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Sit-Reps

"Sit-Rep" .. No.34

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“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!

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“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"

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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"

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“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! ... ‼️