On August 30, 1865, Andrew Johnson, the first president to be impeached, made a different first: When he hosted the Brooklyn Atlantics and Washington Nationals amateur baseball clubs at the White House, he originated the custom of sports teams visiting the president. Today, President Donald Trump (insert impeachment joke here) continued the tradition by hosting the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. But the festivities had some notable absences.
Tom Brady cryptically announced this morning that he would skip for “family reasons,” but the other Pats not attending have been more than open about why they didn’t want to head to Trump’s White House for a photo op. Running back LeGarrette Blount said on a radio show that “I just don’t feel welcome in that house.” Tight end Martellus Bennett, who announced immediately after the Pats beat the Falcons that he would not visit Trump, will be in Los Angeles to appear on Chelsea Handler’s talk show instead. And Alan Branch told The Boston Globe he wouldn’t go because he was horrified by the Trump Access Hollywood tape, where he joked about sexual assault.
A couple of Patriots, Devin McCourty and Chris Long, recently filmed a video to further explain why they would protest the tradition of visiting the president. In the video, the players, along with lifelong Pats fans, discuss what the team means to them, the emotions of the Super Bowl comeback win, and about not supporting Trump.
“Right away I knew I wasn’t going, because it was something I had thought about before we had even won the game,” McCourty says in the video. “For me it was simple, I don’t want to exclude other people.”
Long, who gained attention earlier this season when he became a vocal supporter of Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, said, “My son grows up, and I believe the legacy of our president is going to be what it is, I didn’t want him to say, ‘Hey, dad, why did you go when you knew the right thing was to not go?’”
While seven Patriots announced ahead of time that they would not visit, nearly half the team didn’t make the trip to D.C. One player who did attend was loveable lummox Rob Gronkowski, who wandered into Sean Spicer’s press briefing earlier today to ask if he could help. Spicer should have taken him up on the offer.
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.