Pittsburgh Steeler Returns His Kids "Participation" Trophies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he is likely an asshole and doing his kids no favors- I can just imagine them telling the other kids they don't deserve a trophy or it is meaningless. How else would a kid cope?

These participation trophies are merely a memento of your season acknowledging that everyone has contributed. They are kids. It is fine. In this area it is so competitive that most of these kids won't even get to play a team sport in high school.

And you sound just like a mom. Which is fine, because I bet you are. But he is a man, a father, and his comment is that "this is how he's teaching his sons to be men." He is a professional football player in his mid-30s who is still competing and knows what it takes to play at that elite level. And by the way, he himself is the youngest of 14 kids so imagine what that did to his sense of drive and perspective.

I very much like his comment, "sometimes your best isn't good enough." That's exactly right and nothing wrong with kids learning that at an early age. It doesn't mean you're a failure in life or a worthless person. It means that someone will always be chasing you, willing to work harder than you are and may be just more naturally gifted. Get over it.

That is all f'ing bullshit... just a bunch of ridiculous DC overachieving bull fing shit.

Elite level, sense of drive... blah, blah, blah.


Wee just need kids to get their fat asses off the couch and have fun... playing at an elite level GMAFB.

He better be nice to his kids, because he elite self won't be able to wipe his own ass when he is 50 due to the TBI he likely will suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

It also sounds incredibly ungrateful. I've only ever seen participation trophies in rec leagues for small kids. I know my kid's low key soccer league stopped them at U8 (mostly 2nd grade). Rec leagues that are almost completely staffed by volunteers. I'm guessing, this guy didn't volunteer his own time, because then he would have just not given the trophies out.

Why not just tell your kids "I'm not going to display these trophies. In our house, we only display trophies that are earned"? Or sign up to coach their team, and change the policy from the inside. Or research the programs you sign your kids up for in the first place, and choose one that reflects your values. But taking advantage of volunteer run programming, and then insulting the organization on the internet is rude. So is giving back gifts you don't want, whether they're trophies you think wasn't earned, or a sweater from Grandma you think is ugly.

I don't see anything "manly" about raising kids to be selfish and ungrateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

It also sounds incredibly ungrateful. I've only ever seen participation trophies in rec leagues for small kids. I know my kid's low key soccer league stopped them at U8 (mostly 2nd grade). Rec leagues that are almost completely staffed by volunteers. I'm guessing, this guy didn't volunteer his own time, because then he would have just not given the trophies out.

Why not just tell your kids "I'm not going to display these trophies. In our house, we only display trophies that are earned"? Or sign up to coach their team, and change the policy from the inside. Or research the programs you sign your kids up for in the first place, and choose one that reflects your values. But taking advantage of volunteer run programming, and then insulting the organization on the internet is rude. So is giving back gifts you don't want, whether they're trophies you think wasn't earned, or a sweater from Grandma you think is ugly.

I don't see anything "manly" about raising kids to be selfish and ungrateful.

Well he beat his girlfriend, started fights with his HS coach and shot a BB gun at a coach that he did not like. So it's not like this guy is somebody anybody respects off the field.

I wonder if he would be willing to give back his HS diploma since he did not really earn it... i would love to audit his college work to see if they just "gave him a participation" degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well he beat his girlfriend, started fights with his HS coach and shot a BB gun at a coach that he did not like. So it's not like this guy is somebody anybody respects off the field.

I wonder if he would be willing to give back his HS diploma since he did not really earn it... i would love to audit his college work to see if they just "gave him a participation" degree.

James Harrison, model of fatherhood and manhood:

PITTSBURGH -- Domestic violence charges were dropped Thursday against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was arrested in early March after hitting his girlfriend.

Allegheny County prosecutors announced the decision as a judge was preparing to open a preliminary hearing for Harrison on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief.

"He has entered domestic abuse counseling. The victim did not request any further restitution and the victim did not wish to pursue further prosecution," said Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney.

Harrison told police he and Beth Tibbott were arguing on March 8, and then he broke through her bedroom door, slapped her in the face and snapped her cell phone in half. The Steelers have said the couple were arguing about whether to baptize Harrison's son.

Harrison's attorney, Robert DelGreco Jr., said Harrison has completed anger management and psychological counseling, which likely would have been required had the case gone to trial.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3327255

[Anonymous]

Meh. My DD played basketball last winter (k-2 league). All the children got trophies. But, in giving them out, the coaches did an excellent job in highlighting something that the child learned or contributed to the team (e.g., Child x started the season very unsure of herself but by the end had improved to be able to do XXX).

I don't see anything wrong with that. They are in elementary school not the NBA. It gives them something to be proud of - you need not win or be mvp to be proud of how you improved during a season - and build upon.

Harrington sounds like an insufferable bore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He needs to go sit with all the self-congratulatory mommy bloggers.

+1

Also, if this is your particular hill to die on, then its on YOU as the parent to find out IN ADVANCE what kind of league you put your kids into. The rest of this and after the fact grandstanding is just for attention. If you feel that strongly then I am sure you don't want your kids in that league, no matter how much you want them to play.

