an athlete is dumb, especially since he's yet to contribute significantly to their local team. I honestly don't like renaming streets or staduims either, and it's all do to money, biased opinions of a small few, or other motives involved, like trying to get a celebrity to their city. It turns me off.

That said, if someone wishes to design and theme a ride after someone who's been famous for years and is well loved and popular, like Intimidator 305 (tribute to Dale Earnhart) I understand that.

I could also see someone creating a wild wooden coaster and naming it relation to John Wayne. I think if a coaster is to be related to someone famous it needs to be after someone well known and loved by many and be designed for them. Renaming an old coaster is cheezy!

Briefly re-naming an 'old' coaster to capitalize on a prominent local celebrity/story is a great PR stunt.

(I remain convinced that re-naming a coaster for this fellow is a short-term stunt.)

He only signed on for two seasons....er, years.

King James' Slam Dunk Coaster (Formerly Mean Streak.)

I really hate that ride.

CoasterGoddess said:

I get turned off how too many glamorize athleyes and celebrities who rarely contribute more than being entertaining, to some people, depending on our tastes.

...if someone wishes to design and theme a ride after ...Dale Earnhart) I understand that.

What I'm getting out of your post is that naming rides after celebrities you don't like is dumb. Celebrities you do like? Totally reasonable.

For instance if there was a coaster named after Betty White? Great. Dale Earnhart? No.

Or Evel Knievel.

Or Maverick.

Since he went "out and back" - seems appropriate for Blue Streak.

They should hold a prime time televised event to announce they are renaming Mean Streak to the LBJ Express and then dismantle it and ship its thrills to South Beach.

I live in Cleveland and even I think this is ridiculous.