Gary Coleman to hit 3,000 rides on Diamondback tomorrow

[Kirk Sheppard]

People shouldn't brag about riding a coaster a lot. I don't see how anybody would really care. Honestly, it doesn't seem like an accomplishment at all. No rudeness towards Gary here, but I'm just saying, it seems kind of a stupid thing to have your goal to hit 3,000 rides on Diamondback.

Ironic given your signature lists your ride count.

[rotag]

‎3,000 x 3 minute 20second ride = 9600/60 = 160 HOURS spend on Diamondback! That's 6.666666 days!

I hope I did my math right.

you forgot to carry the 1; i just tease, sounds good to me.

[Dieseltech20]

People shouldn't brag about riding a coaster a lot. I don't see how anybody would really care. Honestly, it doesn't seem like an accomplishment at all. No rudeness towards Gary here, but I'm just saying, it seems kind of a stupid thing to have your goal to hit 3,000 rides on Diamondback.

Ironic given your signature lists your ride count.

Pot meet Kettle.

LOL

[KIfan1980]

it seems kind of a stupid thing to have your goal to hit 3,000 rides on Diamondback.

I don't believe his goal was to ride it 3000 times. I believe his goal is to have fun - he rides Diamondback to have fun. I doubt he's stopping because last time I checked, he was still having fun.

[The Interpreter]

I don't count how many times I have ridden a coaster. One of my very good friends keeps detailed notes on each and every ride he takes. Either way is fine. Isn't having fun supposed to be what it is all about? And Gary most definitely has fun...

[CoastersRZ]

Yes, you should recognize some of the faces in that picture. (I was one of them, wearing the black shirt with white stripes (row seven, right behind the guy in the blue shirt). And yes, there were others who you might recognize.

Everyone has their own hobbies. Some people collect stamps or baseball cards, etc. Some people go golfing or are season ticket holders to the Reds and can rattle off the stats of the players and team, much like most of us can rattle off the stats of rides at Kings Island. The most important thing is that the leisurely activity one partakes in, that they genuinely enjoy it. And Gary certainly enjoys riding Diamondback. And if you`ve met Gary, he is a very nice guy and actually soft spoken.

[Dieseltech20]

Plus, he isn't the one bragging. The park is the one posting pics and making blog entries.

[markr]

^And may I add that people that have such hobbies aren't given half of the scrutiny that a coaster fanatic gets.

People have the right to their own opinions but, at the same time, people have the responsibility to show basic good manners toward others. This includes treating others with respect and dignity.

[Pillsberry123]

I don't know where I stand on it. Do I have a problem with it? No. Do I understand someone asking if he has a job? Yes. Either way, if he has a job (or if he's retired) I don't see what the problem is. It's a hobby, and going to an amusement park has to be better than sitting on the couch watching TV.

Congratulations on the 3000 rides, as I would have lost count around 75, and if I didn't keep track in my signature I would have probably lost count by now...

[BavarianBeatle]

Mr. Coleman has put himself in the public eye by parading around in that shirt bragging about how many times he has ridden DB and has promoted himself in the press and on the web. Questions like this are clearly fair game.

Seriously? Parading and bragging? Promoting himself? You've obviously never had a conversation with the man.

Did all of those people who were there tonight find out about the 3000th by standing around DB and counting Mr. Coleman's rides? I think not. Of course he promotes himself. He is obviously very proud of his accomplishment. Who wouldn't be? But by doing this, he opens himself up to questions about how he managed to reach his milestone.

[Jasper]

I was at the park on Sunday of last week and I got off The Beast at night and I was on the last train of the night, the ride op said have a good night Gary! Sure enough in front of me I saw a shirt that said like 2,597 rides and counting and on the front had the Diamondback logo, and it was Gary. If I had to guess I would say he just comes there every or most evenings and rides for the majority of the night.

[markr]

Mr. Coleman has put himself in the public eye by parading around in that shirt bragging about how many times he has ridden DB and has promoted himself in the press and on the web. Questions like this are clearly fair game.

Seriously? Parading and bragging? Promoting himself? You've obviously never had a conversation with the man.

Did all of those people who were there tonight find out about the 3000th by standing around DB and counting Mr. Coleman's rides? I think not. Of course he promotes himself. He is obviously very proud of his accomplishment. Who wouldn't be? But by doing this, he opens himself up to questions about how he managed to reach his milestone.

I have ridden DB so far 909 times. I am not out to make an "accomplishment"-it is immaterial to me whether I ride 10 or 10,000 times. I just happen to love the ride and figure if I'm going to ride it that much, I might as well keep count. On a personal note, DB opened just six weeks after I lost my dear mother. In a way, it has helped me to heal in dealing with my loss.

