Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

“Bucket-Trip .. Day-6”

🏀 Day-6 🏀

👉🏽 Fulda Recovery .. The Salomons .. Perfect Timing

👉🏽There has been quite a bit going on, on the medical front. I am going to break with tradition and go a little deeper with a "Sit-Rep". Up until now, I have left out much of the detail but, if the Sit-Reps are to truly serve their purpose ... which is to help others possibly navigate their cancer journey, then I am going to have to say more, including the serious parts of mine. I will present those details in the next Sit-Rep (No.55) ... later today or tomorrow.

👉🏽 I spent the evening with the Salomons. Two people who have been friends and supporters since my first years in Fulda. They were the "live-in" owners of the house that I moved into when my job dictated that I live within 10-Minutes of the Installation. The 11th ACR had Howitzers that could fire tactical Nukes and I was the NRAS Officer. So, I was compelled to move from the nearby, but further out, town of Weyhers. I lived with the Salomons for about 10-Years, and after I moved to Weilheim and then back to the United States to coach in College, we never lost contact. There are many stories to tell, but I will save them for the "Overtime" Series that I am going to post on the new YouTube Channel … ‼️(@rayritzingram ) … check it out - then 🗣️Like - Subscribe - Share ‼️ ... I hope you will check it out ... Like it, Subscribe to it and Share it with others!

👉🏽 This night was simply a relaxing and positive part of what had become a somewhat adventurous trip. There's more in Sit-Rep .. No.55

Check out the new YouTube Channel

👉🏽 ( @rayritzingram ) … and pass it on to your friends.

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#USArmy #basketball #basketball #Cancer #lifetimefitness

Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

“Bucket-Trip .. Day-5”

🏀 Day-5 🏀

👉🏽Kassel Enemy Territory - Marion Kuehn - Diamond in the Rough

👉🏽Hotel Hagspihl Breakfast… a once upon a time hotel… fitting because Quakenbrück is a “once upon a time” town.

👉🏽It’s hard to believe that a town with a population of “only” 13,000 once had an 1.Bundesliga Basketball Team - the Artland Dragons… I put a few pictures in here, but today is really going to be about Marion and Kassel.

👉🏽There will quite a few stories and videos about the “Dragon Days” on the new YouTube Channel … ‼️(@rayritzingram ) … check it out - then 🗣️Like - Subscribe - Share ‼️

👉🏽 A fun fact before we get back to today … Siri can absolutely not speak German 🤡 I am using the “Car Play” on my phone for navigation (couldn’t afford the upgrade for a car with GPS Navigation 🤷🏽‍♂️) My Siri Voice is in English. I am trying not to laugh too hard when names of towns and streets are announced. If you want to have some laughs when you’re driving outside the USA, try your phone’s GPS in English🤦🏽‍♂️

👉🏽Later, I might bore you with a story about what goes through the maze that I call my mind during these long drives… including the exhilarating feeling of driving 95 MPH and passing police cars 🚔 .. and not having to worry about it.😈

👉🏽One thing that takes a little getting used to … that “wake-up / stay in your lane” thing in new cars. When the road is wide open, sometimes I change lanes without signaling. When your tires make contact with road markings, your “reminds you” that you’re out of line. That’s a good thing … except when you’re driving 100 MPH 😬 The car literally “throws you back in the lane!😵‍💫 As stated .. in German they say “It’s gewöhnungs-bedürftig“🤣

👉🏽 Nevertheless, one of things in life that I have always enjoyed is getting in a car - getting on the oen highway with nowhere to go, and plenty of time to get there. Add to that, the music of your choice and it’s like being in another world. I made special playlist for this trip. “Cav Days” .. “‘Stra Days” (Hofstra😏) .. and more. Memories - tons of memories!😊

👉🏽That’s the upside!👍🏽.. The downside is that I was in a “new” rental car with a really good sound system. It’s downside because it reminded me that I have a car that’s 15 years old with a system that sounds like those “cans connected by a string” that we used to play with. There’s a rumor floating around that those outstanding kids (now women 😳) that I had at UNC-Asheville, are trying to organize a get together for late June. If it materializes, I definitely want to go. It will most likely be in North Carolina. I would drive! I have to pinching pennies to buy some speakers to put in the car… If worse comes to worse, I’ll try and buy a good bluetooth speaker and just put on the backseat.🤷🏽‍♂️ I’ve done that too!😈We’ll see how things develop.

👉🏽So, back to today and Marion Kuehn. My book, for those living under a rock, is titled “It’s the Coach’s Fault!” In this story “It’s the Mother’s Fault!” Ilse Kuehn is, in her own right, a Legend. She has been a leading basketball figure in the District of Kassel and the State of Hessen

🎊To Ilse 🎊

🗣️Ilse Kühn was involved with basketball in Hessen for over 50 years, beginning shortly after her arrival in North Hessen in 1970.

Arrival and Early Involvement: She came to Kassel in 1970, where she started playing for ACT Kassel.

Leadership Roles: She served as the long-time basketball department head for ACT Kassel, a role she held for over 30 years as of December 2023.

District Leadership: She served as the chairperson of the Basketball-Bezirk Kassel (Kassel Basketball District) for 17 years before stepping down in April 2024.

👉🏽Now that you have the background, you tell me how I could have said “No” in 1995 when I was the Head Women’s Coach at UNC-Asheville, and Ilse asked if I would conduct a camp for her ACT Kassel Basketball Club.

👉🏽On the first day of camp, there was one 17-year old participant who caught my eye. Her name was Marion (Last Name “Kuehn”)

👉🏽 By the last day of Camp, I was talking to Marion , Mom and Dad … inviting them to North Carolina for an official visit … and offering her a basketball 🏀 scholarship.

👉🏽 I have never regretted or second guessed that decision. The only negative throughout our years long relationship is our difference of opinion regarding “Grits”😈

👉🏽 We met for dinner tonight Wednesday 13.May 2026, which makes our relationship 30 years and still counting. As a plus, she invited a number of former players and refs from AFC Kassel and we spent hours revisiting the good old days and wishing we could go back.

