17 Aug 15
I know a lot of you have heard what James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers said bout giving his kids participation trophies back.
Some of you may agree with what he said and some of you may very well disagree with him. Both sides of the argument can be made, with seemingly valuable points for and against and that’s cool, but I’m going to give you the Tirone answer, because I’m solidly in that first group.
When I was growing up and participating in sports, you either won or you lost, there was no 6th place or 7th place, there was no medal for anything after 3rd.
Was I upset about not getting a trophy or medal, you damn right I was, mostly because I wanted to be the best because I lost, not because I didn’t get a trophy.
Back then you lost and you learned that you needed to get better to beat the competition. Losing taught you that digging deep and coming back after a setback was that much more rewarding when you ended up at the winners circle.
Look at the Olympics or any other international sport, they only hand out Gold, Silver and Bronze. They don’t have any thing after Bronze, so you don’t get Sapphire, you also can see the disappointment on the competitors that didn’t medal, you can also see the determination as well. That *I will be back next year and I’m going to get one of those medals* outlook is what the essence and spirit of competition is.
The PC crowd will have you believe that it builds confidence in kids by giving them a trophy. To which I say no it doesn’t because when they fail to win a spelling bee or another competition later they will still expect to get something for just being there.
Then what will you say when they come home crying, now you have to speak to them and say *Well Jimmy/Jane sometimes in life you will not always get a trophy for showing up, you will win or lose and have to overcome the setback and strive to be the best next time*. Why not establish that thought process in the beginning, it will lessen the work you have to do later in life.
You may not like it, but losing happens and everyone shouldn’t/doesn’t get a trophy at the end.
BY TIRONE JEFFERSON “Sports from the Street”
