There is a great story in the links today behind Joker Phillips and some of his players taking a trip to Ethiopia for some goodwill and good works.  A2D2 reported this back in May, and the press are just getting around to it.

Also, as a bit of a follow-on to my post just below about players like Brandon Knight dodging workouts with other players in the draft, there is a rumor now that may wind up costing him draft positioning.

Now, for your links:

• Trip to Ethiopia by Joker Phillips and Kentucky football group opens eyes, hearts | University of Kentucky Sports News | Lexington Herald-Leader

  That proved especially true for Trevathan. A meeting with a woman he guessed was about 35 years old moved him. The football linebacker was carrying food into what could loosely be termed a tent when he noticed the woman lying on a cot and shaking. She gestured that he wanted to touch his hand. The woman took Trevathan's hand and squeezed. She spoke a few words that the UK player guessed was an attempt to say thank you.

  "I turned around and shook my head," Trevathan said. "Then somebody was telling me that that was her last breath."

  The woman died.

  Words fail me.  I had known about this trip for a while because A2D2 brought it to my attention, but this story just shows the depth of human tragedy and experience that the football players had on this trip.

  I thought the blurb at the end about the trip costing the UK athletics department $9,000 was kind of unfortunate.  Then I read te byline, and understood it a bit better.  Tipton has an odd way of trying to balance pieces like this, and I think it leaves something of a negative impression needlessly. 

  But that's just Tipton being Tipton.  God knows he couldn't stand the idea of being accused of a puff piece.

• 2011 NBA Draft: Top Defenders - Basketball News & NBA Rumors -
  Liggins figures in third on the list.

• Harrow believes UK worth the wait - College Basketball - Rivals.com
  I'm taking a wait-and-see approach to Harrow. he has skills, that certain. He lacks great size, but he is quick as a cat and very athletic. Can he thrive at UK after a very so-so year at NC State?

• Mark Story: Kentucky, WKU athletics bosses say Thursday night football opener in Nashville will draw :: Kentucky.com
  This may work out. Then again ...

• Wayne Selden - 2014 UK Recruit
  He has Kentucky on his list, and has an impressive game.

• Sports Radio Interviews :: Greg Schiano Describes His Plan to Make Football Safer by Eliminating Kickoffs
  Very interesting, if only for the fact that the statistics do indicate eliminating kickoffs would make the game safer. This one will probably be ignored for now, but eventually, it will become an issue.

• No TV yet for Louisville-Kentucky football game :: The Courier-Journal
  For most of the past decade, the University of Louisville's football game with Kentucky was virtually assured a prominent television spot when the teams met on the first weekend in September.

• West Virginia, Bill Stewart fiasco textbook coach-in-waiting botch - Andy Staples - SI.com

  • When the outgoing coach is retiring of his own accord within the next two years: Rich Brooks didn't need to be Kentucky's football coach to feel like a man. In fact, Brooks probably would have been hired for the Dos Equis commercials if he didn't already have his own competing product. So it didn't bother Brooks one bit that Joker Phillips was tapped to replace him, and the torch pass went smoothly.

  This Andy Staples piece is chock full of wry witticisms like this.  Pretty good stuff from a writer I normally see as very straight-laced.

• Sports Radio Interviews :: USC Athletic Director Pat Haden Says NFL Needs To Step in to Prevent Collegiate Athletes’ Relationships with Agents
  This is some interesting reading.

• Kentucky's Barnhart says he's working on contract extension for Calipari :: Lexington Herald-Leader

  "If JohnCalipari] can't get one [a contract extension], who can?" ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said of the pending extension.

  Great question.  So it's good to see one is in the works.

• Rivals.com College Football - Who won the 2004 national title?

  We all know the "real life" answer, but who was the official winner? I have a nominee:  The Unenviable Asterisk. 

  The Unenviable Asterisk has also won a bunch of Final Four games, multiple national championships in multiple sports.  The UA is an awesome college sports program.

  Isn't it time the UA got the recognition it deserves?

  As a bit of a thought experiment, do you think we'd be reading this:

  Mike Huguenin's answer:
  I'll answer, "USC. The Trojans demolished Oklahoma in the title game." "Vacating" a title - or a Heisman or a coach's wins - is nothing but a PR move. In this instance, to the surprise of many I'm sure, the media actually has it right (The Associated Press announced last summer that it wouldn't strip USC of the title). USC won it on the field in that season's title game and, to me, will remain the titlist.

  If John Calipari were the subject under discussion?

• UK signee Teague hits game-winner to beat Kentucky :: Vaught's Views
  Nice effort by the UK guys against what was considered a significantly better Indiana team. Congratulations to Teague on the game winner as well.

• Cha-ching! for Chizik: Auburn coach's salary spikes to $3.5 million | The Montgomery Advertiser | montgomeryadvertiser.com

  The hefty raise still doesn't quite push Chizik up into Alabama coach Nick Saban's territory, but does make him the SEC's third-highest paid head coach. Saban's deal is worth $4.7 million annually counting completion bonuses.

  Win a championship, go to the bank.

• 2011 NBA Draft Rumors Featuring Jimmer Fredette, Enes Kanter And Brian Qvale - Ridiculous Upside
  Always interesting reading.

• NBADraft.net -- Enes #1 to Cleveland?

• Flyin To The Hoop 2011 Highlights – Anthony Davis, Jabari Parker, Sam Thompson, Tony Parker | USHighSchoolGuide.com
  Some cool Anthony Davis action in here. It really gets you excited at the possibilities.

• Tony Woods will not be coming to UK.
  So sayeth KSR. I think this had more to do with his coursework than a change of heart by Woods or Calipari. In the end, I am happy it worked out this way.

• Prospect Profile: DeAndre Liggins :: NBA.com
  Check it out if you haven't seen it.

• Dime Q&A: DeAndre Liggins Talks NBA Draft, Kentucky & Enes Kanter | Dime Magazine (dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers

  DeAndre Liggins on Enes Kanter:

  Dime: You are one of the few people who got to see Enes Kanter compete this year in practice. Is he worthy of all the hype?
  DL: Absolutely. Enes is a really hard worker, he’s a great competitor and he’s a beast on the boards, so he’s going to be a very good NBA player.

  Believe.

• Report: Brandon Knight's stock is dropping? - CBSSports.com

  Any team that passes on him [Knight] because he is playing his hand wisely is nuts. But if they want to grumble because they can't see more of him? Totally understandable.

  The question is, it is grumbling or something more.  My experience is that rumors like these surrounding the draft often wind up being true, for some strange reason.  Yes, I think Knight will be a great NBA player, but is he being too smart?