👉🏽The Asheville Team that Marion joined was special. So much so that they will get their own series of stories and videos on the new YouTube channel.

Check out the new YouTube Channel

👉🏽 ( @rayritzingram ) … and pass it on to your friends.

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#USArmy #basketball #basketball #Cancer #lifetimefitness

Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

“Bucket-Trip .. Day-4”

🏀 Day-4 🏀

👉🏽Dragon Country- Full Circle - Potratz Family …

...... Triangle because of sister Uli

👉🏽Great Start to the day. At “Zero Dark-30, “Dr. Y…” responded to my message about the medication problem. He okayed the temporary fix. Now thanks to a former player, I can resume my “regular” 💊💊💊 schedule and continue, without worry, being whatever it is that I am.

👉🏽Breakfast .. Complete with (once again) the full menu of (💊💊💊💊💊) … Some fun (XXX MPH) 😈on the Autobahn… in the direction Quakenbrueck

👉🏽Visited and had lunch with the real “Artland Dragons Boss” Julia has been the “Leader” in the Business Office since “2002”. The help she provided to Marko Beens, Chris Fleming and me made it much easier for us to do our jobs.

👉🏽Took a Nap!🤷🏽‍♂️

👉🏽Had Dinner with a “Full-Circle” Family. The Mom played for me on a team that started in the Bezirksliga and won five consecutive championships to earn a spot in the 2nd Bundesliga.

👉🏽The daughter started playing after she attended what I called “Girls’ Day” She liked it and started coming to practice. Sometimes she wouldn’t leave practice.🤦🏽‍♂️

👉🏽Nine (9) years later, I was lucky enough to have her play for me at another club in the 2.Bundesliga. She even had the “opportunity” to play “against” her mom. They are two of the “very special” players/people who “allowed themselves to be coached” and I am thankful that our paths crossed. Link to Video:https://youtube.com/shorts/OMGPYCsH9kU?si=4u90Ti4udJ1RiClj

👉🏽At dinner I also ran into Kevin Wank who played in our youth program and was in group of players who made trips to Houston and Dallas to train and work on their skills.

👉🏽🤔Information.. In European Competition, when teams win a championship, they earned the right to move up to the next higher league. When they do that, a teams first and most important goal is to win enough games, not to be relegated back to the league that they came from. It is somewhat unusual for a team that moved up to the next higher league, to win the championship in that league. The team that Katrin played on, won a championship, moved up to the next league and won the championship five times in a row.😳

👉🏽 It was definitely a fun team to coach.

👉🏽Today was definitely another good day!

Check out the new YouTube Channel

👉🏽 ( @rayritzingram )

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

Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

“Bucket-Trip .. Day-3”

🏀 Day-3 🏀

👉🏽Marcus Weigel - Mother’s Day - Full Circle Family

👉🏽Marcus Weigel played for me in the early 80’s. Basketball on a team of the newly formed youth program that came to be known as the “Fulda Roadrunners”.are not a lot of words here.

👉🏽I left Fulda in 1989 and returned to coach there again 2010.

👉🏽The club didn’t have a youth program… again.😔 So, I set about to try and rebuild the one that I left in 1989.

hen

👉🏽Marcus was one of the first to bring his kids to a practice.

👉🏽It’s a great feeling to have a man, that you coached as a boy, bring his children to you and trust you with their development (on and off the court).

👉🏽Since today is Mother’s, and the Matriarch of the family invited me to celebrate with the whole gang, I prepared a surprise for her in the hopes that she will always have something to remind them of the time when we were all a part of the same basketball family.

👉🏽Good Meal - Great Conversation.. Link to Video: https://youtu.be/rqpeRsKAheY?is=xTAwCraPDy0OvAJu

👉🏽Got some physical stuff to deal with and a pretty long drive tomorrow morning, so that’s it for today. 🤷🏽‍♂️

👉🏽It was definitely a good day!

Check out the new YouTube Channel

👉🏽 ( @rayritzingram )

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

Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

“Bucket-Trip .. Day-2”

🏀 Day-2 🏀

👉🏽Detlef Musch and the Nussknacker .. Special Player / Special Family

👉🏽There are not a lot of words here. The pictures tell the story….

👉🏽In the early 80’s, I began coaching playing for the “Fuldaer Turnerschaft” FT-1848 in Fulda, Germany.

👉🏽The club didn’t have a youth program. At practice, I saw a few boys, who seemed decent, playing on the side baskets.

👉🏽When I asked why they didn’t play on a team, I was informed that there was no one to coach them.

👉🏽The “Fulda Roadrunners” were born! We’ll cover that later. This post is about Detlef Musch.

👉🏽As the Youth Program was developing, the Under-16 boys were getting pretty good. One day at practice, two of the players told me about a soccer player that they felt might help the team. Some of you know how I felt about soccer…! 🤦🏽‍♂️

👉🏽To quiet their nerves, I decided to go watch a practice anyway …🤷🏽‍♂️

👉🏽What I found was a 6’6” kid standing in the goal!😳

👉🏽Trying not to offend anyone and not to pressure the boy, I introduced myself and told him “You’re in the wrong sport!” … I told him when and where practice was and hoped he’d stop by and give Basketball a chance.

👉🏽He did! …. and from that day until today, he became one of my “All-Time Favorite Players”. It was and remains an absolute joy to cross paths with Detlef. From the very beginning through today, he has not changed. From Day-1, he “allowed himself to be coached”, and for that I am grateful.

👉🏾He was always ready to help on and off the court. When the “DeFeet Sport Shop” surfaced, he helped out whenever he could… (It was definitely nice to have someone around who could easily reach the the shoes on the top shelf in the storage room) 🤣

👉🏾The same goes for his parents, brother and sister in-law. The Nussknacker was always available for our Basketball Club’s Christmas Parties… and even after I departed Fulda, I was able to use Fulda as my Operations Center when I brought my College Team to Germany, or Professional Teams from other cities.They went above and beyond when it came to taking care of the players.