My point? There are many reasons why we may engage in hobbies that you may not be aware of. Try to be a little more understanding before judging others.

[Creed Bratton]

I don't know where I stand on it. Do I have a problem with it? No. Do I understand someone asking if he has a job? Yes. Either way, if he has a job (or if he's retired) I don't see what the problem is. It's a hobby, and going to an amusement park has to be better than sitting on the couch watching TV.

Congratulations on the 3000 rides, as I would have lost count around 75, and if I didn't keep track in my signature I would have probably lost count by now...

I'm with you...there is no problem, it's a hobby. I'm tired of reading comments from snarky people about this. It's time to grow up and stop being so dang on critical of something someone does, it's not your life so get over it. As several people have said Gary is one of the most humble people I know. Get to know the guy before you even say anything about how he's going around parading.

I'm sorry but Gary is a guy I look up to because of his life and things he has taught me it really irritates me when people are so critical of him.

[markr]

I don't know where I stand on it. Do I have a problem with it? No. Do I understand someone asking if he has a job? Yes. Either way, if he has a job (or if he's retired) I don't see what the problem is. It's a hobby, and going to an amusement park has to be better than sitting on the couch watching TV.

Congratulations on the 3000 rides, as I would have lost count around 75, and if I didn't keep track in my signature I would have probably lost count by now...

I'm with you...there is no problem, it's a hobby. I'm tired of reading comments from snarky people about this. It's time to grow up and stop being so dang on critical of something someone does, it's not your life so get over it. As several people have said Gary is one of the most humble people I know. Get to know the guy before you even say anything about how he's going around parading.

I'm sorry but Gary is a guy I look up to because of his life and things he has taught me it really irritates me when people are so critical of him.

Right on, Diamondback CMH. ( And may I add that you and the rest of the DB crew are absolutely awesome?)

[Creed Bratton]

Thanks, don't work there anymore but thanks! I can stand little arguments about different things but when it gets to people I know I get tired of it real quick.

Gary was with me on my 300th ride of DB and he bought me my on ride photo! Wish I could have been there for his 3000th ride!

[BavarianBeatle]

Mr. Coleman has put himself in the public eye by parading around in that shirt bragging about how many times he has ridden DB and has promoted himself in the press and on the web. Questions like this are clearly fair game.

Seriously? Parading and bragging? Promoting himself? You've obviously never had a conversation with the man.

Did all of those people who were there tonight find out about the 3000th by standing around DB and counting Mr. Coleman's rides? I think not. Of course he promotes himself. He is obviously very proud of his accomplishment. Who wouldn't be? But by doing this, he opens himself up to questions about how he managed to reach his milestone.

I have ridden DB so far 909 times. I am not out to make an "accomplishment"-it is immaterial to me whether I ride 10 or 10,000 times. I just happen to love the ride and figure if I'm going to ride it that much, I might as well keep count. On a personal note, DB opened just six weeks after I lost my dear mother. In a way, it has helped me to heal in dealing with my loss.

My point? There are many reasons why we may engage in hobbies that you may not be aware of. Try to be a little more understanding before judging others.

I have judged noone sir! I made no comment about Mr. Coleman other than he was rightfully proud of being a record holder on DB. However, his actions have invited questions like the one asked by flightoffear1996. And if Mr. Coleman was asked that question in person, I'm sure that his response would have been far more polite than yours!

[sheikra_rocks]

I am not even going to say anything here, because I will be warned or kicked off the forums.

Just know, that I support Gary 200%.

[KIfan1980]

In an attempt to try and calm some waters here:

- It is understandable for those that know Gary to defend him from attack. And there are those (especially on Facebook) who have attacked him with "get a life" type comments. These comments are unnecessary and hurtful.

- As I read BavarianBeatle's comments, I did not see them as an attack. I think he was merely pointing out that Gary does bring some attention on himself with his shirt.

- As I read FlightofFear1996's question, I saw a question for understanding.

Could different words and phrasing have been used - maybe. Could those defending be reacting more vigorously because of what else they've read on FB or what they remember from when Darlene reached 500 rides (as I recall it was much, much worse than what I've seen this time so far) - maybe.

[KI FANATIC 37]

I saw him one Friday night in line.

I don't see anything wrong with riding DB 3,000 times plus. Its his hobby. He enjoys it. Thats all that matters.

[LongliveKingsCobra]

I personally think this topic has been super heated..almost to random cumbstion point the chemical equation is:

KIC'ers + GC(Gary Coleman)+o2= Co2+h2o.

