Discover insights and save on wisdom!

Sit-Reps

“Sit-Rep” .. No.39

Just what exactly is a “Sit-Rep”?

“Sit-Rep” .. No.39

Just what exactly is a “Sit-Rep”?

As I was sitting around this morning and thinking about what I should write as I prepare for this next stage, it occurred to me that many of you might have no idea what this is even all about.

I decided to go back and try to provide an overview that might help you understand all my ramblings.

So, here it is!

Ray’s Buffet and the Sit-Rep series were never created to tell anyone what choices they should make.

They were created to show what it actually feels like to live inside the world of cancer — for the patient, for family, for friends, and for the people who unexpectedly become part of the support team.

These posts are simply real-life field reports.

They document fear, denial, humor, exhaustion, stubborn optimism, bad days, good days, and everything in between.

The goal has always been to put real experiences on the table, not instructions.

And just to be absolutely clear:

Nothing in these posts should ever be considered medical advice.

I’m not a doctor, not a nurse, not a therapist —

I’m not even qualified to instruct anyone on how to properly use a Band-Aid.

Chronological Overview of My Cancer Journey

Phase 1 – The Early Signals (2010–2019)

Long before the official diagnosis, there were warning signs: elevated PSA levels, unexplained physical issues, and moments that were easy to ignore because life was busy and I felt strong. Looking back, those early numbers and symptoms were the opening chapters that only made sense in hindsight.

Phase 2 – The Diagnosis (January 2020)

The turning point came with the official diagnosis: Stage IV Prostate Cancer. From that moment forward, life became a cycle of scans, labs, waiting, and trying to figure out what “normal” even meant anymore. This is where the Sit-Reps truly begin — not as medical logs, but as mental survival reports.

Footnote… The title changed from “Ray’s Buffet” to “Sit-Rep” in remembrance of one of my former 11th ACR Commanders Glenn Snodgrass (R.I.P.), who contacted me on a regular basis with a short text that contained only the words “Sit-Rep”? That meant it was time to call and talk.

It was because of him that I began attending the Regimental Reunions.

Phase 3 – “Next Play” Mentality

Instead of letting cancer define the narrative, I sort of framed it like a basketball game:

bad calls, bad breaks, but always “Next play.”

This mindset became a recurring theme — pushing forward, coaching again, traveling, staying connected to the game even when the body was failing.

Phase 4 – Independence Day (2022)

In July 2022, I made one of the most radical decisions of the entire journey:

I stopped treatment and chose quality of life over quantity of time.

This wasn’t denial — it was control. A deliberate choice to live on my own terms for as long as possible.

Phase 5 – Radiation & Crossroads (Late 2024–2025)

Eventually, symptoms forced another crossroads. Radiation therapy began, along with all the physical side effects and emotional second-guessing that came with it. The Sit-Reps show the constant tug-of-war between hope, realism, fatigue, and stubborn independence.

Phase 6 – Hospice Reality

The moment hospice entered the conversation, the journey shifted again — from “fighting cancer” to planning for the end while still living in the present. These posts are some of the rawest: finances, funerals, autonomy, fear, and the mental weight placed not just on you, but on everyone around you.

Phase 7 – Ongoing Sit-Reps (Now)

The most recent Sit-Reps show where things stand today:

still coaching, still traveling, still joking, still scanning, still negotiating between medical reality and personal freedom. Not cured. Not finished.

Just… still playing.

What Makes This Series Different

Most cancer stories are written after the fact.

Mine is written inside the experience — with uncertainty, dark humor, contradictions, and no clean ending.

It’s not inspirational fluff.

It’s not tragedy porn.

It’s a long, messy, honest Sit-Rep from someone who refuses to pretend this is neat, fair, or predictable.

In other words:

Not a guidebook.

Not a sermon.

Just real life — served buffet style.

That brings us to today.

“Sit-Rep” .. No.39

(Lots of Information doesn’t always lead to conclusions.)

The Biopsy taken 10 days ago revealed cancer in my ribs. It explained the pain that was, at times making things really uncomfortable.

The doctor who performed the procedure said that the results would be back in 3-5 days.

My Oncologist called me late in the afternoon “the next day” …

We discussed from “A-to-Z”

My next appointment is 2.February.

We will have one more discussion and after he finishes singing the praises of Stephen Curry, we’ll talk about the next chapter.

Right now we are (he is) learning towards another round of “palliative” radiation therapy on my ribs.