👉🏾Thanks “Det” .. for driving 3+ Hours to spend the day with me.

👉🏾Thanks Lothar and Heike for your friendship and for giving me the “Family Price” for my stay… although I think it’s unfair that you gave Detlef a “slightly” 😳 larger coffee cup at breakfast.🙂

👉🏾”Oops…!”🙄 I failed to mention…. He turned out to be a pretty good player as well … Division-I Scholarship at Davidson College … Played Professionally in Germany (National Championship (2) and National Cup Champions .. Played Professionally in Italy and France … Member of German National Team (together with Dirk Nowitzki)...

👉🏽I hope the video gives you some idea of how much fun it was being his coach!

‼️Footnote‼️ I will probably make a couple of Flashback Videos involving Detlef for the new YouTube Channel (@rayritzingram) … Make sure you check it out… and then … “Like-Subscribe-Share”

https://youtube.com/shorts/wP_HmeKQK8U

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

Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

“Bucket-Trip .. Day-1”

👉🏽The Flight .. Once the initial “Oops…!” Anger wore off, everything was fine.

👉🏽I’ll get a slight break regarding the €Euros left behind 🙄 … I have 3 Copies of my Book in my suitcase. Some former players asked me bring them… Wait till they see the “shipping cost”!😈

👉🏽No problems enroute.

👉🏽I had downloaded a bunch of stuff from Netflix, so the time went by fairly quickly.

👉🏽KLM Meals are pretty good.

👉🏽The only problem was that about 90-Minutes before landing in Amsterdam things got “just a little” uncomfortable. That’s when I started paying for one the earlier “Oops…!” Things. My regular schedule was three 💊💊💊 daily … That meant about 7-Hours between doses. Now that I have to try and “ration” them, it’s about 12-Hours.🤷🏽‍♂️… So, today was (09:47) + (22:59) The unpleasantness begins around 9-Hours in .. then it takes about an hour for next dose to kick in. Not the best solution… but it’s the only viable option.

👉🏽I’ll be landing in Amsterdam in 42-Minutes …. (to be cont’d)

👉🏽Magic picked me up at the Airport

👉🏽Had my first “Diet-Restricted” Meal and some great conversation with Magic and Bulli.

👉🏽Below are pictures of Magic and Bulli the 80’s and now.

👉🏽That 💊 is “overdue” so, I will comply with my body’s wishes and then get some sleep.

👉🏽It’s been a long but “good” day.

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

Bucket-List Trips

Yes ... There has been more than one -😳 ... Not my fault!🤷🏽‍♂️

Ultimate Hoops National Tournament Update - 1

I really hadn’t planned on posting much about the tournament because, participating in it was just a personal goal .. at first.

It wasn’t about proving anything!

See the previous post!

I only wanted to stand on the sidelines with a team and have some fun … and “remember when”!

I wanted to see if the “Dinosaur Style” of basketball could survive one more round because I “remember when”!

I wanted to try one more time to see if I could find a few players who would “allow themselves to ne coached” because I “remember when”!

In closing, let me say that “I did not take the players that nobody else wanted” …

I chose the players that “I wanted” because they fit the mold of players who I would’ve wanted to play for me.👍🏽

I can’t “remember when” that was not the case. That’s kinda where the term “RitzBBall” came from.

It made coaching easy!

It made coaching fun!

Did my teams win every game?

No …! but I’m satisfied with the results and I’d like to think the majority of my players are also.

Hence, the team name .. “Remember When”.

‼️By the way … a Footnote!‼️

👉🏽All of the players on Remember When are from Life Time Baybrook!😊

So, the only thing left is to go to Dallas and see how this story ends.

https://www.uhlife.com/.../2026-dallas-national...

I have two more days of Radiation Treatment at the VA and then on Friday morning, I’ll jump (climb) into my car and see if it survives the trip.

So, in the words of Paul Harvey (only Dinosaurs will remember who that is) … now you know “the rest of the story”!

See you in Dallas!

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

"Sit-Rep" .. No.42

........ It was meant to be "just" checking something off "the List" ..... then came a twist!

If you don't eellike reading - watch the video!

🎙️ LIVE FROM HOUSTON… HEADED TO DALLAS

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, hoop heads of all ages — buckle up.

Because what started as a “nostalgia tour” has officially turned into a Texas-sized subplot.

The 2026 Ultimate Hoops National Tournament tips off in Dallas this weekend — the first time the National Tournament has ever been hosted in Texas.

And somehow… some way…

Coach Ray “Ritz” Ingram didn’t just show up.

He brought a storyline.

🤠 EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT IN TEXAS

According to the latest tournament preview:

• SA Nation +300

• CTE +400

• Motu Baseline +500

• SAO +700

• Ultimate Oops +800

• Hoosier Daddy +900

• Impact +1000

• Da Guys +1100

• R&D Ballers +1200

• The Board Room +1300

• Shooters Shoot +2000

• Remember When +2500 ‼️

‼️+2500‼️ ..... 🤷🏽‍♂️.

That’s not odds.

That’s Vegas politely saying:

“We see you… but we do not respect you.”😏

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly how Coach likes it.

👟 THE “CINDERELLA TEAM”🙄

The preview called them the Cinderella team.

They said Coach Ingram picked up “all the players in Houston nobody else wanted.”

First of all…

That is hilarious.

Second of all…

That’s also dangerous.

Because if you know Coach Ingram’s history — Philly kid, reform school survivor, Division-1 baller, Army officer, European pro, ref, coach, author — you know one thing:

He doesn’t build teams on reputation.

He builds them on response.

