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Forum: Talk Rays
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Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes called the Ron and Ian Show on WDAE, 620 AM this morning and specifically spoke about allegations leveled against him by his estranged wife, NiShea Gilbert. Dukes also addressed the claim by a then-17-year-old foster child living at his grandmother’s house that the girl had been impregnated by Dukes, who denied the child is his.
Dukes called the show after several members of his family called Monday and Tuesday. Gilbert also called the show Tuesday morning, before Dukes’ call.
His main reason for the call seemed to be to dispute claims by callers that he had told his estranged wife and several other people that his mother used crack cocaine. His father was sentenced to prison when Dukes was 12 for killing a man who he claimed had sold his mother fake crack for $100.
“Ya’ll need to be more open-minded about the situation,” Dukes said. “The situation is, my dad, being who he is, he’s not going to talk to somebody with a crack problem. My dad never did drugs.
“You take $100 worth of crack in the ‘hood, you can flip that, right? So, why are ya’ll not thinking, OK, maybe they was drug dealers or something. Why everybody got to say, oh, she’s a crack head. Oh, that’s what they say.”
Dukes spoke rapidly, angrily and incoherently at times as the hosts occasionally tried to break in during his diatribe. The entire interview can be heard at the radio station’s Web site, 620wdae.com.
Here are exerpts from the interview:
Dukes on why he left Gilbert and whether he does believe he has an anger management problem:”I vowed when my father got locked up that I’d be the best father I can for my kids and I’d always be there for them. And that’s why I left her, because I know that if stayed with her, I’d eventually be in prison. Because she provoked me by hitting me. She done hit me across the head with picture frames and everything. You know what, I eat that because I told my kids that I would never go back to jail again for no domestic violence. I have made strides. Maybe I have a – I probably have an anger problem. But I’ve diminished my anger, and I know how to get rid of some of my problems to my anger. And she was one of my problems.”
Dukes on why he believes he hasn’t been in the Rays starting lineup since accusations surfaced that he had fathered a baby with the foster child:
“I am in a bit of a slump, because I’ve got all this other stuff going on. You know how hard it is to be away from your kids when you always been with your kids? Do anybody know how that feels? Ya’ll looking at all this other stuff. I could care less about what people say. What really hurts is I can’t be around my kids for a year. And that really hurt me, because you know what, I did everything I can.”
Dukes on whether he needs help, emotionally:
“Do I need help? No, I don’t need no help. Everybody needs guidance. Do I need guidance? Yeah, I need guidance. Sometimes you need somebody to talk to. But do I need help? No, I don’t need no help. How many times I ever shot someone? How many times I ever stabbed someone? How many times I ever beaten, brutally beaten somebody? Never.”
Dukes’ defiance:
“First of all, I have had a long … I grew up on the flipside of things. I didn’t grow up with no silver spoon in my mouth. I had to go through a lot to get to where I am today. Every time you get to the top, you always have those hyenas want to knock you down, as a lion.
“Right now, I have come a long way. You think back to where people said, you know what, I won’t make it. I’m here now. Did the people who said I wasn’t going to make it call me back and apologize? No. They try to find something else to knock me down with. But guess what? Nobody’s going to bring me down with all these accusations they making about me.”
Posted by Marlly Mol, Tampa on 06/20 at 06:37 PM
To all you critics,haters,and devils.I suggest all you bad spirits, take heed to what measures you take when judging a man. We all have, or should have a life of our own to be concerned about.My step daugther, have a job and seek only minumun assist as all fathers know. he and I have decent understanding. If he was a whiteman, u critics would,nt have a comment. you socall brothers,most of you can.t hit a ball. I promise you all Elija D will servive this dark cloud in Jesus Name Amen. You people done the same when, Jesus came here. ask for forgivness.