The goal would be to slow the spread and lessen the pain.

For those contemplating / worrying about the procedure, all I will offer is that it “shouldn’t be” as difficult as the last bout.

That’s because the stomach and bladder are not involved.

That means that I won’t have to follow that ridiculous diet and procedural time regimen that I had last time.

No more drinking chicken broth for breakfast.

All of this will be decided on 02.February.

Footnote: Once again I must comment on my experience with the VA. The Doctors, Nurses, Technicians, Admin Assistants have been outstanding!

In closing, I’ll jump to my “B-List”

There were two things left on it.

1) Coaching a “Team” … That started out looking good, as I selected the players I wanted to play in the National Tournament in Dallas.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite going as planned because, getting men (with families and jobs and real lives to live) to come to practice regularly is not easy. And many of you know me … “No Practice - No Play!”

So, I might not be able to check this one off my list. More to follow….

2) Visiting Germany … Still on the list… not entirely in my control. Has to work physically and financially!

Footnote:

I might have a “Plan-B” for Number-1 … It means putting in a few more hours of work, but might be more fun.

I’ll put the details in the next “Sit-Rep” … so stay tuned.

If it does work, it might help with Number-2 on the list.

As Paul Harvey, my favorite old-school radio commentator would say … “and now you know - the rest of the story!”

But in true “Ritz” fashion I would add … “but not the end of the story!”

See you next time!

#Cancer #quakenbrueck #fulda #usarmy #basketball #Hofstra #coaching #booktok

“Sit-Rep” .. No. 38 .. Part-II

This is where we are after the Rib Biopsy that has been identified

as Cancer .. from the Prostate

Prostate Cancer Metastasis

“The Next Step”

Wednesday 14.January ... Had a Biopsy on my rib.

That's where all the pain has been coming from.

The day went pretty uneventful. I took an Uber to the hospital.

The check-in and initial conversation went well and everything seemed to be going as planned.

The procedure itself went well, except for the difficulty of finding a vein for the IV.

That was another first. The nurse eventually decided to use an artery. That’s the first time I’ve ever had that happen.

Anyway, I’ll spare you all the details. Everything went according to plan.

That is, until I got back to the prep room.

I think I made a slight mistake. Having fasted as instructed the previous day, I was hungry, so I ate a sandwich.

After which, I was asked how I was doing. Without thinking, I said “Well I’ve got this slight pain in my chest. …!”

all the Bells and Whistles went off!

Within minutes, everyone was in my bay.

An EKG was administered!

Then I was transferred to the ER (on a bed)!

Blood was drawn!

An X-Ray was taken!

I was transferred upstairs (on a bed)! for a CT Scan.

I was given an “awful” tasting cocktail to drink.

When everything was cleared, I was finally discharged… with one valuable lesson learned… I will never again mention chest-pain in the hospital.

A Rib-Biopsy is another “experience”

To see someone hold a drill to your side and then hear that “whirring” sound is definitely “different.

When it was all done, the doctor explained that he was still unable to see, with the naked eye, exactly what the mass was. He said that he had taken enough substance out, but the composition was unclear.

It would have to go to the lab for certainty.

He told me that in 3-5 days, there would be an answer.

Imagine my suprise at 16:30 today…

My Oncologist called!

He got the Biopsy results back faster than I thought.

The lesion on the rib is Cancer, from the Prostate.

He and I are going to talk about it on 2.February…. To be continued…!

#quakenbrueck #fulda #usarmy #basketball #Cancer #lifetimefitness #Hofstra #coaching #booktok

.“Sit-Rep” .. No.38

“The only way to find out what's causing the problem!”

Hey Guys … quite a bit has happened since December 18th (the last Sit-Rep).

I have spoken about the passing of a member of the Baybrook Basketball Community, and the effect that it has had.

That continues to be an underlying theme with regard to whatever lies ahead.

Actually, I'm sitting here right now trying to put together this "sit-rep."

There's a lot going on! This past weekend, we held a small memorial service

for the player from the league who passed away.

For the past few weeks, I've been taking two pills for pain almost every day.

Tomorrow morning I have a biopsy appointment.

After the results come back, the Doctors and I will discuss what happens next! 🤷🏽‍♂️

I mentioned that I had added something else to a “Bucket-List” .. well, I guess it’s time to reveal what it is.

I’ve decided to try and coach one more game.

I’ll leave out all the details about how that came about, and summon up by saying that they’ve added another national tournament for the Ultimate Hoops program, and it’s being held in Dallas.