Bad combo.

I mean yes, I am kinda impressed, but as Beatle said, when you go around doing things, you are going to be asked/ridiculed for it. When i was tlaking to my friends in line about riding The Racer 117 times in one day, most people would ask me stupid things, or just plain not beilive me.

[pkiboy]

One thing Go to Kings Island and Have Fun and thats what Gary does Has Fun On Diamondback.

and the shirt thing Who cares he Is not hurting anyone.

[Kirk Sheppard]

- As I read BavarianBeatle's comments, I did not see them as an attack. I think he was merely pointing out that Gary does bring some attention on himself with his shirt.

Really? "Parading around" and "bragging" aren't words that sound attacking to you? This is now two threads in a few days where his choice of words appear quite angry and bitter and then others rush to his defense because we don't really "know him." Choice of words matter on a forum. Mean what you say and say what you mean.

So what if Gary is getting a little attention for doing what he's doing. As you can see from the show of support tonight both at the park and on this forum, he has had a positive influence on many people. This is a good thing. I agree that some questions about how he has accomplished this are expected and warranted and that Gary would gladly answer them. But if someone walked up to him and told him he was "parading around" and "bragging" - well, Gary is kind and would probably shrug it off. However, if many of us were with him, there'd likely be a different tone to the discussion.

Words matter.

[KIfan1980]

I wrote what I did trying to "calm some waters" (which you seem to want to continue to stir) not to rush to Beatles defense. I also defended your right to defend Gary and fof1996's question.

If you read my last paragraph you'd see that I agreed that different words could have been used. You'd also see that I mentioned folks might be a little more sensitive to the comments based on other factors (that apparently could include a forum post from the same user a few days back).

I'll just go back to the point of my post on page 1 now - Congrats to Gary, wish I could have been there to enjoy another ride with him.

[pbkigi]

I would love to do this if I had the time I'm trying to get a 100 and having trouble I am at 31 so still got a ways to go.

[Creed Bratton]

I would love to do this if I had the time I'm trying to get a 100 and having trouble I am at 31 so still got a ways to go.

Keep going for it! If you're struggling take your time. It took me a season and a quarter of this season to get to 300. You can do it

[LongliveKingsCobra]

A certain poster here, has churned the waters ever since he began posting. Sigh. He always has, and whenever I read his posts I just sigh and roll my eyes. And no, its not Beatle, I for one enjoy his sarcasm.

[BavarianBeatle]

I wrote what I did trying to "calm some waters" (which you seem to want to continue to stir) not to rush to Beatles defense. I also defended your right to defend Gary and fof1996's question.

If you read my last paragraph you'd see that I agreed that different words could have been used. You'd also see that I mentioned folks might be a little more sensitive to the comments based on other factors (that apparently could include a forum post from the same user a few days back).

I'll just go back to the point of my post on page 1 now - Congrats to Gary, wish I could have been there to enjoy another ride with him.

Continuously stirring the waters is what trolls do, my friend. But, hey, I have always thought that this site needed a newb to appoint himself as the sites "word cop" and begin personally attacking long time members.

--Beatle, who is done feeding the troll

[alluna]

I signed in today to post asking who this guy was with an orange shirt proclaiming his 3000th ride. We saw him getting a photo in front of the Diamondback entry sign and it looked like he was having a blast. We probably were watching him get on for that 3000th ride, come to think of it.

What's wrong with him spending his free time like this? I thought he looked like he was having a great time and the kids thought it was pretty cool. Kudos to this dude and shame on anyone who is poo-pooing him for minding his own business and doing something he loves.

[XGatorHead 8904]

I got to ride on the train for Gary's 3,000th quite by accident last night. I was at the park for some much needed coaster therapy. I was finishing my drink in front of DB and saw pkiboy waving me over. He asked if I wanted to join them... I thought it was just for a few rides, I didn't know it was a special occasion. I was on vacation last week and am still catching up on KIC and I hadn't read this topic yet, but I quickly learned that it was Gary's 3,000th. I was in the 7th row next to CoastersRZ.

I had seen Gary before but never really met him until last night. He's very nice, and I congratulate him on his achievement!

[Ogrmac]

Apparently, he doesn't mind sharing the details of why he rides, and how he has racked up so many rides.

http://www.journal-news.com/entertainment/kings-island/retired-minister-spends-estimated-6-3-days-on-kings-island-coaster-847356.html

However, I think part of The Journal News' reporting is wrong, because wasn't Coasting for Kids last week?