Posted by Jannie Cochran, Tampa on 06/20 at 05:35 AM
You know everyone seems to think Elijah needs help. Okay,what about the young ladies that lay with him to get these children, what are they thinking about (money).You can’t blame him! As far as NiShea, she has anger problems, everything she harped about getting out of Elijah has come back to haunt her.He’s not as DUMB as she thought. She showed me his check stubs and stated how she was going to get him for his money. She really don’t love him. Enough is enough,"He will wish he had never met me, I am going to get him.” Her exact quote.The abuse he claims is true.She has done worse to him. Please step back and take a look at the whole situation. This saga is in the media hands, stop the interviews, tell her to get help,
Posted by Manny Stiles, Phoenix, AZ on 06/20 at 03:18 AM
I’m rooting for him and praying for him. I think he’s a good kid that dealt with things you or I can’t imagine. If you ignore the stereotypes and realize he’s dealing with a rookie season, marital issues, legal embattlement, and racist media… yeah, he’s doing pretty good this year.
He has AMAZING talents and abilities and when he gets comfortable with the routine of being a MLB player, he’s going to be the monster ON the field that everyone thinks he is OFF the field.
Freeky good. He’s 23 years old… he’ll be alright.
Posted by Mike Hunt, New Tampa on 06/19 at 08:08 PM
Once a THUG always a THUG.
I hope the RAYS release him. He is hurting the team, the community, and has worn out his short welcome in the Tampa Bay area.
Posted by vern garrett, temple terrace on 06/19 at 07:41 PM
he just need that guidance to get him by, his wife might was the problem. and the 17 yearold girl is just looking for that “rich baby daddy”. Eligah is a little bit more wealthier than that other guy working at Crystal Burgers.
Posted by Heidi Tabak, Tampa,FL on 06/19 at 06:19 PM
Elijah has exhibited destructive behavior since high school that nobody cared to report because he played for the Terriers. Now that he’s in the major leagues his ongoing personal issues have become national sports fodder so it’s a big deal. While he is a very talented natural athelete in many different sports, we can no longer look past the volatile nature of his behavior.
Posted by Monica Harris, Tampa on 06/19 at 06:04 PM
This Elijah Dukes guy sounds if he is about to explode and also sounds like he has a lot of anger inside,which can come from being benched,divorce,baby mommas,media etc..he really need some exstensive counseling before he comes through everyone like a tornado and damage something.
Posted by Michael Smith, on 06/19 at 05:45 PM
Tony Agan,
Why do you have to bring race into this? It is common sense to ANY educated person that he does sound illiterate and uneducated. How do you know Ms. Young even knew if he was black or white?
Posted by John Francis, Port Richey, FL on 06/19 at 05:15 PM
You can take the boy out of the hood but you can’t take the hood out of the boy.
This kid is a timebomb waiting to explode. He’s been babied since the first day he set foot on a baseball field. Momma, grandma, his coaches, the schools, the DRO, and society created this dirtball by justifying his actions and giving him chance after chance after chance.
Posted by ken keller, Largo on 06/19 at 05:00 PM
Defending your fathers crime of committing murder by saying he had a chance to make an extra $100 and was screwed pretty much sums up Dukes. He is clueless. I could care less about his marital strife. The fact is he is a man full of rage and as a man who used to have a lot of rage myself I know he is destined for a very very dark time. He needs help for he cannot help himself.
Posted by Tony Agan, Tampa, FL on 06/19 at 04:45 PM
Elaine Young...don’t make fun of a person for what you feel as a lack of education. This wasn’t a written statement, it was a coversation. English is a language that can easily be distorted when spoken. Don’t knock the man because he doesn’t speak like you, makes you sound like a racist. Maybe if he said “ya’ll don’t come ‘round here no mo’ or “get’r done” you would understand him better. He is a young kid who didn’t have a good father figure and a troubled past. Like he said, he’s needs guidance. It’s up the the Rays to give him this guidance so he can bring his talent back to the field or trade him to another team if they don’t want to “raise” him.
Posted by Ervin Stepp, Lutz on 06/19 at 04:16 PM
I guess with can see Elijah Dukes on the Maury Povich show next year on ‘WHO’S MY BABY’S DADDY’. Can’t wait to hear those words - “Elijah Dukes you are father”.