It will be played on the last week in February.

Again, leaving out all the details, I will simply say that I have put together a group of players from Life Time Baybrook and we’ve been training sporadically to try and prepare for the tournament.

Everyone selected for the team is one of those players who fit that phrase of “allowing themselves to be coached.“

The practices are really fun, and as most of you know, that’s where I feel most comfortable.

Those of you who have played for me in the past will recognize some of what we will be doing on the floor when the games begin.

You know that it has nothing to do with the current trends in the game of basketball.

It is, however, the type of basketball that I enjoy the most, and I believe the players on this team enjoy being a part of it.

Can we win? That’ll be decided when we step onto the court.

I’ll talk more about that sometime in February.

Lastly, while all that has been going on, something else happened here at Life Time.

I’ll tell you about that next time.

There will be a short follow up to this Sit-Rep when the results come back and I’ve had a discussion with the doctors.

Hopefully, by that time, I'll be able to gather all my thoughts and express how I'm really doing because, at the moment, I have no idea🫣

So, I guess that means I’m okay! 🤡

#quakenbrueck #fulda #usarmy #basketball #lifetimefitness #Hofstra #Coaching #Cancer

"Sit-Rep" .. No.37 - Preview My plan was not to become one of those with a list of reasons to hold on. I said that I had been there, done that and got all the T-Shirts. Something happened that made me think a little and suddenly I had some things that I wanted to do ... again!

.“Sit-Rep” .. No.37 .. Preview

“Sit-Rep”..No.37 will close out 2025.

A former player once gave me a card.

It said “Fall down seven times, stand up eight!”

Hey E.H., how are we doing?

#basketball #cancer #usarmy #lifetimefitness #booktok #hofstra #fulda #quakenbrueck #coaching

"Sit-Rep" .. No.36

.“Sit-Rep” .. No.36

“Hospice .. and .. the “T-Word”

Well Folks, this is probably going to be one of the less comical “Sit-Reps” .. and unfortunately for those in a hurry… one of the longest.

I’ll begin by saying that I’m going to cheat a little. The first part was actually a part of “Sit-Rep” No. 21.

Events that have occurred since it was written have given it new meaning and I believe that it might help some of you if you are ever confronted with a similar situation, or know someone who is.

Because of something that occurred within my circle a couple of weeks ago, my outlook was altered slightly. A man and his family were told on one day “We believe it’s time to put you in Hospice Care!”

They did and … He passed the next day! Just let that sink in for a few seconds….

When that happened to someone that I knew very well, it was kind of like a shock to my system.

Some of you might be knew to these postings, so I’ll give a short backstory.

My Oncologist, Urologist, Neurosurgeon and Pain Management Specialist decided that I should be placed in Hospice Care on 22.May 2024.

So here is that “Back-Story I promised…

“Let’s Talk about Hospice”

In some of my previous posts, I talked about the fact that we all remember, only too vividly, the day our doctors said those three words.

“You have Cancer!”

You had thought about the possibility before, but hearing it with certainty comes as a shock to the system. All kinds of things go through your head.

You’re suddenly in a kind of ”twilight zone”.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I even heard the next few words that came out of the doctor’s mouth.

And so it goes! I also said that Cancer sometimes has more of an effect on your brain than on your body. It literally takes control of your thoughts.

All of your actions begin to revolve around something related to Cancer. You have to make a concerted effort to maintain normalcy in your life.

You need help … not just from your medical team, but also from family, friends and all those in your life who make up your “support group”.

So .. hearing “You have Cancer!” is a difficult pill to swallow. I think we can all agree on that.

If you play your cards right; if you are fortunate, you can get through it.

There is however another situation that you might have to deal with. One that can be just as unsettling as the aforementioned “Three Words”!

Your Doctors have evaluated, treated, evaluated and treated you some more. Their most recent findings tell them that it’s time for them to tell you … “We think we should put you in Hospice Care.”

Just what does that mean?

For many of us, when he hear the term “Hospice”, we have pictures in our minds of a number of situations. Let’s look at a definition according to the VA.

‼️These are the requirements listed to be eligibile for Hospice Care‼️

👉🏽 “To be eligible for VA hospice care, veterans must meet specific criteria, including having a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less, based on the progression of their condition. VA hospice care is not limited to terminal illnesses related to military service; it covers any life-limiting illness faced by eligible veterans.”

Well, if hearing “You have Cancer!” can create a stressful situation … just how do you process this information?

