The comments by Rob Parker on ESPN about Robert Griffin III (hereinafter RGIII) have justifiably started a firestorm among the commentariat. Also, Gorgui Dieng has his cast taken off and should be available against UK.

Tweet of the Morning:

I like Rob Parker a lot but if RGIII is a "cornball brother," we need more of them. Used to call guys like him "role models!"

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) December 14, 2012

This.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Former players think excitement at all time high for Kentucky football // vaughtsviews
  I don't think there is any doubt at all. I know I am anxious for football season, perhaps for the first time ever.

• Kentucky football adds another former Wildcat as a new assistant coach // The Courier-Journal

  The University of Kentucky announced the hiring of Texas Tech running backs coach Chad Scott on Thursday, completing the trio of former Wildcats who’ll bring back the Air Raid offense to their alma mater.

  Looks like stoops is "all in" on the Air Raid.

• Fans pick Bielema (Arkansas) as the best SEC hire. Stoops and Malzahn second // ESPN
  I think that's fair. Bielema is a proven winner at head coach in a power conference. None of the others can really make that claim, and no, I don't consider the Big East a power conference.

• Kentucky Offers Top Ohio Lineman; Visiting This Weekend // Nation of Blue
  This is exactly what Stoops said he was going to do.

• Scout.com // Ohio experts talk UK in Buckeye State
  $$. I can't see the content, but I am excited about the headline.

Kentucky basketball

• ESPN puts Kentucky as third-best team in SEC // John Clay's Sidelines
  Stupidity, in my opinion (and I'm not talking about Clay, but ESPN).

• SEC Power Rankings - College Basketball Nation Blog // ESPN
  Medcalf has always been anti-Kentucky for some reason, and this is not the first instance of his obsessive skepticism about UK. Whatever.

• UNC coach visits Huntington // The Herald Dispatch
  I wonder if UNC has made up any ground on Kentucky in the Wiggins recruitment?

• Harrison Twin Hits Game-Winner With Calipari In Attendance // ABC36 News WTVQ Lexington Kentucky
  Selling players on your school is one thing. Keeping them sold is just as important.

• Are the Kentucky Wildcats missing out on Andrew Wiggins? // Wildcat Blue Nation
  FSU will not out-recruit Kentucky. North Carolina might, but I doubt that, too.

• Gorgui Dieng Loses Cast, Prepares For Return To Practice // Card Chronicle
  Good news for the Louisville Cardinals, and good news for us, I say. When we beat them on the 29th, they won't have the "but Gorgui was out" excuse.

Other UK sports

• Three Baseball Standouts Named Preseason All-America // UKAthletics.com
  This could be the year for Baseball.

Links post

• Tom Leach // Friday links
• The Morning Mix // Troy Machir, CollegeBasketballTalk

College basketball

• 3-point shot: Coaches should be on watch // ESPN

  2. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said on the ESPNU College Basketball Podcast Thursday that the Irish had talked to the other seven Catholic schools about forming a national Catholic conference. If the ACC option didn't occur then the Irish would have bolted with the rest. That shows how much this has been discussed and was a distinct possibility.

  I'm not sure I'm a fan of the idea of a conference based on religious affiliation.

• Kevin Duffy: It's OK for UConn fans to hit panic button // Connecticut Post
  I agree. A lot has gone wrong for UConn lately, and replacing a legendary coach at their one successful revenue sport while their conference disintegrates is definitely a cause for concern. Maybe even panic.

Other sports news

• Watson named U.S. Ryder Cup captain for 2014 // baltimoresun.com
  About time. Watson is the kind of winner that can bring the Cup back to the U.S., even from Europe.

• Obsession Disorder: ‘Those unforgettable moments are why we can’t stop watching’ // Insider Louisville
  This is a full cup of coffee, but more than worth the investment of your time.

• Former Tiger basketball player Shawne Williams arrested in Raleigh on drug charges // The Commercial Appeal

  Former Memphis Tigers basketball player Shawne Williams was arrested Thursday in Raleigh after police reported finding marijuana and codeine cough syrup in his car.

  I'm sure Coach Cal will be sorry to hear this. I know I am.

• ESPN commentator Rob Parker calls Robert Griffin III a "cornball brother" // CBS News

  At some point, ESPN and other sports outlets have a responsibility to stop giving a pass to commentators, black, white, or whatever, who foment racial stereotypes. How can we ever get past racial bigotry if one side gets a pass on commentary loaded with innuendo and stereotyping? This "not black enough" stuff ought to be as off-limits as the n-word, and carry the same opprobrium and repercussions, regardless of the race of the person making the comments.
  
  What we are seeing here is the consequences of setting different standards for racial commentary based on the race of the person making the comments. When we unify that standard, and start not caring not about who it was that said it, but the content of their comment, we'll be better off. Who could imagine Bob Costas or Jim Nance getting away with a "not white enough" missive?

• ESPN responds to host Rob Parker's RGIII comments, 'evaluating next steps' // SBNation.com
  I think a suspension is in order, along with a warning that the next incidence of this type of inflammatory stereotyping will be his last as an ESPN employee. Three strikes and all ...

• Reader notes that Randall Cobb has chance to set NFL single season yardage record // vaughtsviews
  That would be awesome.

• Rookie guard Marquis Teague gaining respect of the Bulls // Chicago Sun-Times
  Respect must be earned -- or, if you believe RGIII, taken. I actually like "taken" better.