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Sit-Reps
Sit-Rep .. No.45
Independence Day .. No.2 .. 🤷🏽♂️
“Sit-Rep” .. No. 45
That was quick… Well, actually it’s a last-minute update to No.44.
I did a lot of thinking last night, and decided to go over my notes.
I have been maintaining very detailed records since this whole thing began.
This Sit-Rep is mainly for those most connected to the Cancer issue.. Patients and their support circles.
It deals with the decision making process and which treatment options you choose.
‼️ Once again, I want to preface this with a statement:
👉🏽 Nothing I say here should be taken as medical advice, because I am not the least bit qualified in any medical arena.
I have to read the instructions in order to get the cap off a bottle of aspirin.
My goal is to simply chronicle what has happened to me, how I have dealt with with Cancer related issues, the decisions that I have made, and their consequences.
You can look at all of that, evaluate it and decide if anything helps you decide which path you might follow.
So, back to this update.
I said yesterday that the pains and overall situation has brought me to the point where I believe it’s time to stop work.
When you reach that stage, you’ve already been digging pretty deep and weighing options.
You’re also looking at everything and asking yourself… “How did I get to this point?”
You start wondering “What if?”
You ask not only “What do I do now?”, but “Is there something I did that put me here?”
As I was combing through my notes and trying to figure out where this pain, that wasn’t showing up on the latest (you’re getting old) X-Rays was coming from.
That took me all the way back to 2022, before I found a “possible”🤷🏽♂️ connection.
It was July 4th, 2022 … Independence Day… also my “Independence Day”
That was the day that I decided to stop treatment and discontinue the use of all the prescribed medications.
Why did I do that?
I did it because the side effects were making me feel like … like … I’m feeling now.🤔
I had been going through a similar physical ordeal. In fact, I announced my retirement and did so shortly thereafter.
Five months after that, after stopping the medications, I was back to “almost normal” for an old man (see the attached video 🫣).
https://youtu.be/Io2yzlXAzQ0?si=wXICbducuy9JqvBK
So, what’s my point?
Without realizing it, I have allowed myself to backslide.
No, I hadn’t changed my mind about treatment.
Everything that I’ve done (accepted) has been palliative… intended to address pain and foster a better quality of life. That’s the textbook definition.😊
Radiation Treatment for one issue… Radiation for a pain issue… Medications to address a pain issue… Medication to slow the PSA Level increase and make the Radiation more efficient…
It keeps piling up…. and now….!
Here we are, like it’s 2022 all over again.
I’m swallowing many of the same medications that I was taking prior to “Independence Day”
‼️ Here are some of the notes I found from 2022…‼️
Cancer-related fatigue can be severe and last for different amounts of time depending on what's causing it. It can affect all aspects of daily life, making it hard to keep up with work, social life, or routine.
👉🏽 Cancer-related fatigue is different from tiredness, which is usually short term and you feel better after you stop, sleep or rest. Cancer fatigue doesn't usually go away with sleep or rest.
😳 That is compounded by this fact:
😴 Medications for Cancer-Related problems list drowsiness as a side-effect
👉🏽 Brand Name can cause drowsiness, dizziness
👉🏽 Brand Name
👉🏽 Brand Name can cause Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak
👉🏽 Brand Name Hormone therapy for prostate cancer can cause extreme tiredness…
🤔 Brand Name commonly causes leg-related side effects, including muscle pain, cramps, weakness, and swelling (edema) in the legs, feet, or ankles.
So, the question is:
“Is the Cancer causing the latest Doom Sequence, or is the Medication the Culprit?”
“If I stop the medications will I recover like I did last time and get back on my feet?”
Because I can feel the pains but, can’t see what’s going on inside, I have to take my best guess and make a decision.
For the moment, I’ll stick to my plan with regard to Retirement and possibly making the Trip to Germany but, I am initiating a second “Independence Day”.
I’ll just have to see whether or not things improve and go from there.
I don’t think Dr. C… and Dr. Y… are going to like it but, if you recall, he did say that it’s my decision!😈
Will my condition change?🤷🏽♂️
So, I should know / feel something by 25.March. That’s when I’ll have to face them.
That’s all for now!
‼️Last Minute Update ‼️ Monday 02.March .. (16:30)
I received a call from the VA... I was asked about scheduling an appointment ... shortly thereafter I received a confirmation eMail. Here is a portion of that eMail: It was a pleasure speaking with you by phone today.