There is no way for me to really communicate what I have experienced since I was put in Hospice Care.

If thinking can be considered “exercise for the brain”, then I was doing olympic-level calisthenics.

I thought …

👉🏽 How do I want to spend the rest of my time

👉🏽 Should I stop working

👉🏽 If don’t work, will I have enough money to make it to the end

👉🏽 When is the end

👉🏽 Is everything in Order

👉🏽 Can I pay for my funeral

👉🏽 How do I make my own funeral arrangements

👉🏽 What do I do when I can no longer do for myself

There’s a whole more, but I think you get the picture.

These thoughts are, in my opinion, absolutely unavoidable.

There are days when I find myself wondering 🤔

“Are they wrong? I don’t feel like I should be in Hospice Care”

People look and say “You’re in Hospice?”🤷🏽‍♂️

Then there are days when I definitely feel like they were right. Days when the Opioids don’t really do the trick.

I guess it’s the uncertainty that bothers me the most.

On the one hand, it would be ”nice to know”, in order to be able to plan better.

On the other hand, do I really ”want to know”.

Well, here we are.

‼️I’ve been telling myself all this time… I’m ready for whatever comes….Then comes that aforementioned situation. It was a little like that “Ice-Bucket Challenge”

I was reminded of what my Oncologist told me about what was eventually coming my way!

All of that while at the same time, lately my physical state has been all over the map:

My Blood Pressure has always been elevated but in the last 10 days, I was threatened by my Hospice Nurse, who said she had a “2 x 4” in the pickup and if I didn’t take my medication .. well .. you know!

The readings of “191/96” - “198/112” and “210/111” resulted in my medication being changed.

The increased pain in different areas forced me to go from taking one “💊” every 5-6 days, to taking one “💊” and sometimes two “💊💊” a day.

Okay, I think you’ve heard enough to understand. It’s the mental part that’s the hardest to deal with.

All of this has brought me back to the words of my friend Jimmy Valvano.

“Cherish every Opportunity to suit up!”

The VA and the Hospice had a fight two weeks ago with the Medicare Administration.

It seems that Medicare wanted to have me discharged from Hospice Care because I .. “You know 😈”

My Hospice Nurse came to explain everything to me and it was decided that we should first consult my Oncologist. We did and he replied within minutes with “Continue Hospice!”

I’ll let you connect the dots.🤔

So there we were. I was discharged and re-enrolled!

I can only describe all of the events of the past three weeks as “sobering”.

“C’mon Coach … get to the point!”🤯

Okay .. I now have a real “Bucket List”

There’s a player that I once coached when he was in college. He has become a very successful College Head Coach. His team plays in a Tournament in North Carolina in late December. I’d like to go watch. I’ll have to see if I can make that work.

This one is “huge” .. I’ve decided to put together a team and coach them in an Ultimate Hoops National Tournament in Dallas in late February. One more chance to roll out my somewhat antiquated systems and challenge teams that are “Bigger-Faster-Stronger” with a group of players who “allow themselves to be coached” … I really want this one. (Anybody remember “Sting”?🙄)

If that “6-Month Expiration Date” has not come, I’d like to make one more trip to Germany

So in the words of that outstanding NPR (National Public Radio) Reporter Paul Harvey, who I used to listen to when I was taking recruiting long trips … “and now you know The Rest of the Story”

That’s all for now. The next “Sit-Rep” will there’s something to report. In the meantime you should check out my Podcast .. “Lunch with Coach” every Wednesday at 12:00 Noon (Central)

https://www.skool.com/goals-instead-of-dreams-2735/about?ref=c584d1679ce0445392f20df82261504f

See you next time!

Coach

You can contact me per eMail at: Coach@ritzbball.net

#basketball #booktok #cancer #coaching #fulda #hofstra #lifetimefitness #lifetime #usarmy

"Sit-Rep" .. No.35

.“Sit-Rep .. No.35”

“Slight Change of Plan”

I said I wouldn’t post until something happened that indicated a change.

Well something has changed. Some of the change is tangible and part of it has more to do with the thought process, so I guess that’s intangible.

It did however lead to some real tangible changes.

Okay, enough with the “word salad”.

The last two weeks have definitely been eventful.

There was the cancer-related death of one of the really good people in my league. He was 44 years old and the epitome of Jimmy V’s phrase “Never Give Up!”

His doctors decided it was time to put him in hospice care. He passed away 24-Hrs later.

