04/25/24
August 16, 2015
NFL Player Sends Back Young Sons' Participation Trophies: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison posted a photo on Facebook of trophies won by his sons and said he's sending them back. His explanation: "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 'til 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 you up and keep you happy."
I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned
So the boys didn't play? They didn't earn any recognition whatsoever of going to practice, showing up to games, behaving in a manner that didn't bring discredit to their team *cough*cough*?
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
James Harrison made approximately $28 million on his last contract with the Steelers (2009-2012) and did not win a Super Bowl in any of those four years. I guess he gave that money back.
posted by Etrigan at 06:02 PM on August 16, 2015
My most demanding and time consuming volunteer roles have absolutely been related to youth sport. Because of the fucking grown ups. I have never had a kid cause me indigestion or a sleepless night. Or hours needlessly wasted over senseless, avoidable drama.
No mention here of the sport and the age group with Harrison's kids. Sometimes, the trophies are especially important because the sport is mixed gender.
U7 and U8 boys playing on mixed gender soccer teams are ball hogs and showboats. The girls need those trophies to help validate the experience after all the bullshit they put up with for an entire season.
That's why I love coaching U10 girls soccer. Especially with mostly or all 3rd graders just coming into the age division. This is the time of year when we have our first practices before the fall season. And I tell them: it took a few years, but we finally got rid of the boys and this is your game now. We jump right into the team building drills.
(Young parents looking at and listening to an old man telling this stuff to their daughters and shaking their heads...then they see what we do.)
posted by beaverboard at 08:00 PM on August 16, 2015
I can validate your experience, beaverboard. Coached my daughter in mixed gender then from U/10s in girls teams. So much better being away from the boys.
Although I'm still trying to figure out if it worked for Iggy Azalea. She was in my daughter's U/14 team that I coached.
posted by owlhouse at 09:54 PM on August 16, 2015
Dear owly, There's only one Iggy and your Iggy ain't it.
Love,
Michigan Rock 'n Roll (who you should be familiar with)
posted by NoMich at 10:23 PM on August 16, 2015
My son's experience on a mixed U12 team was great. All the boys and girls played together well on a team that had been together a few years. My son was new to the sport but they were patient and supportive.
"Which SportsFilter member coached Izzy Azalea in youth soccer?" is now one of our greatest trivia questions.
posted by rcade at 10:39 PM on August 16, 2015
Owlie coaching Iggy Azalea in U14 soccer has got to be one of the all-time SPoFi classics (until we find out some member, male or female, spent the night with Derek Jeter and got a care package out of it).
I am of two minds on the participation trophies. On the one hand, my kids are stoked to get one (I have two boys in competitive sports, with one more boy on the way to playing competitive sports at age 4 and a fourth son who was just born), but on the other hand I am moderately sympathetic to the view that we are doing our kids a disservice by encouraging this "everyone-is-a-winner" mentality. That said, am fine with this through a certain age cut-off (although not exactly sure where that is at present, as my oldest is not yet 10).
posted by holden at 11:24 PM on August 16, 2015
No Mich:
The Birdman. The Oxford Tavern. Sydney 1977.
I was THERE!
Further trivia. One of my mate's older sister was Deniz Tek's girlfriend. And yes, we were under age at a licensed premises.
posted by owlhouse at 11:42 PM on August 16, 2015
Radio Birdman in '77 at the Funhouse? You've just pulled out the granddaddy of all participation trophies for Oz rock right there.
Not the Oxford Tavern but I'm posting it anyway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQEiFEQq0zQ
posted by deflated at 01:03 AM on August 17, 2015
Where do I post a photo of the tennis bracelet and gift basket I got from Cat Zingano?
The hotel concierge told me I looked like I needed medical attention.
posted by beaverboard at 09:47 AM on August 17, 2015
"I'm sorry I'm not sorry"
Confirmed, that sounds like James Harrison wrote it.
posted by yerfatma at 01:10 PM on August 17, 2015
No mention here of the sport and the age group with Harrison's kids. Sometimes, the trophies are especially important because the sport is mixed gender.
According to the Wikipedia, the kids were born in 2007 and 2009, so they're 7-or-8 and 5-or-6.
posted by Etrigan at 01:17 PM on August 17, 2015
The Birdman. The Oxford Tavern. Sydney 1977. I was THERE! Further trivia. One of my mate's older sister was Deniz Tek's girlfriend. And yes, we were under age at a licensed premises.
Radio Birdman in '77 at the Funhouse? You've just pulled out the granddaddy of all participation trophies for Oz rock right there. Not the Oxford Tavern but I'm posting it anyway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQEiFEQq0zQ
So many +1's being handed out.
posted by NoMich at 02:16 PM on August 17, 2015
I hate this attitude. It devalues the achievement a young child should feel about being involved in sports, win or lose. At a time when so many kids are attached to a screen and childhood obesity is rampant, the ones who make the effort of practicing, playing and developing their skills deserve to be honored. A pre-teen should not be taught that his efforts only are worthy of celebrating if his team were the best in their Little League.
The attitude also makes some parents behave badly. If they think another kid of lesser skills is holding back their child's chance to be a champion, they will sometimes get mad at a coach for playing everybody.
What James Harrison does to self-motivate as a grown-ass man has no relevance to what a small child should be taught in sports. Wait until they're further into their teen years to go all Earl Woods on them.