The Rehabilitation and Extended Care Line has received a REHAB KT OUTPT consult for you to obtain an ambulation assistive device.🙄
Apparently Dr. C... didn't like what he saw in the video of me walking, so he put in the order. I'll go but, if they suggest anything more than a walking stick ... There's gonna be a fight!🤬
Sit-Rep .. No.44
Know when to hold 'em .. Know when to fold 'em!"
“Sit-Rep” .. No. 44
“No when to hold ‘em…”
Kenny Rogers might have said it best. “You gotta know when to holed ‘em, and know when to fold ‘em!”
So, without wanting to come across like “the boy who cried wolf”, I feel it’s time for me to “fold ‘em”.
I had a fun trip to Dallas and coached a group of guys who put everything they had into a tournament.
The venture had all the elements that a real coach might encounter.
There were difficulties with getting players to come to practice.
There was the disappointment of not getting some of the players you wanted.
There were injuries that resulted in the loss of players.
There was competition against opponents that you knew it would be a miracle if you won.
There was also disappointment in losing when it wasn’t necessary, because someone didn’t show.
There was the fun of seeing the things you worked on … actually work!
There was the pride of hearing others say .. “What was that option you guys were running?”
That same pride when a player says “I wish I had played with your team!”
There was the joy of putting the player at the end of the roster in the game and seeing him perform successfully.
Lastly, there was the fun of hangin’ out with like-minded individuals who simply wanted to take advantage of another
opportunity to suit up.
I can, with no regret, cross this one off my list as I “Remember When” every day was like that.
As I said last time, I’m having trouble with my legs. The X-Rays didn’t produce a real reason… some lesions that didn’t seem
to be spreading.
In short, Dr. C… and Dr. Y… said “just DJD”. …. in other words “I’m getting old!”
My College Roommate said … “It’s because of the hours spent playing on the cement at Prospect Park!”
Nevertheless, that doesn’t lessen the difficulty and pain involved with walking. I even tried my pills, but it didn’t help.
The recent Radiation Sessions have pretty much stopped the pain in my back, but now those same types of pain seem to be
starting in the ribs in the front. Maybe it’s just my imagination.
I will wait it out and see if they continue or worsen. By the time my follow-up appointment with Dr. C… comes (25.March),
the full effects of the Radiation will be known, and we’ll see where that takes us.
The question that remains for me is:
Was my decision, to have the Radiation Treatments, the right one .. for me?
Since my “Independence Day” decision in 2022, when I chose to discontinue all treatment, I’ve been okay … sort of!
There have been some occasional pains and discomforts and the general slow progression of the Cancer that Dr. Y… told me
to expect. Like I said… I’ve been okay.
Now, I feel like things are taking a turn for the worse, faster and more severely than prior to the radiation. Again, maybe it’s
just my imagination.
Maybe it’s just the natural progression that would have happened .. with or without the Radiation. We’ll never know, and I
will just have to wait and see what comes next.
Okay … (Drum Roll ….please) … I’ve said all that, to say this … I’ve always had a fairly good sense of what’s happening with my
body.
That sense is telling me that what I’m going through now is the sign that it’s time to stop working.
So, last week I told the boss, that I’m going to pack it in. I said that 15.April will be my last day at Life Time.
That gives me the opportunity to help get the Spring League started and to turn the Youth Training Program over to guy who
has helped me start it. We had a session yesterday and I almost didn’t make through the second hour.
What was that opening line … “You gotta know when to fold ‘em!” … It’s that time!
That leaves just one more item on my list. That trip to Germany!
I’m trying to plan for it, and will continue to do so but, the situation with the legs might be the determining factor. I will have
to play that one by ear.
You may have noticed the increase in posting about my book “It’s the Coach’s Fault”. (Check Bookshop Button at the top)
That’s because I’ve started a campaign to sort of turn it into a “Go Fund Me”.
I still have bills to pay… three really! If I can raise enough to erase those, then when I stop work, I will be able to get by on my
pension. My Goal is to sell 1,000 Copies.. that would make me pretty much debt free and cover the outstanding portion of
those "final expenses!"🙄.
I am using my “work in progress” A.I. Skills to make ads and videos that give readers some idea of what’s in the book. I am
trying to show that there really is more to than “just” basketball in the book. That will all be laid out in the next video…. So -
stay tuned!