That really hit hard for so many reasons. He had done everything possible to beat cancer and…

That happened while I was having some trouble with pain management.

I had just had Labs done and a follow-with my Oncologist.

The PSA had risen from “23.08” on 22.July to “69.42” on 22.October.

It had tripled in three months.

‼️Spoiler Alert‼️

I continually advise you guys not to play “Internet Detective” but…🤷🏽‍♂️

I can’t help myself 🤡

This is what I found… not that I didn’t already know .. and not that my very capable Doctors at the VA hadn’t already told me…

Quick Course in PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Indications for those who are unfamiliar with the term as it pertains to Cancer.

🤔 Cancer Borderline … When does Cancer jump to the front of the line in diagnosis?

PSA above 4.0 in anyone over age 60, or above 2.5 in anyone younger than 60.

👉🏽 PSA doubling time:

A doubling time of less than three years is a strong indicator of potentially aggressive prostate cancer, even if the absolute PSA level is not yet high.

For example, a PSA rising from 2 to 4

in 18 months is more concerning than a stable PSA of 6

PSA that triples in 3 months Suggests aggressive activity

This pattern is something doctors treat as urgent, not something to “wait and see.”

🙄 Okay … enough of that

So, my PSA tripled in three months, which meant that it might not be a coincidence that the discomfort and various pains have been increasing.

Now, here’s where the Sit-Rep portion comes together.

When the conversation at the follow-up session got beyond what’s going on in the sports world and the current political environment, we finally began to discuss the health issue.

We talked about my use of the prescribed pain 💊 medication. We discussed my “Macho-Man Mentality”🤷🏽‍♂️ for one, and my wish not to become dependent on the medication.

That has been my reason for not taking a pill until it was absolutely necessary.

Here is where I have to once again say how much I appreciate my Doctors and the entire VA Staff.

In an earlier Sit-Rep, I talked about an article/survey where it was revealed that it is not uncommon for doctors not to tell patients everything involved in their diagnosis, if the news is not good.

‼️Maybe we’ll have an opportunity to talk about that during one of the upcoming Podcasts‼️

My Guys are not in that category. My Doctor said… (not directly quoted but close enough for government work 🤡) “So, you’re worried about abusing the substance or being abused by it.

A part of the problem has to do with that stuff on your hat. You think you’re not supposed to show weakness.”

I suppose I sat there and grinned.😏

Then he asked… “What’s your situation? You chose not to continue treatment because Quality of Life was more important than more time.”

“Isn’t that what the pills are for? So… use them!”

“When you find yourself taking too many, we can revisit the subject and find another solution. Take your Pills!”

I hadn’t thought about it in that sense.

Here’s the kicker.

The following Thursday, my Hospice Nurse came to visit. She told me that Medicare wanted to take me off of Hospice. I said, fine with me.

She said there were a few formalities to take care of.

One was getting an opinion from my Oncologist, so I sent him an email, while she was still in my apartment.

To my surprise, he answered in just a few minutes.

Reply: “Continue Hospice”

So, I was officially discharged from Hospice Care on 29.October and enrolled in Hospice Care on 30.October at 16:21.

I have been taking my medication 💊 once daily and for the most part, the pains have “significantly” decreased.

You need only ask the guys in the League how I’m doing.

My “Mini-Me” Crew is having a ball talking trash and some of the guys say, I’m writing like I’m on drugs😈

If there’s a downside, it’s that because the medication masks the symptoms and pain, so I don’t know what’s going on.

Oddly enough, I did get a sneak peek.

I went to the funeral service yesterday and was tired when I got home.

I took a nap, and slept through the alarm. That meant that I missed my dosage time.

I decided to skip it and see how I felt after a few more hours passed.

“Oops…!”😬

So, now we know where we stand.

I hope to see some of you on the new Website:

https://www.skool.com/goals-instead-of-dreams-2735/about?ref=c584d1679ce0445392f20df82261504f

There’s gonna be a lot to talk about.

You might even run into a former teammate.

The first one will be Thursday 13.November at 6:30pm (Central)

The initial topic will be “The Cancer Journey”

After that, we’re gonna discuss everything under the sun.

I will publish a schedule.

That’s all for now. “The Pot-Stirrer

The questions....

1. Where are we...?

2. How did we get here.?

3. Where do we go from here..?

If you want more like this, check out my website (www.ritzbball.net) especially “Sit-Reps”

If you want the backstory to all of this, get a copy of my book

“It’s the Coach’s Fault”

Get a copy as a gift for a young athlete in your family!

