Sailors Ready for Carrier Classic

Navy.mil has offered nearly day-to-day coverage since last week of the transformation of part of the USS Carl Vinson's flight deck into an arena fit for a top-tier NCAA men's basketball game.

ESPN is broadcasting the game, timed for Veterans Day, President Barack Obama is excited enough to fly in and hundreds of sailors will be attending. 

Even USA Today has raised the question of whether it's respectful to host such an event from the aircraft carrier where terrorist Osama bin Laden's body was taken after Navy SEALS killed him in May.

But overwhelmingly the focus is on the game, and anticipation is building. View the videos in the media box to hear what a couple of sailors are thinking as the match-up between the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan State Spartans approaches.

In one, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael Troll, of Virginia Beach, talked about the excitement of watching the game aboard “the world's greatest warship.” 

Better yet, the weather appears to be cooperating.

Rain is definitely forecast for Friday, but whew, it appears to be coming in late into the night. The game starts at 4 p.m.

It's a strong storm, which is expected to bring between two and five inches of rain around the county, according to the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms are also possible late Friday night through Saturday, as are strong gusty winds, with temperatures in the low 60s.

City News Service contributed to this report.