The next “Sit-Rep” will be after my appointment with Dr. C…. Unless there is a something important to write about.
Sit-Rep .. No.43
Sometimes it's really just about "playing the game"!
“Sit-Rep” .. No.43 ..
When can a loss count as a win?
First the Cancer Update:
Last week I mentioned the leg problems and the subsequent X-Rays.
Well on the drive to Dallas, Dr C… called (twice) and told me that there were some lesions but, they couldn’t say that they
were cancer related. He said that we would keep a close watch on them.
Later Friday afternoon, Dr. Y… called and sent me a message … a screen shot of part of the message is attached.
I guess maybe the it’s just that the “parts warranty” on this body is expired!
The upside is that the guys in the “Over-35” League don’t have to worry about me suiting up!
Regarding the recently radiated rib area… the jury is still out. I think it might take a while to be sure that it was worth it.
Okay… the Tournament!
If you go back to 1981 when I started down the path to becoming a “Coach by profession”, and talk to any player who
played for me from then to now, none of them would tell you that losing is something that doesn’t matter to me.
Losing 3 games in one day … That might get someone hurt physically, psychologically or both.
Well, my team just did that.
But guess what?
I’m good!
Why?
Because I know that my guys put their hearts and souls into it.
They played against teams that were “Bigger, Faster and Stronger”
They were outnumbered and they were older. Lastly, they might have been the only team in the Tournament that was
composed of players from one active league at the same Life Time Club.
It certainly didn’t help that we were “ghosted” by one of our Starters!”
Remember the phrase in my book…
“Sometimes all you can do … is all you can do!”
My guys did that, and I am grateful!
They provided me with another opportunity to experience some of things unique to being a Coach.
The exhilaration of watching a play, that you drew up, work to perfection!
The frustration of watching a play work to perfection and then the player misses the shot.
Trash-Talking to an opponent who felt the need to say more than he should.
Standing on the sideline trying to “respectfully” influence the Refs.
There’s more but … the bottom line is … the score was never “the be all to end all”
“It’s all about the game!” … that being the case, I won!
I “Remember When” every day was like that!
So, thanks guys for helping me “remember when!”
#Cancer #quakenbrueck #Fulda #usarmy #basketball #lifetimefitness #Hofstra #coaching
"Sit-Rep" .. No.42
........ It was meant to be "just" checking something off "the List" ..... then came a twist!
🎙️ 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.
"Sit-Rep" .. No.41
Radiation Treatment Update
“Sit-Rep” .. No.41
Radiation Update … Seven Sessions behind me and it seems like the right choice.
The pains in my back are almost completely gone.
If you’re someone contemplating radiation as an option… The treatment itself is non-invasive and there is no pain involved.
As for me, the first two days, I felt some aches .. but nothing worse than a hard practice session… and the accompanying “fatigue”.
All I can say is that I took two of my “magic ” on the first night… and… I haven’t felt the need to take one since.
Dr. Y… tricked me into resuming the that should help keep the PSA Level down.
So, it looks like Dr. C… and Dr. Y… know what they’re doing!
This weekend is the last practice with my team and then it’s off to Dallas to check off one more item on my list. I’ll tell you everything next week.
So… the video! Before you start complaining….
I’m still an “A.I. Work in Progress”, but I’m still learning and I will continue practicing.
Yes .. there are some mistakes… no, I don’t have hair … no, I definitely don’t have muscles … no, you won’t see me “running” across a parking lot … no, I definitely don’t drive a BMW … and my car does not have a “right-side” driver’s seat!
So … I’ll keep practicing.
Oops…! I think I might have spoken too soon.
They must’ve doubled the dosage..…
I was absolutely drained on Friday afternoon and ended up going to bed at 21:00 (9.00pm).
That was OK, but then on Saturday after the training my kids class from noon to 2 PM, when I got home I was completely exhausted again and ended up going to bed. At 16:50 to take a nap. I set the alarm for 19:00
I just woke up and it’s 01:47
That is really gonna screw up my sleep schedule
#Cancer #quakenbrueck #fulda #basketball #lifetimefitness #usarmy
“Sit-Rep” .. No.40 ... “Glowing in the dark is a myth!”