You can contact me per eMail at: Coach@ritzbball.net

#basketball #booktok #cancer #coaching #fulda #hofstra #lifetimefitness #lifetime #usarmy

"Sit-Rep" .. No.34

“Sit-Rep”.. No.34 … Tue 23.Sep.2025 ... Where do we go from here?”

While I catch my breath, let me ask you something.

The questions....

1. Where are we...?

2. How did we get here.?

3. Where do we go from here..?

If you want more like this, check out my website (www.ritzbball.net) especially “Sit-Reps”

If you want the backstory to all of this, get a copy of my book

“It’s the Coach’s Fault”

Get a copy as a gift for a young athlete in your family!

You can contact me per eMail at: Coach@ritzbball.net

#basketball #booktok #cancer #coaching #fulda #hofstra #lifetimefitness #lifetime #usarmy

"Sit-Rep" .. No.33

"Its a Ritz Thing" ... that's not always easy to understand!

“Sit-Rep”.. No.33 … Thu 18.Sep.2025 Let’s just call it “a Ritz Thing!”

It’s been a while and quite a bit has happened over the last few months.

Before I go any further, I want to reiterate that nothing I say should be taken as medical advice. I am relating where my cancer journey has taken me and what steps I have taken along the way.

The goal is simply to give other cancer patients and their support groups something other than “AI-Generated” Information.

Read and listen to my story. Evaluate the choices that I have made and take from it whatever you feel might fit you. I won’t be mad if you see nothing of value in it! 😏

Back to the task at hand.

Since returning from Germany in June, there have been 12 VA Appointments.

They include Labs, MRI’s, CT Scans and Consultations.

At this point, I can tell you that there are two phrases that I have heard on many occasions, and I will use them to sum up this “Sit-Rep”.

The phrases are … “Your case is unique!” and “How are you feeling?”

“Your case is unique!”

That is what almost all of the specialists have said. There appears to be no predictable pattern and often no explanation for the course the cancer has taken. Maybe that’s why I have retired and unretired so often that my supervisor at Life Time simply nods her head and says “Okay!” 🙄 when I say “I think it’s time for me to step away from work!”

The Doctors have been baffled by the fact that symptoms just seem to come and go as they please, with or with treatment. Things like the PSA going from 1200+ to 4.5 and then back to 1100+ and now 34. There are other things but I don’t want this to disturb anyone who might be sensitive to the terminology. I also don’t want it to be censored by “Internet Police” for use of graphic content.

At any rate, all of the results and the accompanying uncertainty have led to labeling my case as “unique”. The Specialists have met a number of times and after the last MRI of my Kidneys, they met again. On the 10th of September, I was called in to hear the results of the discussion.

Again I will spare you all of the details and simply cut to the chase.

It appears that I have two cancers and that “sort of” explains why no one could definitively diagnose the problem.

In the interest of time and space explain, I will leave out the details and let you “follow your interest level”.

It looks like I’ve been saddled with RCC and mCRPC at the same time. This is what the book says about that: “Synchronous metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a rare phenomenon.”

Hence the phrase “Your case is unique!” That kinda makes it “A Ritz Thing!”

At that last consultation, I was advised that there are some "aggressive” treatments available, but that they advise against surgery.

This presents the perfect segue to today’s other phrase: “How are you feeling?”

The Doctors have asked me that and some of my friends have asked that question, and rather than giving the usual casual one or two word response, I said

“I’m feeling pretty good. Actually… I’m feeling too good.”🙃

Then, as is my usual manner🤦🏽‍♂️, I used a basketball analogy to explain.

I said “It’s like being a coach and having a 20 point lead at halftime against a team that you know you’re not supposed to beat.”😏

You go into the locker asking yourself .. “When is that other team going to wake up and start doing what you’ve seen them do to others?”

You wonder when your team is going to start falling apart and letting the other team take over.

As a coach, if you do that, it’s usually because you don’t believe in yourself and the things you have done to get to this point. That doubt can cause you to make changes… to stop doing what you’ve done to get where you are.

If your plays got you this far, then you should keep running them until they don’t, figure out what to do when that point comes.

Strangely enough, one of the Doctors also had some basketball in his background. He understood the comparison 100%, and even made some comments that fit perfectly.

The aggressive treatments might give me some more time, but it would pretty much destroy the (good) time that I am now having.