This is a non-story that comes out every few years that is just basically a way for those of us getting older to shake our fists and act all curmudgenly about "kids these days" and THOSE KIDS are to blame for society getting "soft" or entitlement, etc. Then the next day there is a story about kids facing immense pressures that no other generation could understand and that its so much more cut throat than it was in "old times".

Which is it folks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well he beat his girlfriend, started fights with his HS coach and shot a BB gun at a coach that he did not like. So it's not like this guy is somebody anybody respects off the field.

I wonder if he would be willing to give back his HS diploma since he did not really earn it... i would love to audit his college work to see if they just "gave him a participation" degree.

James Harrison, model of fatherhood and manhood:

PITTSBURGH -- Domestic violence charges were dropped Thursday against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was arrested in early March after hitting his girlfriend.

Allegheny County prosecutors announced the decision as a judge was preparing to open a preliminary hearing for Harrison on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief.

"He has entered domestic abuse counseling. The victim did not request any further restitution and the victim did not wish to pursue further prosecution," said Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney.

Harrison told police he and Beth Tibbott were arguing on March 8, and then he broke through her bedroom door, slapped her in the face and snapped her cell phone in half. The Steelers have said the couple were arguing about whether to baptize Harrison's son.

Harrison's attorney, Robert DelGreco Jr., said Harrison has completed anger management and psychological counseling, which likely would have been required had the case gone to trial.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3327255

Thank you. Evidence that one's willingness to make a public stink about participation trophies is directly correlated with his/her predisposition toward anti-social behavior and general ass-holery.

[Anonymous]

So my area must have been ahead of its time because I'm almost 30 and had participation trophies growing up. I think what some parents miss in this debate is that past 4th grade or so, these trophies are not a sense of pride for kids. They know what they mean (congrats, you lost). Most don't want a big show made out of it because getting a participation trophy doesn't really feel good. I would have preferred nothing vs the trophies and purple ribbons I'd get.

Now a little kid is just excited to get a trophy, and really, no long term impact is going to be made if your 7 year old gets excited about a trophy.

Personally, I thInk the participation stuff is pointless because it's essentially a last place trophy. But do I think that it's going to give kids an entitlement complex? Not unless he's getting influenced elsewhere as well N

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my area must have been ahead of its time because I'm almost 30 and had participation trophies growing up. I think what some parents miss in this debate is that past 4th grade or so, these trophies are not a sense of pride for kids. They know what they mean (congrats, you lost). Most don't want a big show made out of it because getting a participation trophy doesn't really feel good. I would have preferred nothing vs the trophies and purple ribbons I'd get.

Now a little kid is just excited to get a trophy, and really, no long term impact is going to be made if your 7 year old gets excited about a trophy.

Personally, I thInk the participation stuff is pointless because it's essentially a last place trophy. But do I think that it's going to give kids an entitlement complex? Not unless he's getting influenced elsewhere as well N

What sports do you participate that still give out participation trophies in 4th grade? Around here you usually see them in U8 or below, which is usually PK - 2 with an occasional young for grade 3rd grader in the mix.

Also, they don't mean "Congrats you lost". Every time my kid has gotten one, it's been a league that doesn't rank teams. So all the kids in the league get the same trophy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

+1

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I have a child with Anxiety. Her participation on the swim team represents a shitload of bravery from her. As far as I'm concerned, she earns that participation trophy.

Yes, but what did she contribute to the team?

I assume this is rec? If it's rec, you know what -- that's good enough. Rec is about personal growth too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

Got it, mommy.

Why are you using "mommy" as an insult?

It's not an insult. It's just very obvious that the female/ mommy position is this poster's point of view. Which is why it is beneficial and indeed necessary, IMO, for kids to have a dad and a father in their life, who sees things from a more masculine, competitive perspective.

I think James Harrison is a wife-beater. I'm sure his kids don't need that more masculine, competitive perspective. I mean, the dude hits women. What a pussy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I read stuff like this I just sit back and relax thinking my kids are in a bubble inside their little Montessori school learn to develop their interests for the pleasure of working and not looking for recognition coming from outside.

*phew*

Best humblebrag I've seen in a very long time!!

Actually it's a brag. I'd never say that IRL so I use dcum to let things like this out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:

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 two 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.

What this is, is a DAD who makes his kids do stuff to fit his own personal agenda.

You are wrong. It is a dad who is preparing his sons to face life.

+1

It is foolish and unrealistic to convince your kids that they deserve to be congratulated for participating. You don't get a bonus or promotion at work for showing up, you get it for showing up and doing a great job.

[Anonymous]

It sets a precedence for being congratulated for showing up as PPstated. We should not reward "being there."


And yes, as kids get older they do owner why they are not being praised for being on team, in a club, etc.

Awards should be awards, past preschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:

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 two 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.

What this is, is a DAD who makes his kids do stuff to fit his own personal agenda.

You are wrong. It is a dad who is preparing his sons to face life.

+1

It is foolish and unrealistic to convince your kids that they deserve to be congratulated for participating. You don't get a bonus or promotion at work for showing up, you get it for showing up and doing a great job.

Not true. We give bonuses to everybody. Most people get jobs based on who they know not hard work. Most jobs that require a team approach reward the whole team when they give awards.

His kids will get way more out of life simply because he is rich, he know people and he can pay for a great education... no hardwork.