You think he didn’t screenshot those +2500 odds?🤔

Oh, he did.👍🏽

🎤 WHAT COACH WILL TELL THE PUBLIC🗣️

In front of the cameras?

He’ll smile.

He’ll shrug.

He’ll say something like:

“We’re just happy to be here. These guys are coachable. We’re going to play as a team. We’re going to compete. Everything else is noise.”

Typical Ritz.😉

Measured. Humble. Veteran energy.

He’ll probably add:

“It’s just good to stand on the sideline one more time… just for old times’ sake.”

And America will nod politely.

🚪 WHAT HE’LL TELL THE TEAM IN PRIVATE 🗣️

Oh no.

That’s a different movie.

Locker room door closes.

Hat gets adjusted.

Voice drops.

“They think we should be picked last.”

Pause.

“Good.”👍🏽

He’ll walk the room slowly.

“They gave SA Nation +300. They gave us +2500. That means they think there are eleven better teams in this building.”🙄

Longer pause.

“Are there?”🤷🏽‍♂️

And if you’ve ever played for him, you already know the answer.

He won’t scream.

He won’t rant.

He’ll lean into the psychology.

“We’re not here for nostalgia.

We’re not here for a group picture.

We’re not here to ‘participate.’

We’re here to make somebody uncomfortable.”

And then he’ll hit simply tell them ...

“Sometimes all we can do… is all we can do.

But we’re gonna do it our way!.”

🎯 THIS WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A SORT OF FAREWELL TOUR 😔

This wasn’t supposed to be a mission.🫤

Coach’s plan going into this was simple:🤗

Stand on the sideline.

Call a few sets.

Smile at the chaos.

Maybe sip a little nostalgia.

One last run.

Just for old times’ sake.😏

But then somebody labeled his team:

Cinderella.

And somebody posted:

... and set the odds ‼️ Remember When +2500.‼️

And somebody suggested he picked up “all the players nobody wanted.”

And now?

There's fuel on the fire! 🔥

🧠 THE REAL DANGER

The real danger isn’t that Remember When wins it all.

The real danger is this:

They believe they belong.

They’re coachable.

They move the ball.

They defend.

They don’t care about odds.

And Coach Ingram — for all the “just happy to be here” energy —

has spent his entire life proving long shots wrong.

You don’t survive Philly.

You don’t survive reform school.

You don’t survive the Army.

You don’t survive decades in this game…

…without learning how to weaponize doubt.

🔥 FINAL TAKE

Are they the favorites? 🤣

Absolutely not.

Are they supposed to win?🤣

Nope.

But if this tournament turns into a grind…

If it becomes about discipline…

If it becomes about poise…

If it becomes about belief…

Then +2500 starts looking like a clerical error.

And if they can make a run?

Coach won’t say “I told you so.”

Dinosaurs don't talk...

He’ll just smile.

And somewhere in Dallas, when the confetti falls or the buzzer sounds, you might hear him whisper:

“Remember when?”😏

Because what started as “one last time on the sideline”…

Might have just turned into a mission.

And for Coach…

Missions are seldom left unaccomplished!.

We’ll see you in Dallas.

Bucket-Trip .. No.1 .. Full Circle Jason Zimmerman. (18-21.December 2025)

The original thought behind this trip was to close a circle that began in August of 1990.

It was about a young college basketball player at Davidson College in North Carolina.

At that time, I was an Assistant Coach in the program.

The trip was about having a visit with a young man who had had a stellar basketball career and, for whatever reason, become a coach.

It just so happened that he is also very good at it. His teams at Emory University have done well. In fact, in December of 2024 the team was ranked No.1 among Division-III Schools.

In the Pre-Season Poll for the 2025-26, they were ranked as the No.3 Team in the country. I thought, it would be fun to come and watch his team play.

If they did well, I would take the credit. If they didn’t do so well, I would blame it on his other coaches.

I wanted to make this trip for other reasons.

For me, Jason is the personification of what I love about coaching. Yes, we spent time “back in the day” talking about game plans, improving skills and other stuff. But, the relationship went beyond that. Ask anyone who has been a coach and they will tell you that it’s a unique profession. There are lots of ups and downs, many pitfalls and very little security.

My favorite pastime is working with players who “allow themselves to be coached”. The ones who look you in the eye, when you talk to them and you can sense that are listening.

That was Jason. This weekend was no different. The trip has been well worth it. I wish I had had more time with Jason’s family .. he is obviously as good a dad as he is coach.

But, if you think the story ends there, you are soooo wrong!

It was amazing. I could never have planned this.

I spent some time with Bob McKillop, my roommate and teammate when we were at Hofstra University .. and Jason’s Head Coach when we were at Davidson. I went to watch Davidson play Temple and saw a number of people who were at Davidson then, including Susan who has been the Basketball Secretary there since the beginning of time.

I spent time with Larry Garloch, another coach on the basketball staff, and had some great conversations with Karen who shares some similar opinions … I’ll just let that hang in the air.

Then came the crowning piece to the trip. As Larry, Karen and I are watching the game, another couple walks up the bleachers just in front of us.

To my absolute astonishment, it was Matt Doherty and his wife Kelly.

North Carolina Tarheel Fans know who he is. For me, it was more than a trip down memory lane.

I have known Matt since he was in High School and I was playing in College. His parents practically adopted me for a while.

His brother John even hosted a player that I sent to the States in the 80’s. Matt and I were later on the same coaching staff in college.

This trip went beyond “just” going full-circle in terms of a time stamp. It also revealed the continuation of relationships across timelines.

Members of this circle hadn’t seen each other in many years, and yet it only took seconds for the true nature of the deep friendships to come to the surface.

The handshakes and hugs were barely completed when the insults and character assassinations began between Bob and me, and the same, when Matt and I came together. Outsiders and non-New Yorkers might not understand.

It was also great to see the level of bonding and openness that existed between Jason. Traci, Trevor and Taylor shows that Jason definitely did not inherit any of his character traits from his college coaches. I would reveal more about the inner workings of their relationships but, it’s classified.

