Posts by Paul Scott74

I was watching some highlights from a major tournament last night and it got me thinking about the balance between seeing the absolute best players in the world and actually developing local talent.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing world-class superstars step onto the pitch. It raises the level of play and makes the broadcast much more exciting for casual fans. But lately, I’ve been feeling like some of these franchised leagues are becoming more about "all-star" spectacles rather than building a lasting foundation for the sport in a specific region.

If every team just buys the biggest names from abroad, what happens to the kids growing up in the local academies? Are they even getting a shot at the big stage anymore? I worry we're trading long-term sustainability for short-term hype.

Do you guys think these "globalized" league rules help or hurt the local grassroots level?

Hi 🙂 So, I’ve been dealing with hemorrhoids again. They first popped up back in 2012, but I didn't really think much of it and they somehow just cleared up on their own... but now, for the last few months, they're back, and it feels like a weird mix of external and internal issues. Nothing actually hurts, there's no burning or bleeding or anything like that... The only thing is, when I sit down on the toilet to go, I can feel two little bumps right by the anus, but as soon as I stand up, they seem to retract. I've tried using some suppositories and ointments, including some Hadensa cream and suppositories, but it hasn't really helped much. Does anyone have any advice on what else I might try? I saw on a website that potato and olive oil might help—has anyone actually tried that?

I’m so sorry if I’m totally off-topic here!

Back in June, my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. We feel lucky it was caught early on, so they started with chemotherapy, which managed to shrink it a bit. The doctor suggested that to be on the safe side, he should have surgery to remove his entire stomach. His CT scan after the operation showed there were still two lymph nodes involved, but we’re hoping chemotherapy can handle that. He had the surgery in October, where they connected his small intestine directly to his esophagus. At first, he could manage soft or pureed foods, but for this past month, he hasn't been able to eat anything at all because it feels like everything just gets stuck in his intestines. It isn't just food, either—even if he just drinks water, it gets stuck, and then after a while, it all just rushes through him. He went to see the doctor, who referred him for a gastroscopy, but the results came back completely clear with no obstructions found in the digestive tract. I guess, has anyone else dealt with something similar? Thanks so much.