RHOADES LESS TRAVELED:

For going on 10 years, Kirk McIntosh and his wife, Sue, have been organizing an exciting and exuberant youth soccer tournament about 2,500 kids participate in these days.

And the Daily Pilot has been sponsoring and lending its name to it. You got it. It’s Pilot Cup time.

This year, the tournament involving every school in the Newport-Mesa School District runs from May 26 to 31.

Will Rea Elementary School win it all for the umpteenth time in a row? The school’s record — six or seven consecutive titles, actually — brings to mind one word: dynasty.

At any rate, we’ll have to wait and see. School officials are getting their teams organized. Kids are champing at the bit. Parents are getting that look in their eyes.

Wednesday night marked the beginning of the McIntoshes’ annual, Herculean effort to organize this massive tournament.

March Madness, step aside if you will.

I had lunch with Kirk about a month ago to discuss how the Pilot can help, and the super-fit lawyer seemed to me to be one part determination and one part dread.

“You can’t believe what it takes,” he said, running his hands through his hair. “My wife quits every year.”

Correction. At some point in the logistical nightmare that is organizing this tournament Sue announces that she’s had enough.

Until the next year, when she’s back at it.

Well, the next year is here, and I think the Pilot Cup is going to be better than ever. For one thing, we at the Pilot have pledged to intensify our efforts at raising money for the nonprofit event.

Wednesday night marked a new beginning of sorts.

It was Kirk’s first meeting with the volunteer liaisons who will be working with the schools to organize the Pilot Cup.

We hosted the meeting — with pizza and drinks — here at the Pilot.

As of press time, it could be described as efficient, bustling, fun and tasty.

And I figure if we adults are having a good time, imagine what fun it will be for the 2,500 kids frolicking on Newport-Mesa fields.

Beats learning your times tables, and not a bad way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of this event.

Editor BRADY RHOADES may be reached at (714) 966-4607 or at brady.rhoades@latimes.com.