James Harrison Channels Adam Carolla With Participation Trophy Rant

Steelers veteran James Harrison and comedian Adam Carolla might not have a lot in common on the surface. But they do share at least one common value: participation trophies for none!

As reported by the Inquisitr, Harrison posted a special message on his Instagram account revealing his disdain for two participation trophies his sons received at an athletic camp this week.

“I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!” James captioned the pic. “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.”

Harrison continued, “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.”

James simply ended his rant with the hashtag “#harrisonfamilyvalues.”

And if anyone is experiencing a feeling of déjà vu while reading Harrison’s Instagram caption, it may be because four years earlier, comedian Adam Carolla preached the exact same message. Carolla’s infamous participation trophy rant came as a result of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, and echoed what James Harrison preached earlier this week.

“We’ve created a bunch of f—ing self-entitled monsters. ‘I want my Most Valuable Player trophy.’ ‘Well, you’re the slowest, fattest guy on the team.’ ‘Why should he get one and I don’t?’ ‘Because he busts his a** and he runs a 4.4 40. That’s why he gets one.’ ‘Well, this is s–t.’ And then everyone gets involved and everyone gives everyone a participation trophy and then everyone feels good about themselves but it’s not based on anything. You should feel good about yourself because of your accomplishments. Not because someone yelled at you to feel good about yourself and you got a fake piece of plastic that was sprayed gold and had your name on a plaque at the bottom.”

While it’s unclear whether or not James Harrison was channeling Adam Carolla at the time he wrote it, his message was eerily the same.

What do you think? Are participation trophies for kids a good or bad thing?

[James Harrison photo credit: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images. Adam Carolla image via Live Nation]