On “ESPN First Take” on Thursday afternoon, analyst Rob Parker said he can’t tell if African-American quarterback Robert Griffin III is a brother or “cornball brother” because he has a white fiancée and he might be Republican. Here is the quote:

“My question, which is just a straight-up, honest question, is he a brother or a cornball brother? He’s not really … okay he’s black he kinda does his thing, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not really one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really, like, the guy you want to hand out with … I keep hearing these thing We all know he has a white fiancée and there’s all this talk about, he’s a Republican, which there’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue.”

As you can imagine, Twitter went berserk.

Amazing. ESPN's first take debate, is RGIII black enough? Really, this happened. http://t.co/UIgMf2gY — Clay Travis (@ClayTravisBGID) December 13, 2012

text from on-air talent at ESPN re this: http://t.co/2iFX3oKo 'when the show embarrasses the network like this, you've got to avoid twitter' — Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) December 13, 2012

Dear, Rob Parker: RG3 having a White fiancee makes him a "cornball brother" but his braids add to his "authenticity?" Really? *sigh* — Stephon Johnson (@StephonJohnson8) December 13, 2012

Rob Parker Calls RG3 a “Cornball Brother,” Questions His “Blackness” For Being a Republican and Having a White Fiancee http://t.co/pQPrQyCz — Tyler Duffy (@tyduffy) December 13, 2012

https://twitter.com/TrapBasquiat/status/279322346601459712

Absurd comments by @RobParkerESPN 2day on RGIII's being "down w cause" or not. This is why @ESPN_FirstTake sets us back http://t.co/oRTOKU6t — Roy S. Johnson (@roysj) December 13, 2012

What does it even mean 'acting more black' ? @RobParkerESPN How do I 'act more white'? #GetOverTheRaceCardAlready This is 2012, not 1960. — GoSpursGo (@Jason_Wacker) December 13, 2012

Wow @RobParkerESPN I know you were asking "questions" but that was uncalled for. What is a real black guy or a fake black guy anyways? — [email protected] (@MKsmn515) December 13, 2012

@RobParkerESPN Why does it matter if RG3 matches your stereotypes? I'm disappointed to see such a question posed this day and age. — Harry Michelson (@hmich176) December 13, 2012

Put the words “cornball brother” in the column of terms I didn’t know existed before today and wish I hadn’t learned ever. — Andy Lynch (@andrewdlynch) December 13, 2012

Wondering what @espn maybe doing where they can't respond to such disgraceful speech http://t.co/5QR7znIV Maybe using bathroom or… — The Wyomingite (@ConservativeHic) December 13, 2012

I liked @RobParkerESPN but his comments on First Take are incredibly offensive. If that network wasn't a joke, they'd fire him. — TCBae (@Teecus90) December 13, 2012

If you call #RG3 a "cornball brother", you are an idiot. It's a GOOD thing that he does not consider himself defined by skin. #Redskins — L. Allen (@L_Allen_) December 13, 2012

This guy @RobParkerESPN wears the most RIDICULOUS suits and HE'S calling someone a cornball?? — Johnny B-Ball (@JohnnyBuckets9) December 13, 2012

Heh.

@RobParkerESPN you sorry son of a bitch. Don't you ever ever talk shit about my QB RGIII. You need to apologize for those comments #CORNBALL — Gregory Raspberry (@The_Fatmack) December 13, 2012

No apology from Parker yet. On the contrary, he’s doubled down. He retweeted these race-baiting fans:

@RobParkerESPN you were dead on about RGIII & other athletes who shy away from their blackness. It's unnecessary & pathetic to do so — Proud Combat Vet (@ThadBaggins) December 13, 2012

https://twitter.com/FatherV/status/279297870744657920

And then insulted one of his critics:

“@nomorevinny: I'm curious how @RobParkerESPN thinks RG3 should act to "be more black".” Bet u didn't even see show. Typical and uneducated — Rob Parker (@RobParkerLocal4) December 13, 2012

@RobParkerESPN tweeting back insults at people for calling him out on his BS racist remarks, reeks of desperation and pathetic sadness. — Razor (@House_Razor) December 13, 2012

No kidding.

We can’t wait to find out what future gems are set to issue forth from Parker’s mouth. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long. He’s busy prepping for Saturday’s show.

“@RobertALoblaw: @RobParkerESPN Good luck in your next line of work!” Typical silly response. Watch me on First Take tomorrow and Sat.#pleze — Rob Parker (@RobParkerLocal4) December 13, 2012

Tune in to “First Take” on Saturday. You never know what you might hear.

***

Update:

Even race card aficionado Touré thinks Parker went too far:

Rob Parker's comments about RG3 were simple-minded & outrageous. You question the man's Blackness over superficial things & your questions? — Touré (@Toure) December 13, 2012

Does it "matter" if RG3 is Republican? No. It does not feed Rob's dumb point. Rob semi-asserted that he is & I don't know the answer. — Touré (@Toure) December 13, 2012

Of course Bayless's question about RG3's hair lowered a silly conversation even lower but Parker's innuendos were frightening. — Touré (@Toure) December 13, 2012

I disagree with Republican ideology but I never think someone's not Black because they're Republican. — Touré (@Toure) December 13, 2012

Wow. When you’ve lost Touré …

* * *

Update:

ESPN’s communications director says that the network is evaluating its next steps.

ESPN comment re Rob Parker on First Take earlier today: "The comments were inappropriate and we are evaluating our next steps." — Chris LaPlaca (@espn_chris) December 14, 2012

That didn’t sound like a request for suggestions, but as long as there’s an ESPN official paying attention…

@espn_chris not to mention the comments were stupid. — Mike Costa (@JudeCostaNC9) December 14, 2012

@espn_chris Like cancel the show? It's turned into garbage , serving no purpose but to make outlandish statements just to get a rise. — Aaron Staggs (@Staggs_Aaron) December 14, 2012

@espn_chris @PeytonsHead the next step is to remove @robparkerespn from his duties. Ignorance on sports and now race? Terrible. @espn — S Dot (@sdotferro) December 14, 2012

https://twitter.com/Matthew_Steele1/status/279382852154585088