Then there’s Larry and Karen. How can I explain the friendship and support that I have received from those two and make it clear just how far they would go to help me.

When I returned from Germany to the USA in 1989 to coach at Davidson. Bob entrusted me to Larry. Larry went out of his way to help me fill a shopping cart with all the candy and junk food that I wasn’t able to get in Germany. Then he took me to Dairy Queen for my first “Squeezie-Beezy” (Trade Name - Oreo Blizzard).

The relationship with the Garloch Family has also come full circle.

They realize that I must now pay more attention to my health. They were able to demonstrate that awareness. After the Emory Game on Friday Night (Emory won 98-65), we went out to eat. Realizing that I was eating entirely too much on this trip, they drove me back towards my hotel.

No, there’s no “typo” there! It was “towards” my hotel. Knowing that I would probably go straight to bed, and knowing that it’s unhealthy to go to bed on a full stomach, they felt that it would be better, in the interest of my health, to let me walk to the hotel.

Is there anything that better shows true friendship than being concerned for their health and safety?

By the way, Jason’s Team won both games. He’s definitely a good coach, something else that he didn’t get from us.

It has been a much better trip than I could have imagined. I will let the pictures tell the rest.

Thanks to everyone involved!

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Final Stop .. Fulda .. 14.Sep 2025

Days 11-15 (02.Jun-06Jun) “Roadrunner Originals”

Fulda, Germany … That’s where it all began.

As I look back over my life, I see so many faces and places that deserve their own spot in my version of a personal diary, and there just isn’t enough time or space to do them all justice. Many of them are connected to the city of Fulda in Germany.

If I said that the city was not on my list of places to see, when I was growing up, would be the understatement of the year.

To look back now and see that I lived in that city longer than any other place on earth is unfathomable.

I first became acquainted with the city because when I was stationed there as part of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. “The Blackhorse” was headquartered at Downs Barracks in Fulda.

When I separated from the military, I remained and began playing basketball and coaching there. I started a program that was designed to foster better German-American Relations. That Program grew into a full-time activity and the “Fulda Roadrunners” were born.

The Roadrunners was the adopted nickname for the Basketball Abteilung (Branch) of the Fuldaer Turnerschaft 1848 Sports Club. What began as a German-American Friendship Activity developed into one of the best youth programs in the State of Hessen. It was also laid the groundwork for what became known as “RitzBBall” .. now “Dinasour-Basketball”😈

Counting the military I spent 12 Years in Fulda … the first time! I eventually went on a basketball tour that took me to Oberhausen, Weilheim, Siegen, Barcelona, Davidson College, the George School (Newtown, Pa), UNCA, Madonna Di Campiglio Italy, Wuerzburg, Quakenbrueck, Mainz, Duesseldorf and Leipzig… only to end up back in Fulda. There I stayed for 8 more years before returning to the United States.

To summarize, I spent twenty years of my life in the city of Fulda. It is impossible to relate in a few paragraphs what transpired during those years. I guess I made some impressions while I was there, but those years, those players and their families also made lasting impressions on me.

Many of my coaching tactics and philosophies were developed while working with those players and their families.

Many of the connections went way beyond basketball. Those connections deepened as the years passed and many still exist today.

That was never more obvious than when I drove from Quakenbrueck to Fulda on the last leg of this trip.

When I arrived at the Sicilianer Restaurant (Leipziger Str.) .. aka Rimini Pizzeria, I was met by a gang of the “Original Roadrunners”. Players that I had coached in the 80's.

Gehring, Brede, Ment, Wiesner, von Rhein, Mayer, Wehner, Muth, Knapp, Scherf and Ruhl just to name a few… were there to reminisce about “back in the day”.🤦🏽‍♂️

There was a visit to the Solomons, the Weigels and Jess. There was lunch with Dr. Dippel (former Mayor of Fulda) and a side trip to Wuerzburg to visit former players there, and a visit from a player that I recruited from Kassel to play for me in the USA.

There is simply too much to pack into this post. That’s why I am creating a separate section of the Website, dedicated to Fulda, its players and families.

I believe that the Roadrunner Program was fairly successful but I even more proud of the relationships built that have lasted for decades. I am proud of the players who went on and played at higher levels but… even more proud of what those players have accomplished “off the court”. They are doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, business owners, college professors, teachers and more… that includes now being great parents themselves. It was hard not to feel validated when I saw the mementos, the pictures and stories that were held onto.

“Thanks for allowing yourselves to be coached”

If I made some small contribution to their development, then I did my job.

There are simply too many people who were involved in that time to list them all here. I hope that the videos will express my feelings with regard to the Fulda part of my journey.

In the Fulda section there will be many more videos and stories that will demonstrate why that period and the players will always have a special place.

If you see yourself or someone you know, feel free to comment, and by all means, pass it on. Next stop…. Houston

#cancer #hofstra #usarmy #booktok #lifetimefitness #cancerjourney #radiationtherapy #basketball

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to add them on the website.

(Https://RitzBBall.Net)

Anyone who wants to dive deeper can find the entire backstory in “It’s the Coach’s Fault”

(Link… https://ritzbball.net/bookshop )

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-7 .. 16.Aug 2025

Days 8/9/10 (30.May-01Jun)… “When Dragons roamed the Courts””

The trip to Bonn was a success. I’ll call it “Back to the Future.”

It took me back to the start .. the time when “coaching basketball” became my profession.

It was initiated by the relationship formed with a boy who had participated in my first camp in Germany in 1985.

That player brought his children to my Camp in 2012.

Now, in 2025, a whole new Chapter begins as I try to help one of the young players, from the Clinic that Oliver initiated, shape his future and play college basketball in the USA.

The next stop was Quakenbrück.

Getting to Quakenbrück by car was easy enough.

The problem was getting out of Bonn.😵‍💫

There was a ridiculous amount of road construction and the resulting detours (Umleitungen) created a maze.

