Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Headlines: U.S. Open Cup Round No. 2 Preview
The 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup resumes this week with 16 Second Round games on the schedule. There is a lot on the line on Tuesday and Wednesday night as each winner will earn a date with a Major League Soccer team in the Third Round (April 14-15). Seven amateur teams are still alive with four teams from the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) and a trio from USL League Two (USL-2). Out of the 32 teams, 17 of them are from USL Championship, while Division 3 clubs are represented by seven from USL League One and one from MLS NEXT Pro (Chattanooga FC).
Quote, Unquote: Thomas Takashi Cooke
"I'm already spoken for that day, I'm going with my son to see Japan play in the World Cup."
- Portland chef, restaurateur, and James Beard finalist Thomas Takashi Cooke explaining why he'll be unable to attend the James Beard Award ceremony on June 15.
IPS 365: Monday, March 30 (Day No. 101)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Didn't do any work related to the Ivory Pine Syndicate
RSC 365: Monday, March 30 (Day No. 302)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Worked on 23U meeting presentation
- E-mailed update about 23U drop-in sessions
- Created member survey for 2026-2027 season
- Texted a prospective referee
- Texted with 9U and 10U coaches about friendlies
- Resolved schedule conflict related to 9U and 10U friendlies
- E-mailed apology note to 9U and 10U families
- Coached 12U session
- Provided equipment to coach
- Checked with 15U, 16U, and Academy coaches
Road to the NHS: Monday, March 30 (Day No. 10)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $55.44
Win Wagers: N/A
Place Wagers: N/A
Win %: 12% (2/17)
Place %: 47% (8/17)
Monday, March 30, 2026
Bookshelf: The National Team (Chapter 12)
The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer (Caitlin Murray)
Chapter 12: "Whoa, Can We Do This Without Her?"
Murray provides the context for the hiring of Pia Sundhage as the USWNT head coach in late 2007 before detailing the team's efforts to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics despite losing their best player Abby Wambach to an injury in a pre-tourney friendly.
And Murray closes the chapter by describing Sunil Gulati's efforts to improve the working relationship between the USWNT, and explaining the context of "The Markgraf Rule." Named after longtime USWNT defender Kate Markgraf, the rule guaranteed that any player who had to leave the team due to pregnancy would be put on the same contract she had before her pregnancy and would be provided with a 3-month window to earn back her roster spot.
IPS 365: Sunday, March 29 (Day No. 100)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Bought groceries for partner visit
- Hosted partner visit at Norton Farm
- Visited with Crimson Pine and Tayra
RSC 365: Sunday, March 29 (Day No. 301)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Created and posted game day graphic on social media platforms
- Prepared Veo camera
- Prepared game day rosters and referee fees
- Attended RSC Boys Academy game
- Recorded RSC Boys Academy game
- Helped run 9U session
- Attended RSC Girls Academy game
- Recorded RSC Girls Academy game
- Attended 12U session
- Talked with a director about roster logistics
Road to the NHS: Sunday, March 29 (Day No. 9)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $55.44
Win Wagers: N/A
Place Wagers: N/A
Win %: 12% (2/17)
Place %: 47% (8/17)
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Soccer Weekend: Sunday, March 29 (Wager No. 66)
(This feature will focus on a $1 parlay wager every Saturday and Sunday through the end of May.)
Game No. 1 (9a)
Men's Super Cup (Iceland)
Vikingur Reykjavik (-525)
Game No. 2 (10a)
Women's Damallsvenskan (Sweden)
Hammarby IF (-525)
Pick Success Rate: 59% (77/130)
Total Bankroll: $47.14 (+ 17.9%)
IPS 365: Saturday, March 28 (Day No. 99)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Handicapped races at First Tracks Cumberland
- Handicapped the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby
- Sent update to "Road to the Roses" contest participants
- E-mailed partner update to Tayra partners
- Attended and wagered on live races at First Tracks Cumberland
- Watched and wagered on races at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park
RSC 365: Saturday, March 28 (Day No. 300)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Handicapped soccer games
- Texted a coach about schedule logistics
Road to the NHC: Saturday, March 28 (Day No. 8)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $55.44
Win Wagers: N/A
Place Wagers: N/A
Win %: 12% (2/17)
Place %: 47% (8/17)
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Soccer Weekend: Saturday, March 28 (Wager No. 65)
(This feature will focus on a $1 parlay wager every Saturday and Sunday through the end of May.)
Game No. 1 (4p)
Men's USL Championship (United States)
Detroit City FC (+225)
Game No. 2 (7:30p)
Men's USL League One (United States)
Portland Hearts of Pine (+130)
Pick Success Rate: 59% (76/128)
Total Bankroll: $48.14 (+ 20.3%)
IPS 365: Friday, March 27 (Day No. 98)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Handicapped races at Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park
- Watched qualifying races at Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Watched race replays at Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park
RSC 365: Friday, March 27 (Day No. 299)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Talked with a director about schedule logistics
- Looked up results from member survey about 2026-2027 league preferences
- E-mailed state association about certificates of insurance for home fields
- Texted with directors about certificates of insurance for home fields
- Watched short documentary about Como 1907
- Looked up results from member survey about 2026-2027 league preferences
- Watched replay of Como 1907 vs. Pisa
- Worked on coach update
- Revised game day procedures document for coaches
- Worked on reminder e-mail for upcoming friendlies
- E-mailed coach update
- E-mailed reminder for upcoming friendlies
- E-mailed facilities manager about field availability
- Called league official to talk about roster logistics
- Texted with facilities manager about field availability
- Texted with a league director about field collaboration
- Texted with coaches about game day logistics
Road to the NHC: Friday, March 27 (Day No. 7)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $55.44
Win Wagers: N/A
Place Wagers: $3.40, $3.00
Win %: 13% (2/15)
Place %: 53% (8/15)
Friday, March 27, 2026
Bookshelf: Maine (Chapter 17)
Maine: The Pine Tree State from Prehistory to the Present (Judd, Churchill, and Eastman)
Chapter 17: Traditional Industries in the Age of Monopoly, 1865-1930
Dr. Wayne M. O'Leary updates how the industries explored in chapter 12 undergo change after the Civil War, especially within the context of national competition, new corporate structures, new consumer tastes, and new technologies.
