DeAngelo Williams returns daughter’s field day ribbon

DeAngelo Williams says thanks but no thanks to daughter’s participation ribbon

Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams knows what it takes to succeed. He worked hard at Memphis, setting the record for most 100 yard rushing games in a career with 34. He earned NFL second team All-Pro and most improved player honors in 2008, and was the NFL TD rushing leader last season. So when his daughter Rhiya received a participation ribbon at her school’s field day for not having really won anything, Williams just wasn’t having it.

https://twitter.com/DeAngeloRB/status/730605612636246016/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Williams wrote that he “took her Field Day participation ribbon & gave it back to her teacher.” It seemed to be the right motivation for his daughter, because he added that “in the next event she got first place.” The Twitter photo Williams tweeted of Rhiya also showed her wearing two third place ribbons along with the blue first place ribbon. Not a bad day after all.

Williams wasn’t the first Steeler to return awards for just being a participant. In August, James Harrison posted a photo on his Instagram account with a caption that essentially said no thanks when his boys won two 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 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 knows a little something about hard work – he was a walk-on at Kent State, went undrafted, and played in NFL Europe before joining the Steelers. He won two Super Bowl rings, made five Pro Bowls and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He received over 3,800 mostly positive comments on his returned trophies photo.

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