I was using the car’s GPS, and I’m sure that you all have first hand experience with deviating from the planned route.

When you decide to take an “unsanctioned” turn, the program repeatedly reroutes you to the original route.

The result is that you drive in circles until… you tell the program… “no highways .. no main roads… etc”

So, I was finally able to get out of Bonn, but I can still see the faces of the people scratching their heads and wondering “Who is this man driving through my yard (Hof)?”😳

The visit to Quakenbrück itself was well worth the drive. I coached in the city (and I use that term loosely because it had just 13,000 residents) for 10 years.

I visited with M & H Hermes .. the parents of Timo and Henning…,I saw B.Schuir ..,mother Julian .. had Spaghetti-Eis with U.Doeinck .. mother of “the Doinkster” who by the way had driven to Bonn for a visit.. talked to “Biggi” who had played on the Women’s Team for five years.. had a great evening/dinner with a “cross section” of players from that period… that included “Big Al”, Nina, Lisa Q., Bürgermeister Schubi and Muckel.

Lots of stories and fun.

What I‘m going to do here is post a few pictures from the “Bucket Trip”, but more importantly, because the Q’brueck part of my journey lasted 10 years, I am going to create a separate portion of the website for that time period.

The “Dragon’s Den” will contain pictures and Videos that tell the story of what happened in that magical little basketball town. So, even if you’re not from the area, I think you will find it interesting, and if you are a former player, family member or Dragons Fan, it will bring back some special memories.

There are simply too many people who were involved in that time to list them all here. I hope that the videos will express my feelings with regard to the Quakenbrueck part of my journey.

If you see yourself or someone you know, feel free to comment, and by all means, pass it on.

Next stop…. Fulda

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-6 .. 29.Jun 2025

Days 3-7 … Princeton/Coach Clinic Backstory

(a.k.a) “The Oliver Koch Story”

Some of my friends have asked how the trip was, and I have done my best to explain that to them.

I am not sure that I can find the right words, without sounding “corny”, to really express what transpired during those two weeks.

All of the things that are going on in my personal sphere, and the world in general have, at times, made me doubt whether my total of “almost” 75 years on this planet could be considered a successful venture.

Yes, I have told my doctors and other health care personnel that I was okay with my situation because I had “been there .. done that .. and gotten the T-Shirts”

But, at times I wondered if I believed that, or was I just saying that to make it easier for me to accept my fate.

Therein lies the true purpose of this so-called “Bucket Trip”. It was planned as a chance to go back to the places where I had spent almost half of my life and check in on some of those whose lives had crossed paths with mine.

Oliver Koch was one of those individuals. The pictures in the video tell the story of a boy who started playing basketball in the first camp that, more or less, had my name on it. I’m not sure, but I think it was 1983 in Fulda Germany. I had just left the military, and I have been told that “that was obvious from my coaching style”. 🫣

They show his development on the court. I’d like to believe that all of my players learned the fundamentals of the game, and maybe a little about life, while playing for me.

That’s not the end of the story. The continuation is how the “Bucket Trip” came to be.

Six months ago, I had no goals. There was literally nothing that I felt that I needed (wanted) to do. Add to that my “absolute” frustration with the state of the game of basketball, and the social-political environment, and you have a “let’s just get this over with” attitude.🤷🏽‍♂️

Enter … Oliver Koch!

We had never really lost contact. I returned to coach in Fulda in 2010, I think it was 2013 when Oliver brought his daughter and son to my camp. Oliver also helped as a coach. It was one of a number of what I have labeled “Full Circle” Coaching Experiences. That’s when a player that I coached at the beginning of playing days, comes back and trusts me to coach his children.

Oliver stayed involved with basketball. A few years later, he asked for a little advice regarding the Under-18 Girls Team that he was coaching. His connection to the game continued and like it said in an old NCAA Commercial “most of them will turn pro .. in something other than sports”!

He is one of them and he became a Doctor, Now he is one of the Team Doctors for the Bundesliga Team “Telekom Baskets Bonn”.

A part of my trip was to touch base with as many of my former players as possible and see how they were doing and what had become of them. Anyway, in February of 2025 we were discussing the offensive trends 🤯 that had invaded the game. The conversation came around to my “prehistoric” beliefs in stuff like “passing”, “moving without the ball” and “playing as a team”.

That, in turn, became a dissertation on the “The Princeton Offense”, favorite amongst “Dinosaurs” and other “Over-the-Hill” Coaches.

That conversation became a project. With some financial assistance, I could go to Germany as the “Apostle of Old-School Basketball”. I could sing the praise of “fundamental” Team-Play to a generation of young players one more time. I could make a contribution to the efforts of those trying to hold back the flood of “Me” Oriented dribble artists and “Logo-3” shooting, chest-pounding, triple step-back, “where’s the camera” ego-maniacs who have taken over the game. … and I could tack on a few days to see how some of my former players were doing.

Thanks to Oliver, I now had something to look forward to, something to plan and and say… “I really want to be able to do this!” The project “Bucket-Trip 2025” was born.

Beginning with the Princeton (Pritzton) Clinic for players and coaches, all the way through the time with Oliver and his family, it was OUTSTANDING.

Coaching a group of young men who “allowed themselves to be coached”, two of whom I would love to see playing college basketball, was really fun. Seeing that group defeat a team of “bigger, faster, stronger” players (which, by the way, is what the offense is designed for) was just icing on the cake.

It wasn’t all work .. I really can’t even call the coaching portion “work”. Hanging out with the family of “kid” that I had coached in 1985, talking about every imaginable topic until after midnight every evening, eating spaghetti-eis (and I wasn’t the only one who likes it)... all of that was rewarding.

There were a number of more elements that made it even more meaningful.

In the video, you will see Oliver and his daughter wearing shirts that he has held onto from his time as a player in Fulda. To me that, in itself, is amazing!

