Sports has the magical power of bringing people together regardless of their age, socioeconomic status, religion or ethnicity. It’s a common language that gives people who may not have much in common something to bond over. In the video above, a police officer was able to use the power of sports to strike up a conversation with a suicidal man and save his life.
On Saturday, September 10th at around three o’clock in the morning, body camera footage captured Columbia, South Carolina police officer Michael Blackmore attempting to talk a suicidal down from a guardrail. Blackmore, along with two other officers and two EMS workers, responded to a call of a man crying with his feet dangling over a guardrail above South Carolina Highway 277. Although the video doesn’t explain why he was about to end it all, the man can be heard saying: “I’m tired of living.” But officer Blackmore wouldn’t let him go that easy.
Blackmore eased the man into a bit of small talk and learned he was a fan of the South Carolina Gamecocks and Washington Redskins. This gave Blackmore a chance to tap into to the sense of hope that all diehard sports fans share. “You’re just having a bad night tonight,” Blackmore told the man. “But tomorrow night, when you’re sitting around and you’re watching the Gamecocks—or on Sunday when you’re watching the Redskins play or whatever—you’ll look back, ‘Man, what was I thinking Friday night?’ You’re just having a bad night.” After the two started talking sports, the man on the bridge relaxed and eventually let Blackmore and his fellow officers bring him down from the guardrail.
After the incident, the man was taken in an ambulance to Palmetto Health Richland hospital. Later, Blackmore told reporters he used a similar technique with a man who was ready to jump off a parking garage. “It was pretty much the same exact thing,” Blackmore told The State. “I ended up talking to the guy about football. He told me he was a Notre Dame fan.”
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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.