When the Qatar women’s basketball team took the court for the Asian Games in 2014, officials told them they needed to remove their Islamic head scarf before the game began, citing a nearly 20-year ban on religious headgear like hijabs, turbans, and yarmulkes. The Qataris refused, forfeited the game to the Mongolians and then pulled out of the tournament entirely.
But the ban didn’t just affect the Qataris. Many athletes, especially Muslim women, have felt the ban has put them in a very difficult position. “It’s a horrible feeling. There’s nothing in the world like having to choose between your faith and something you love,” American-Muslim basketball player Indira Kajlo told the AP.
Finally recognizing the bind they were putting athletes in, FIBA (basketball’s international governing body) voted unanimously yesterday to allow players to wear religious headgear during games.
[quote position="left" is_quote="true"]This is a victory for inclusion in basketball[/quote]
The path to yesterday’s vote began in the wake of the Qatari incident, as a groundswell of support grew to change this rule, led by Muslim women who wanted to play basketball at the highest level, while still observing their religious practices.
The fight gained more support earlier this year when Athlete Ally, an LGBTQ advocacy group, expanded it’s mission and wrote an open letter to FIBA in January calling for it to overturn the ban. Athletes across multiple sports signed the letter, including 15 players from the WNBA, which still has a similar headgear ban in place.
It certainly didn’t hurt the cause that one of the biggest players in all of sports, sportswear giant Nike, was actively supporting players wearing headgear, debuting its first hijab designed for athletes in March. While Nike has a reputation for throwing its financial weight around international sports with some questionable results, this appears to be an instance where the company used its influence for good.
“I think the immediate beneficiaries are Muslim female athletes, [but] the prohibition applied to all kinds of headgear, so many groups will be affected by this modification,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman told Excelle Sports. “This is a victory for inclusion in international basketball.”
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.