Then, one night at dinner, he left the table and came back with a picture that he had kept. It was hanging on his wall. There are two players in that photo … please, no snide remarks about the length of the shorts, besides, the other guys shorts are shorter than mine🤦🏽‍♂️.

Anyway, the fact is that he still has that picture, the shirts, his pictures and the stories. All of that began to sink in while I was in Bonn. It went a step further. He told me that there was someone else in Bonn who wanted to see me. In the video, there is a picture of the three of us. Oliver, myself and Heike Frohnapfel. Heike had been in that same camp in 1983 and developed into a player on a very good women’s team in Fulda (also pictured).

So, now you know the backstory to “the Bucket-Trip”.

Now, maybe you know why my players usually made themselves comfortable whenever I started talking during practice…🤷🏽‍♂️

To finally answer the question "How was your trip?”

It was great! It was more than I could have hoped for. It was a sort of “Validation”. It answered my questions about whether the decisions I made, at the various Crossroads in my life, were the right ones.

The updates from the rest of the trip will only add to that.

I’m back in Houston now and there’s still quite a bit going on, but I am now mentally in a place that I haven’t been in a long time. That’s good for me, and bad for anything that thinks it can be a problem for me.

Lots more to come, so stick around. I’ll also be posting videos and photos in the gallery.

In closing… Thank you to Oliver and his family for being great hosts, the young players in Bonn who participated in the Clinic, and Franceso Tubiana and the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

The FT Fulda Roadrunners Camp ... That's where Oliver started.

The players probably got nauseous after a while when they heard this tune. It was the background music at practice, games and especially the RIBA Camps in the late 80’s.

Not so for me. It’s included in almost every playlist that I have. For me, it brings back “only” pleasant memories of players, families and events from a time when everything seemed right with the world.. at least when we were within “our four walls”.

Oliver remembered it. In 2013, he gave me a copy of the remix!🤣

https://youtu.be/lFmcdf77wzU?si=E4aakDBsJf2BPhnO

If you see yourself or someone you know, feel free to comment, and by all means, pass it on.

#cancer #hofstra #usarmy #booktok #lifetimefitness #cancerjourney #radiationtherapy #basketball

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to add them on the website.

(Https://RitzBBall.Net)

https://youtube.com/shorts/rufgOLjKVl4?si=A0Owglc9juNq2I8w

Bucket-Trip 2025

07.Jun 2025

Days 3-7 … Princeton and the Coach Clinic in Bonn

The plan was to first take care of “the business part” of the trip, and then tack on a few days of fun.

Truth is, the four days in Bonn were the most fun I’ve had on the court with a group of young players, in a very long time.

I’ll give you the full backstory to this in a couple of days, because it actually belongs to the “Fulda Roadrunners” Section of the Website, which I will be adding shortly.

The short version …

The purpose of this trip was to conduct a basketball clinic for youth players, followed by a clinic for coaches. The central theme of both was to be the “Princeton Offense”.

I was excited and honored about the opportunity.

I am one of those “stuck in the past”, “what’s wrong with the game today”, “it was better back then” coaches, that you guys call a “dinosaur” …

I was excited to get an opportunity to try and make a stand, and attempt to prevent the current trends from wiping out the existence of “the game I used to enjoy.”

“What are those trends?” you ask…

“dribble until you beat your man ..or..

dribble until you get your shot ..or..

penetrate “ to within 2-Feet of the basket - then pass it out to someone standing 30-Feet from the basket ..or..

get a ”3-on-1” Transition Opportunity and have the two lead players spreading out to spot-up for 3’s ..or..

watching “No-Pass” / “1-Pass” 3’s being jacked-up!

Sorry.. I’m just not a fan.🤷🏽‍♂️

So, you can imagine my excitement about being offered a chance to “preach the Old Testament Version” of basketball and possibly help it stay alive a little while longer.

I felt honored that the whole project was set in motion by a player who attended the first basketball camp that eventually led to the concept that I call “RitzBBall”… the full backstory is coming!

The clinic turned out to be more (fun) than I had expected.

I arrived in Bonn earlier than planned and some of the young players were in the training facility. We weren’t supposed to start until the next day, but…

The coaches said, “The kids are here, you’re here … so, why not?”

I explained, to the boys, what we were going to be doing for the next couple of days.

As I was speaking, I saw many things in their eyes … excitement, enthusiasm and, an expression like ”that sounds like fun”… were not among the things I saw.

Man, was I wrong! They really got after it! They were ”all in” from the first bounce of the ball. We spent about an hour going through some of the basic drills.

I found myself completely caught up in their engagement. They were attentive and energetic. The next two days were even better.

It was literally “just like it used to be” .. right down to “the push-ups”.

They worked really hard and we still had fun…!

Fun Moment -

During a warm-up drill, one of the players drives to the basket and misses a “1-on-0 Dunk”😣

As he jogs back to his line, I raise my hand with an open palm ✋🏾 towards him and point to the floor.. He raises his hand 🤚 as if to give a high-five 🖐️..

I raise ✋🏾and point👇🏾to the floor.

His teammates start laughing and someone yells out …”he means push-ups.” He drops and does them.

A few minutes later, he misses another dunk … I raise - He drops!🤷🏽‍♂️

Later in the practice, another player misses a dunk.. I looked in his direction and … before I had a chance to do anything, he was running off to the sideline and doing push ups!😲 Needless to say .. everybody lost it! 🤣🤣

Bottom Line - All of the practice sessions reminded me of how it used to be.

Then came a surprise and ”the icing on the cake.”

Someone thought it might be a good idea to “try this Princeton Thing out!”

So, there was a scrimmage against Bonn’s NBBL Team.

The offense is designed for exactly these circumstances… In fact at the Coach Clinic, I called it “Basketball Jiu-Jitsu”.

Facing Opponents who are “bigger-faster-stronger” and more aggressive, you use their actions against them.

