Graceland goes Tiger Blue

Maybe you guys haven't noticed, but there's a teeny-tiny basketball game tonight between the No. 1 ranked Memphis Tigers (that's us!) and the No. 2 ranked University of Tennessee Vols (boo hiss!).

This is the biggest game since, well, ever. The city has been turned upside-down. It's not just a game between longtime rivals. It's a game between longtime rivals who happen to be the two best teams in the nation right now. That's huge.

Sports agent Jimmy Sexton told ESPN, "It's the hardest ticket I've ever seen in sports, ever. It's harder than any Super Bowl, harder than any World Series. There's just not that many people selling tickets. I've had so many of the players that I represent call and ask me to help them get tickets. I've told them, 'There just aren't any.'" Actually, there are a few on eBay going in the hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on their location.

Buying season tickets is the smartest thing Paul's ever done ... well, except marrying me. That was a pretty smart move, as well.

Memphians aren't the only ones getting worked up over the game though. A number of celebrities are either expected or confirmed as guests. Peyton and Eli Manning are scheduled to sit in Fred Smith's box. U.S. Rep Steve Cohen and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will be at the game, as will Isaac Hayes. That linked thread also jokes that former VP Al Gore -- formerly a U.S. senator from Tennessee -- should be at the game but "the building is too warm for him to be there." :D

Not surprisingly, Priscilla Presley also will be in attendance, showing off her Tiger Pride. In fact, because of Priscilla, Graceland has turned this lovely shade of blue for the weekend. That's 150 blue spotlights lighting up the mansion and the grounds. I knew that might never happen again (and we wouldn't be here if it did), so Paul and I drove down there last night for a few pics. Cool, huh?

If you want to take in the Memphis buzz from your points afar, Game Day will be on ESPN this morning at 11am Eastern Standard Time/10am Kate Standard Time. The game is tonight on ESPN at 9pm EST/8pm KST. See if you can find me on TV. I'll be in the rafters, wearing blue. :D