Project 250: Friday, March 27 (Week No. 13)
Current Weight: 276
Starting Weight: 280
Difference: - 4 (-1.4%)
IPS 365: Thursday, March 26 (Day No. 97)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Read Thirty Tons a Day
- Handicapped races at Gulfstream Park and Turf Paradise
- Watched race replays at Gulfstream Park and Turf Paradise
RSC 365: Thursday, March 26 (Day No. 298)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Read The National Team
- Updated agenda for 23U team meeting
- Texted 23U coach about team meeting
- Created member survey for 2026-2027 season
- Compiled club update
- E-mailed update to members
- Compiled update e-mail for 23U players
- E-mailed update to 23U players
- Talked with a club director about league logistics
Road to the NHC: Thursday, March 26 (Day No. 6)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $49.14
Win Wagers: $6.80
Place Wagers: $3.60
Win %: 17% (2/12)
Place %: 50% (6/12)
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Lists: Beer
(A series of lists of favorite things.)
- Allagash White
- Frye's Leap
- Guinness
- Miller High Life
- The Substance
- Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Red Stripe
- Amstel Light
- Stella Artois
- Pumpkinhead
- Rolling Rock
IPS 365: Wednesday, March 25 (Day No. 96)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Prepared apples for farm visit
- Visited Norton Farm
- Fed apples to Crimson Pine and Tayra
- Talked with trainer and driver
RSC 365: Wednesday, March 25 (Day No. 297)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Uploaded Veo video footage
- Worked on Town Hall presentation
- Looked up U.S. Open Cup schedule
- Worked on Town Hall presentation
- Texted a coach about an upcoming meeting
- Updated website with news item about potential infrastructure investments
- Created and scheduled social media post about infrastructure investments
- Texted with a coach about a team meeting
- Hosted virtual Town Hall to discuss 2026-2027 leagues and age groups
Road to the NHC: Wednesday, March 25 (Day No. 5)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $38.74
Win Wagers: N/A
Place Wagers: $6.40
Win %: 11% (1/9)
Place %: 56% (5/9)
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Bookshelf: Thirty Tons a Day (Chapter 12)
Thirty Tons a Day: The Rough-Riding Education of a Neophyte Racetrack Operator (Bill Veeck and Ed Linn)
Chapter 12: Horses and People
Veeck details the logistics of horse manure removal at Suffolk Downs before pivoting to profile the president of the New England horsemen's association (Gerry Colella), a couple trainers (Jack Van Berg and Dick DeStasio), a jockey (Charlie Maffeo), and the various types of fans and handicappers who attended races at the track.
RSC 365: Tuesday, March 24 (Day No. 296)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- Texted with opposing coaches about schedule logistics
- E-mailed reporter about participation in a news story
- Texted with coaches about intraclub friendly
- Texted with opposing coaches about schedule logistics
- Texted with coaches about schedule logistics
- Texted club documentarian about game action photos for an upcoming game
- Texted with coaches about logistics for media appearance
- Caught up on a variety of e-mails
- Prepared and scheduled social media post about virtual Town Hall
- Texted with an opposing coach about schedule logistics
- Texted coaches about schedule logistics
- Texted with an opposing coach about schedule logistics
- E-mailed another club about schedule logistics
- Texted with a coach about an intraclub friendly
- Texted coaches about schedule logistics
- Texted with a director about state association policy
IPS 365: Tuesday, March 24 (Day No. 95)
(This is a day-to-day look at being the founder and managing partner of the Ivory Pine Syndicate, a Maine-based horse racing partnership.)
- Researched potential entries for the Wood Memorial Stakes
- Handicapped and wagered on a race at Parx Racing
Road to the NHC: Tuesday, March 24 (Day No. 4)
(This series will feature practice mythical $2 Win and $2 Place wagers each day at Throughbred race tracks.)
Bankroll: $32.34
Win Wagers: N/A
Place Wagers: $2.10
Win %: 13% (1/8)
Place %: 50% (4/8)
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Quote, Unquote: Johan Cruyff
"Without the ball, you can't win."
- Johan Cruyff, who passed away ten years ago today.
RSC 365: Monday, March 23 (Day No. 295)
(A day-to-day look at being the chairman and a co-owner of the Rosevelt Soccer Club, a soccer club based in Gorham, Maine.)
- E-mailed members for content
- Updated Results Tracker
- Updated PDE graphics
- Worked on Town Hall presentation
- E-mailed with reporter about participation in a news story
- Talked to a director about schedule logistics
- Worked on weekend recap social media post
- Texted coaches about schedule logistics
- E-mailed with reporter about participation in a news story
- Texted with opposing coaches about schedule logistics
- Coached 9U session
- Coached 12U session
- Texted with coach about participation in a news story
- Texted with coaches about intraclub friendlies
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