I’m getting on the nerves of the guys in my leagues (and enjoying every minute of it 😈).

I’m doing pretty much whatever I want to do. The symptoms, discomfort and occasional pains that occur are tolerable and on really bad days, there are 💊 available.

Bottom line… we agreed on continual monitoring and to just doing what I’m doing.

For the Life Time players that means “The Pot-Stirrer” is still gonna dog you, and for the rest of you, you’ll just have to listen to my rambling a little longer.

See you next time!

By the way, this and a lot of other “Back in the Day” stuff .. including my book “It’s the Coach’s Fault” can be found at www.ritzbball.net

You can contact me per eMail at: Coach@ritzbball.net

#RadiationTreatment #CancerJourney #HealthAwareness #Support #CancerCare #RayIngram #usarmy #booktok #thewriterswarmth #basketball #Cancer #Hofstra #lifetime #lifetimefitness

"Sit-Rep" .. No.32

"Sometimes it's just a question of Mind over Matter"

Next up... in the Blog! NCSA / IMG Academy

Do you have a son or daughter working hard in the classroom and on the field?

Do you have a friend who does?

Are you trying to figure out how to get them recruited to play in college and possibly even improve their chances of getting a scholarship?

https://vimeo.com/212814851

I am now working for NCSA / IMG Academy and maybe I can help!

😉You can stay up to date and get some insights about the “good old days” by going to www.ritzbball.net

👋🏽P.S. If you want the backstory to all of this…

‼️ Get yourself a copy of “It’s the Coach’s Fault”‼️

“It’s the Coach’s Fault” …

👉🏽 now available on Apple Books 📚 as an eBook!

It’s the Coach’s Fault

👉🏽👉🏽 Purchase Direct from Coach Ingram

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/3A2N2UAAETJJN

👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 From Publisher Hard Copy

‼️If you have, or know someone who has, a young student-athlete that needs help navigating the recruiting process, call me or drop me a line.‼️

"Sit-Rep" .. No.31

"Blackhorse Reunions"

“11th ACR Reunion and the Current State of Affairs”

The 11th ACR Reunions have been special to me from the day Glenn Snodgrass convinced me that I should attend. They were always worth the trip. Las Vegas is always special, but this time it was “extra-special”!

It was dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the Unit’s 2005 Deployment to Iraq. It was dedicated to the memory of the Blackhorse Troopers who lost their lives during the conflict. It was to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial at Fort Irwin that will honor all of the fallen Troopers of the Regiment since it was created in 1901 and to announce the coming celebration of 125 Years of Service to the country. It was an opportunity for all current and former Blackhorse Troopers to come together and remember, revel and reminisce. It was also the night of the Regimental Ball.

Yes… I suppose you could say “It was a Big Deal”.

I will let the pictures do most of the talking.

I will however give a short description of some…

“The Grog” … a giant pale .. the leaders of the Regimental Units pay homage to places they have served… They take a “small” sip of the beverages from those locations and donate the rest to the Regiment….. The most Junior Officer in attendance is “asked” to “taste” the concoction…. If he approves, then the rest of the Regiment is “invited” to try some…… The lowest ranking Trooper at each table then “makes his way” to the Grog to get a pitcher of the mix for his table.

There is a catch… There were 1,300 of us there and only about 25 Pitchers.🤷🏽‍♂️

The word at my table … “E-7 to E-3” “If you don’t get a pitcher, you will walk back to Fort Irwin” … Our table got a pitcher.

‼️There is a Grog Video, but it’s rated “PG”😈. If you want to see it, just send me a message and I’ll give you the link. ‼️

👏Best Reunion Description🫡

The words of Blake Leitch (Blackhorse Veteran)

Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since we first started forming the kind of bond that can only be forged in the crucible of combat. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment-Blackhorse reunion this week hit me deep—because it’s more than just a gathering. It’s a reminder of the brotherhood we built, the ones we lost, and the ones still carrying the weight.

Two decades have passed since we lost some of our own—but not a single day has gone by where they’ve been forgotten. Their names are etched in our hearts and in the stories we still tell around the table. You see the same look in the eyes of the generations before us—the same quiet pain, the same unspoken understanding. It’s a reminder that no matter the war, the burden is shared, and the sorrow echoes through every generation of combat-tested veterans.

To the Blackhorse Association —thank you. You continue to uphold the heritage of the regiment with honor, and more importantly, you take care of its people. Your commitment to this family is unmatched, and it shows in everything you do.

