There were 3.2 million girls playing high school sports in 2012, which was 10 times more than when anti-discrimination measure, Title IX, was enacted 40 years earlier. The measure, which establishes equal access protections in athletics and academics—along with other key protections—also spurred female participation in collegiate sports to rise 225 percent to 212,000 over the past 35 years.
Meanwhile, the United States’ women’s World Cup soccer team (USWNT) attracted 3.3 million television viewers for its 2015 tournament opener against Australia, marking a 200-percent increase over the team’s first match in 2011.
In other words, women play sports. Women love sports. Men and women alike follow women’s sports. But you’d never know it based on most mainstream sports coverage. Despite the increase in interest and participation in women’s sports, television coverage hasn’t budged over the last 25 years. Some mind-boggling stats:
•Forty percent of athletes are female, yet men’s sports receive 96 to 98 percent of the coverage
•ESPN’s SportsCenter devoted just 2 percent of its coverage to women’s sports in 2014, roughly unchanged since 1999
•Network affiliates saw their coverage of women’s sports drop from 6.3 percent in 2004 to 1.6 percent in 2009
We here at GOOD Sports are flipping that script. We always aim to tell compelling, impactful stories about sports as a tool for progress, regardless of a subject’s gender. But for the next four weeks in the month of December, we will dedicate the overwhelming majority of our coverage to women’s sports.
Incidentally, the USWNT has been battling for pay equal to or greater than the U.S. men’s team. Their current deal with U.S. Soccer expires on December 31. We acknowledge and respect that effort, as well as similar efforts, and we look forward to playing a small part in providing women’s sports—through December 31 and beyond—the coverage they deserve.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
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.