SportsBall is the once-a-year party where guests can play pool and foosball, shoot baskets, line dance, drive a simulated race car, ride a mechanical bull and participate in a jousting tournament under one roof.

With more than 800 people engaged in some kind of activity, The Peabody's Memphis Ballroom resembled a giant gymnasium Saturday night.

SportsBall, which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Memphis, also is where people can wear athletic shoes with their tuxes and evening gowns and not get stared down by the other guests.

Ed Land Jr., who attended with his wife, Katie, wore black-and-white checkered Vans. George Jackson, who was with his wife, Yashondra, wore black-and-white high-top Chuck Taylors.

Nike provided free shoes for guests at the 30 corporate sponsor tables.

John Calipari hosted the event. Sherri Sawyer was chairman. Michael Blair was master of ceremonies. Adrienne Bailey is Big Brothers Big Sisters president and CEO.

'Super T' and 'W' boogie

Tiki torches, 22 kegs of beer, the Tyrone Smith Revue and 650 people are the right ingredients for a summer blast.

That summed up The Phoenix Club Luau party, a benefit for Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, Friday night at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

Ben Buffington with the Phoenix Club said they sold $10,000 worth of the $40 tickets online. Last year, they sold $1,500 online. Battle Williford was chairman this year.

Standing in a sea of people, Conley Patton waxed philosophic about Memphis: "There are so many boring people in the universe and so many exciting ones are from here. When you're from here, you're the most exciting person anybody ever met."

President Bush probably would share Conley's sentiments -- if he's talking about Tyrone "Super T" Smith. A native Memphian who now lives in Nashville, Tyrone, who delivered a high-energy show at the Luau party, performed May 11 at the wedding reception for Bush's daughter, Jenna, at the family ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Tyrone wore his Super T red-and-blue tights.

"I did it all," he said. "We started with easy music and Laura Bush said, 'Crank it up, Super T.' "

Bush requested "You Are So Beautiful" for the father-daughter dance.

Bush didn't drink any beer or liquor as far as Tyrone knew. But, he said, "Man, he partied. In his own professional way. He let it go 'cause it was more private and he could do more things than he did at the White House.

"The bridesmaids formed a circle around him. He had a cigar in his mouth. It wasn't lit. He did a little dance by himself while they circled him.

"I got him on stage with me. He was getting down doing the same things I was doing. Some of the moves. To let me know he really enjoyed himself, he grabbed me and kissed me on my forehead and told me how we made the party."

Health center rock

After dining on 'que from Central BBQ and the Barbecue Shop, guests at the SunTrust Rock for Love 2 kickoff party went to Studio A at Ardent Recording Studio for a performance by The Subteens.

SunTrust Rock For Love 2 was the second annual concert to benefit the Church Health Center, said J.D. Reager, who hosted the party with Marvin Stockwell and Jeff Hulett. The concert grew from one to two nights this year. Bands performed Friday and Saturday at the Hi-Tone Cafe.

J. D. estimated $22,000 was raised this year.

Contact Michael Donahue at 529-2797 or e-mail donahue@commercialappeal.com.