Former WCCO-TV sports guy Ralph Jon Fritz has stomach cancer.

Fritz wrote from his Fort Myers, Fla., home a mass e-mail to friends, which was passed along to me, that opened, "This is, without a doubt, the most difficult E-Mail I have ever sent. Within the past week, I have been diagnosed with Stomach Cancer that is inoperable. It is TREATABLE but terminal."

Recipients of the e-mail were told: "I want to be as up front as possible so people don't hear things 2nd hand or through the Rumor Mill. Please know that I am so thankful to have had you in my life. I have had the absolute best friends a man could ever want. You guys are the greatest. Thank you all so much."

After four decades on WCCO, Fritz retired in 2008 and moved to Florida. Along with helping staff the sports anchor desk, he hosted "Out 'n' About" on Saturday nights for about nine years until 2007, highlighting an array of feature subjects in Minnesota and neighboring states.

Fritz wrote that he knew something was wrong because of a loss in stamina on playing tennis.

"The past couple of months my energy level on the tennis courts dropped noticeably. My doctor tested my blood level and I was declared Anemic with a reading of 8.4; 13 or 14 is normal for someone my age [75]. I was retested the next day and my blood level had dropped to 7.3. I was immediately given a blood transfusion and scheduled for a Colonoscopy/Endoscopy. Those tests revealed the cancer.

Rpa -, Star Tribune
Ralph Jon (RJ) Fritz

"I will be taking more tests this week to determine the exact type of cancer and some other pertinent facts, in order that they will know how to treat the cancer If possible, Deb [his wife] and I are leaning toward Chemo/Radiation which will probably begin a week from tomorrow [Sunday].

"I plan to live my life as normal as possible during the upcoming fight. Right now, everything considered, I am feeling pretty darned good. I have been overwhelmed with phone calls from relatives and friends here at Miromar Lakes. Their kindness just blows me away. The calls became a little too much to do on a one on one basis, so I had to send out a mass E-Mail to let others know. That's what I am doing here with my, up North, Minnesota/Wisconsin friends."

Fritz did not respond Wednesday to my e-mail.

C.J. can be reached at cj@startribune.com and seen on Fox 9's "Buzz." E-mailers, please state a subject; "Hello" does not count. Attachments are not opened.