In summary, it was one of the most rewarding basketball experiences of my career. That goes as well for the Coach Clinic, although I feel that I fell short of my goals. There was so much more that I wanted to say to the coaches, but there simply wasn’t enough time.😔

If the players and coaches feel that they benefited from the clinics, then I’m happy. One coach did contact me afterwards and asked for more information, which I was happy to send him.

As far as the players are concerned, the entire group was outstanding and I was impressed enough, by two of them, that I will try to help them play in College, if that is something that interests them.

Hey 👋 Marvin .. Leonard … what do you think? 🤔

I enjoyed the sessions because “the players allowed themselves to be coached” and the coaches were willing to listen.

I saw that there’s still room for “back in the day” basketball and the next time someone looks at the way I coach and calls me a dinosaur … I‘ll just smile and say “Thank You!”

There’s much more to come and, maybe some of you will begin to agree that…. “ back in the day “ maybe things were better than they are today!😈

Footnote: This trip has convinced me that there are some time periods, cities, teams, events and people that deserve their own sections. Those will be added soon.

If you see yourself or someone you know, feel free to comment, and by all means, pass it on.

#cancer #hofstra #usarmy #booktok #lifetimefitness #cancerjourney #radiationtherapy #basketball

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to add them on the website.

(Https://RitzBBall.Net)

Bucket-Trip 2025

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-4

02.Jun 2025

Day-8 … Way, Way Behind!🫣

I am still „way behind“ with my updates!😔

Nevertheless, I thought it would be good to at least give you the timeline.

There will be separate posts with lots of „almost“ unbelievable stories.

For me, perhaps the most unbelievable is the fact that so many of these players have held on pictures T-shirts, and stories from their basketball beginnings.

It’s an undescribable feeling and it makes me really happy that I made this trip.

As soon as things slow down, I’ll start making some serious post and maybe you’ll agree that…. “ back in the day “ maybe things were better than they are today!😈

There‘s much more to come!

#cancer #hofstra #usarmy #booktok #lifetimefitness #cancerjourney #radiationtherapy #basketball

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to add them on the website.

(Https://RitzBBall.Net)

Bucket-Trip 2025

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-3

28.May 2025

The Clinic Day-1 … Short Preview

The guys are working hard and „absorbing“🫣

I‘d almost forgotten what it’s like to work with a group that „allows themselves to be coached!“

I am „way behind“ with my updates!😔

It’s been great so far… and.. I slept 12-Hrs last night.😲

There‘s much more to come!

#cancer #hofstra #usarmy #booktok #lifetimefitness #cancerjourney #radiationtherapy #basketball

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to add them on the website.

(Https://RitzBBall.Net)

Bucket-Trip 2025

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-2

25.May 2025

Still fascinated by the activity in the “Berlin Hauptbahnhof” .. Main Train Station.

Grand Central in New York “might be” a rough comparison.

Anyway, I decided to get some exercise and do a little sight-seeing on foot.

There is so much to see, but my stamina was being challenged. (Saved by the 💊)

I walked along the Spree River and to the Brandenburg Gate.

The architecture in Berlin is definitely worth a visit.

Later, I will drop a “memorable” history lesson.

Back to the hotel and “Italian” for dinner… and for the UNCA players who made the preseason Tour with me “way back when”, I had a Magnum for dessert.

For the rest of you… “No” they are “not the same” as the Magnum you can buy in the States!😔

If you have questions or comments, feel free to put them in the comments sections.

Pass the link on to your friends .. especially those who may once have been involved in the the program, once upon a time.

The Bucket Trip

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-1 .... 23.May 2025

Well, here I am starting a trip at 10 months ago, was not even on my radar.

I had allowed my passport to expire, because I didn’t think I would be using it anymore.

Then, through some strange quirk of fate, I receive recognition on the list of “Who’s Who in America”.

As a result, I decided to re-publish my book (“It’s the Coach’s Fault “) and see if that would help sales. … It didn’t!🤣

What it did do however, was lead to my reconnecting with a player that I had coached in the first basketball camp in Germany that actually had my name on it. That was around 1982.

This is the story of the Trip...

Feel free to comment .. especially if you see yourself, or someone you know. ... and .. pass the link on to your friends

Bucket-Trip 2025 .. Part-1 .... 23.May 2025

Well, here I am starting a trip at 10 months ago, was not even on my radar.

I had allowed my passport to expire, because I didn’t think I would be using it anymore.

Then, through some strange quirk of fate, I receive recognition on the list of “Who’s Who in America”.

As a result, I decided to re-publish my book (“It’s the Coach’s Fault “) and see if that would help sales. … It didn’t!🤣

What it did do however, was lead to my reconnecting with a player that I had coached in the first basketball camp in Germany that actually had my name on it. That was around 1982.

That young man has since become a doctor, and he also coaches basketball. That, in turn, led to some discussions, which ended with an invitation for me to do a basketball clinic in Bonn.

All of a sudden, the guy who thought he had nothing left on his ”To-Do List” suddenly had something to do.

It presented a chance to provide a little resistance to the trends that have swept across the game of basketball.

We won’t go into a philosophical discussion of that at the moment. We’ll just enjoy the trip and report on the process. So, here we go!

I made sure I didn’t forget my medications, like I did the last time I took a trip.

The trip to Bush International Airport in Houston and the flight to Germany went fairly smoothly.

The first activity was a very pleasant one.

One of the men that I served with when I was stationed in Germany, happen to be traveling to Austria to do some preparation for his trip to Africa.

He contacted me and said that he would come to the airport in Frankfurt and then we could catch up a little bit.

Since my first contact with Germany started with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, somehow it seemed only fitting that this last contact with Germany started with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. We met at the airport, had breakfast and talked a lot.

Here are some pictures, I’ll try to post regularly, but I can’t promise that it will be daily. You probably wouldn’t want that anyway!

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to add them on the website.

(Https://RitzBBall.Net)

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