First, let me begin by saying that, as some of you know, I recently started trying to teach myself to use some of the tools that exist in the “A.I. Universe”.
It has been fun for me, and I think the guys in my leagues are enjoying it, and it helps set our leagues apart from the others.
At the same time, I must admit, and as I’m sure you can certainly see, that it is still a work in progress.
That’s as far as I’ll go with regard to the fact that my mini me doesn’t quite look like me. I’ll keep working to get it right.
On the other hand, I might decide to use it as motivation and get myself into some kind of physical shape again.🤔
So, enough for the apologies. Let’s get to work.
There’s a lot going on, so I’ll just jump right in.
There have been a number of VA Appointments…
Update… Lab Results are in: PSA is up ⬆️ 190… so is pain level😏 with 2 💊 daily … then we filter in Biopsy results👎🏽 which determined that the area in my ribs that was causing considerable pain is definitely cancer.
Met with Oncologist and Urologist yesterday…
Their opinion is that Radiation will slow spread and reduce pain and hopefully reduce number of 💊💊 necessary.
Had a follow-up session with Dr. C….
He wasted no time going straight to the point…🤔
“Well Coach, what do you think? Will Giannis come to the Rockets or will he go to Golden State?”
After tossing opinions around for a while, we changed the subject.
When all was said and done, the decision was made to have another round of “Palliative Radiation”
The goal being to stop, or reduce the pain and discomfort, which in turn would reduce the number of “magic 💊💊” I was taking daily.
Radiation mapping was completed on Monday, and the sessions were set to start on Monday 09.February.
On Tuesday, as I was still in the “mental preparation” stage, the phone rang and Dr. Y… said that they were going to move the start to Thursday 05.February.
So, as soon as I finish and post this, I will go to bed and, in a few hours get up and head to the VA.
Once again, let me remind you that nothing I say is intended as medical advice. My goal has not changed. It’s about narrating my journey, and letting you decide for yourself whether any of it has any value for you.
As my doctors have told me, cancer is different for everyone. The decisions you must make regarding the treatment and options available are complicated.
Educate yourself and discuss things with your doctors and your support group.
Choices, that work for me, might not be good for you and vice versa.
That brings me to one other thing that I wanna mention briefly.
A part of my education process has been looking up the terms that are written in the reports for my consultations and scans and blood test, etc.
I’m constantly playing Internet detective. Well, there’s another term for that.
It’s sometimes called “doom scrolling“.
That’s why I’ve constantly tried to tell you not to play Internet detective.
The reason is that we often look for the most negative aspects of the results that are available.
If you’re not careful, you end up selecting the most negative results and possibilities and by default associating that to your case.
So, just be careful and don’t fall into that trap.
So, let’s finish this up. My PSA has gone up from 23 to 69 to 190 over a six month. Period.
Suffice it to say that my research verified that those results are somewhat less than positive.😏
The finding that the cancer, located in my ribs, has been identified as coming from my prostate. Well that’s also something that you’d rather not find in your mailbox.
So, tomorrow we begin two weeks of radiation. There is however, an upside.
This time, the radiation will be aimed at bones. There will be no involvement of the gastrointestinal complex.
That means that I don’t have to worry about the side effects that were associated with the last round of radiation.
That means no fasting, no filling the bladder, and then emptying the bladder, no ridiculous diet, and no chicken broth for breakfast. I’ll count that as a win.😊
I’ll close by saying that as soon as this is over, I jump right into the next thing on my list.
Over the next couple days, I’ll write about the coaching venture that I started.
My team has the name “Remember When”.
The venture is all about putting together a group of guys who are willing to allow themselves to be coached and play some old-fashioned basketball.
We’ll be heading to one of the Ultimate Hoops national tournaments. It will be played in Dallas on the 21st and 22nd of February.
I’ll tell you more about it in a post next week.
That will be “SIT-REP” .. No. 41 and in it I’ll let you know what’s going on with the radiation.
That’s all for now… next time I’ll try and either have my mini me look more like me or make me look more like my mini me.
"Sit-Rep" .. No.40
“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?
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!
👉🏽👉🏽 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!
👉🏽👉🏽 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! ... ‼️
Ray's Buffet ... Cancer ♋️ Part-I
Ray's Buffet
It's not about "Medical Advice" ... It's about my experience being put on the table for others to see and possibly benefit from!
Click on Book to go to Bookshop...