If there’s one thing about Steelers LB James Harrison, it’s he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
The linebacker put out on Instagram a pic of his kids “participation” trophies, and how he was giving them back.
A strong statement that probably will not
Sit well with a lot of people – but you have to give him this – he’s not afraid to give people a piece of his mind.
DrGeorge
August 16, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Call me “old school,” but forty years ago, James Harrison’s stance on participation trophies would not have raised a single eyebrow. “Feel good” participation awards are as phony as good conduct medals and gold stars for attendance. Harrison knows the real world rewards merit. He is simply teaching his kids that showing up is not good enough in the real world. Are kids better served by protecting their little egos from the harsh realities of life and competition? Or are they better prepared for life by understanding there are standards and that achievement takes hard work and discipline?
Now, take another look at Harrison’s note, this time for writing competence. While the note was intended for the casual world of social media, it is much better written than the turbid prose served up by most professional athletes on social media. Which tells me Harrison learned more in college than how to terrorize QBs. He didn’t learn to write that well by getting a “participation trophy” in English class.