Thanks Blake

“Allons”

All in all, it was a fun and memorable reunion. There will be more (and probably better) pictures when I get those taken by Regimental Photographers.

As for me, I came through okay. I survived having to buy a suit. I survived the 112-Degree heat.. Except for one short stretch… Thank you COL Black…and Lance Turlington … “Allons”. I survived having to play “Cinderfella” and leave the Ball early so I could get to the Airport before my Uber turned into a carriage. I didn’t want to miss my “12:30 AM” Flight!🤦🏽‍♂️

It was a great time with great people from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment .. like the video says … “The Finest in the Land”

So .. what is the current state?

👉🏾 Mentally .. I’m doing great! As some of you know, I have started a new job. I’m working for NCSA and IMG Academy. My job is to try and help young student-athletes and their families navigate the maze called “recruiting”. It’s really fun talking to families about their young players (in all sports), and about what they need to do to get recruited and maybe even get college scholarship offers.

‼️By the way‼️ If you know of a family with a young athlete who might be wanting to play in college (any sport), give me a call, or send me a message.

👉🏾 Physically .. I honestly don’t know! Most of the time, I feel okay, but maybe that’s because I have increased the use of the medications that are designed to alleviate whatever pains I’m experiencing. The problem with that is that, yes the pain goes away, but the downside is that you don’t know what’s really going on with your body.

You’re being comforted, not cured. It’s kinda like hearing a noise when I drive my car. I turn up the music.🎶 ….That stops the noise… but my car continues to fall apart!

Anyway… Next week I have Labs and an MRI of my Kidneys… We’ll see!

Take care… Stay safe … and … get someone to buy my book!

😉You can stay up to date and get some insights about the “good old days” by going to www.ritzbball.net

👋🏽P.S. If you want the backstory to all of this…

‼️ Get yourself a copy of “It’s the Coach’s Fault”‼️

“It’s the Coach’s Fault” …

👉🏽 now available on Apple Books 📚 as an eBook!

It’s the Coach’s Fault

👉🏽👉🏽 Purchase Direct from Coach Ingram

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/3A2N2UAAETJJN

👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 From Publisher Hard Copy

‼️If you have, or know someone who has, a young student-athlete that needs help navigating the recruiting process, call me or drop me a line.‼️

Cancer ♋️ Part-II

“SitRep” No.1 09.May 2024

Link to SitRep No.1 Video

(https://youtu.be/_6eN_z17gac?si=2jrJpHApJB_dvpjh)

What does sitrep mean in the military?

“Sitrep is short for situation report and first saw extensive use during World War II. A situation report, militarily speaking, can contain anything from descriptions of troop deployments to details of the aftermath of military conflicts”

Glenn Snodgrass was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 11th ACR when I was stationed in Fulda in the 70’s and 80’s. I never lost contact with him.

When I moved back to the States and Cancer became an issue, he was like a sounding board for my thoughts.

He would call or write every few months with just one word…. “SitRep”

That was his way of saying “Tell me what’s going on!”

I would then call or write and give him all the details. He truly understood what it meant to be a leader.

Glenn passed recently and somehow I felt it appropriate to remember him by changing what I used to call “Ray’s Buffet” to “SitRep” and hope that they reach “Fiddler’s Green”.

“SitRep” No. 1 09.May 2024

I’m still standing! … and maybe a little more. Take a look at the video and you’ll see what that means.

As far as Cancer is concerned, those of you who have been with me from the beginning, might remember in Ray’s Buffet-I/II that I talked about it in terms of a Coach (me) preparing for an Opponent (cancer).

Well, quite a bit has happened since then. The curent status is outlined in the video.

Right now there are some issues.. but nothing I can’t handle. If you want to read about the the full story, I just posted all of the episodes of Ray’s Buffet on the my new Website

(https://thecoachfault.my.canva.site/#ray’s-buffet-posts)

With regard to the Website … the navigation menu is in the upper-right corner on each page.

You will also find information there about “your” TeamApp. It’s for players and families that have been a part of “RitzBBall”…

All you have to do is send me your e-Mail address and you will automatically receive any future nonsense that I post.

Here is the link to the TeamApp

(https://ritzbballplayersfamilies.teamapp.com/?_webpage=v1)

Getting back to that Coach preparing for his opponent… He’s read the scouting report and discussed the options with his staff… The message for the opponent … “Bring it…!”😈

‼️.. In the Section below, you can see how "Sit-Reps" came to be! ... ‼️