Rich Lowry‘s latest column at National Review Online focuses on the importance of learning lessons from loss.
NFL quarterbacks fear Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison. So should participation trophies, the ubiquitous trinkets given to children for merely showing up and rounding out the rosters of local sports leagues.
The other day, Harrison learned that his sons had brought a couple of them home and was none too pleased: “I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!”
He swiftly returned the offending tokens and explained himself on Instagram: “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.”
Harrison can be forgiven for having any touchy-feely sentiment wrung out of him by clawing his way to the top of the most punishing meritocracy in all of sports. He was signed by the Steelers at the outset of his career as an undrafted rookie, got cut multiple times, and considered quitting and becoming a truck driver like his dad, until he finally caught on in the NFL, where they don’t honor you for participating.
Most people are still with Harrison, if a Reason-Rupe poll from last year is to be believed. It found that 57 percent of people think only winning players should get trophies, putting a clear majority on the side of the atavistic impulse to reward only victory.
