OT: James Harrison rejects sons' participation trophies

[Brian in Mesa]

James Harrison rejects sons' participation trophies

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/james-harrison-rejects-sons-participation-trophies/ar-BBlMBm5

James Harrison has had to earn everything he has achieved as an NFL linebacker, and he wasn’t keen on his sons receiving participation trophies, so he sent them back.

The Steelers veteran posted a picture on Facebook of the two trophies his sons brought home with a scathing caption underneath.

Here is the message Harrison included:

“I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise to boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best…cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better…not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues“

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

To each his own... I'm sure it's more valuable to teach your sons to try and hurt people and bully them during the SUPERBOWL.

 

[GatorAZ]

I agree with his point but it cancels that out because he posted it on the Internet. You can embarass your kids to make a point but not like this. Keep it in your house.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

To each his own... I'm sure it's more valuable to teach your sons to try and hurt people and bully them during the SUPERBOWL.

He already let his kids know where they stand when he popped their mother in the mouth and kept pitbulls that he wasnt capable of handling that bit them

 

[DemsMyBoys]

So he wasn't at the ceremony that is usually held when kids receive these things. He came home and found his sons had something he didn't like.

I REALLY hope the boys' mother was in attendance because at it stands... #harrisonfamilyvalues seems to be having someone else volunteering to be his sons' coach (they have jobs too, James)....then complaining about the decisions they made.

Edit to add...I looked at the photo of the trophies. I have no idea what Next Level Athletics is...but it sounds like something Todd Marinovich's father would have loved. #screwupyourson

 

[Brian in Mesa]

To each his own... I'm sure it's more valuable to teach your sons to try and hurt people and bully them during the SUPERBOWL.

He already let his kids know where they stand when he popped their mother in the mouth and kept pitbulls that he wasnt capable of handling that bit them

So he wasn't at the ceremony that is usually held when kids receive these things. He came home and found his sons had something he didn't like.

I REALLY hope the boys' mother was in attendance because at it stands... #harrisonfamilyvalues seems to be having someone else volunteering to be his sons' coach (they have jobs too, James)....then complaining about the decisions they made.

I am not a fan of participation trophies, but I too cringed when I saw that hashtag of #harrisonfamilyvalues. Yikes.

 

[splitsecond]

He is absolutely correct on this. Participation trophies and ribbons have created a generation of entitled, selfish human beings who revel in the attention they get from selfies.


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[crisper57]

Well winner trophies didn't exactly turn out well for the "I got mine" boomers who currently run the show. So maybe trophies aren't how we should teach values to kids either way.

 

[Jetstream Green]

He is absolutely correct on this. Participation trophies and ribbons have created a generation of entitled, selfish human beings who revel in the attention they get from selfies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This and the acceptance of mediocrity... and back when someone won in the day it meant more because the winner represented everyone and excellence

 

[Dude]

Well winner trophies didn't exactly turn out well for the "I got mine" boomers who currently run the show. So maybe trophies aren't how we should teach values to kids either way.

Point two is a good one. Moving to Arizona I was stunned to find out there is only 17 or 18 division 1 football teams. Can't win move down until you can. Losing is a part of life kids need to learn to handle as well.

Oh Edit. Harrison is a reject.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I hate participation trophies. Adults have to "win" every day at work. If you aren't a top performer, someone else will take your job.

I keep KPIs on all my staff and post them where they can be seen by everyone, ranking them from top to bottom.

My experience is no one stays on the bottom long.

 

[Dude]

I hate participation trophies. Adults have to "win" every day at work. If you aren't a top performer, someone else will take your job.

I keep KPIs on all my staff and post them where they can be seen by everyone, ranking them from top to bottom.

My experience is no one stays on the bottom long.

At my sons school last year they gave a award to a kid for being the most enthusiastic crossing guard.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

I am not a fan of participation trophies.

Neither am I.

There is something tremendously off-putting, to me, about a father, (especially one who is obviously absent from his sons' life a LOT) using social media to announce he's teaching them a lesson.


#Good Dads Just Do It (TM). Nike can contact me if they want to put that on t-shirts.

 

[Drop D]

Well winner trophies didn't exactly turn out well for the "I got mine" boomers who currently run the show. So maybe trophies aren't how we should teach values to kids either way.

You win! So, where should I send the trophy?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Point two is a good one. Moving to Arizona I was stunned to find out there is only 17 or 18 division 1 football teams. Can't win move down until you can. Losing is a part of life kids need to learn to handle as well.

Oh Edit. Harrison is a reject.

A participation trophy at end of the season has nothing to with winning or losing.

 

[Phrazbit]

Yeah James! You tell em, put your kids on blast! Let the world know, it don't matter who you are... a QB, a defenseless receiver, a member of the Cleveland Browns, his wife... if you come at Harrison with that weak garbage he is gunna lay yo butt out!

Boom! Sic the dogs on em next time James! RUFF RUFF!!!

 

[Southpaw]

HBO Real Sports did a segment on this a few weeks ago.

http://footballscoop.com/news/video-hbos-real-sports-goes-inside-participation-trophy-culture/

James Harrison may have been the wrong messenger, but.... the message had a point.

 

[Southpaw]

A trophy for signing up.

 

[gmabel830]

Sprinkles are for winners!

 

[Southpaw]

Sprinkles are for winners!

Good one



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[RugbyMuffin]

While I agree with Harrison to a point.

This is not 1980. Kids attention has a lot of options to them. Sports are not the end all anymore with the digital world taking over everyone, even the older generations (how many times you look at your phone this morning ? ).

There is a benefit for encouraging someone to just get up and do something. I understand James Harrison has been raised, and lived a life that sports was a central part of life.

But, not everyone is a world class athlete who (and this is pure speculation, and some stereotyping) is dumb as a box of rocks.

So people's lives go in a different direction, where just getting out and doing something athletically is a big step outside their comfort zone, and is a huge accomplishment.

But, I doubt Harrison: A. Has even thought there are people that have a different point of view in life, and B. Realize some people's goals are not where his are.

Its like if Harrison joined a book club, just the fact he picked up a book is a big thing for him, while others would have something smug to say about just picking up ONE book.

Just sayin'

 

[crisper57]

Anyone see that kid with cerebral palsy that finished a triathlon? He didn't win, but he damn sure deserves recognition for participating.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

We got participation trophies when I was a kid - it was Dairy Queen after the game and sometimes you get to keep the cool t-shirt from the tournament.

Doubt that participation rewards negatively impact anything, unless the 1-3 place kids don't get additional rewards - but I would like to see actual data before I shoot off at the mouth about how a trophy leads to the decline of Western civilization

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Anyone see that kid with cerebral palsy that finished a triathlon? He didn't win, but he damn sure deserves recognition for participating.

Psh, why?!

How is that going to prepare cerebral palsy kid for the real world?!?!?!?!!!!!!!

You think staying committed to a task, working to improve and gaining confidence in a task has ever helped anyone ever????

Cerebral palsy kid should just take his not first place finishing butt back inside the house and put all his efforts into something he could actually win at ....... quit wasting our time kid!

 

[MrYeahBut]

A participation trophy at end of the season has nothing to with winning or losing.

Agree with this. At my granddaughter's golf camp, only the tournament 1st and 2nd place get trophies. All the other kids get participation medallions. There is a difference for winning.

To my way of thinking, participation medallions are worth something. I think it helps kids be more inclined to come back the next year, which is a good thing, regardless of their individual skill level or what sport it is.

.