Posted by Michael Lundberg, Tampa, Florida on 06/19 at 03:58 PM
This man claims he’s never brutally beaten, shot, or stabbed anyone. Are we supposed to be impressed by that? You’re not supposed to beat, stab, and shoot people. How great a father can he be with 5 kids from 4 different women? He asks us to be open minded about his father being a convicted murderer. This is ridiculous! He is not in touch with reality. People have made excuses and given him dozens of chances because he can hit a baseball. How about we ask him to be a productive member of the human race? I see him at the Rays games and all I think is tick, tick, tick, tick…
Posted by Paul Allen, Riverview on 06/19 at 03:52 PM
I think this situation has been blown way out of proportion. It seems most people take what his wife says at face value. In reality, she has a motive to make him look as bad as possible in order to get custody of their kids and child support. The fact that Dukes is from Tampa and playing for the Devil Rays only adds fuel to the fire of this story in the local media. For the best interest of everyone involved, the Rays should trade Dukes to National League team, so he will only play in Tampa once every six years or so, and give him a fresh start. Also, i agree with Dominick Alesandrini, he should get a “mouthpiece” to do the talking for him.
Posted by Joyce Neves, Tampa,FL on 06/19 at 03:33 PM
I really think this whole situation has gotten out of control. These two people are going through a divorce and it’s clearly none of the media business. I am a black women myself and I feel that she may be a hurt women right now and is trying to get back at him any way she can, he is right the time the were married we never heard anything about them or there marriage now that there is a divorce going on he is the bad person.
Posted by Dominick Alesandrini, Tampa on 06/19 at 03:13 PM
This young man needs a manager and a spokesperson to look out for him. I am very surprised that the Rays are just letting him speak out the way he has been. It would be a shame for this mans talent to be wasted and his career ruined over these issues. Clearly, no one is looking out for him. Not even the Rays. I hope someone realizes this “diamond in the rough” and helps him get back on track. There are many players out there who will confirm that it is not easy to get where he is. And it’s even more difficult to stay there. I wish him well. Elijah, hire a manager or an agent to protect and help you. Right away.
Posted by Devin Johnson, Wesley Chapel on 06/19 at 02:58 PM
Shew, that really cleared things up. And I thought I had a hard time understading Akinori!
Posted by G. Elaine Young, Tampa on 06/19 at 02:56 PM
Is this guy Dukes really a professional major league baseball player? Do MLB players come out of college? Are these quoted statements coming out of his mouth? He sounds very illiterate and difficult to understand. Do most professional sports players speak like this? Kind of sad and says a lot if he graduated from college and expresses himself like this. Wow.
Posted by Chris Wolfe, Riverivew on 06/19 at 02:03 PM
Dukes is a flake. It is only a matter of time before a psycho like him hurts or kills someone. His wife is justified in being afraid of him. I think we should lock him up now as a preventative measure. The more he opens his mouth the more he digs himself a deeper hole.
The D-rays should boot him off the team and the MLB should kick him out for good. What kind of message are we sending our children when we allow psycho’s like this to play baseball. It isn’t only about who you are on the field, as a hero, it matters who you are off the field. This guy needs HELP!
Posted by Derek James, tampa on 06/19 at 12:56 PM
Someone needs to help this guy or he is going to end up in jail or dead!
Posted by ray schroeder, Clearwater,fl on 06/19 at 12:49 PM
He is out of control. It’s time to end his time with the Devil Rays. Look at yourself before you blame others.
Posted by John Powell, Dade City on 06/19 at 12:44 PM
Leave the guy alone. His wife just mite be the one with a problem. She might be a ##### to live with.
Posted by Randy Freeman, Tampa on 06/19 at 12:17 PM
Rays need to get rid of this punk now.
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Posted by Tony Agan, Tampa, FL on 07/12 at 04:42 PM
Well, Mr Michael Smith… - How does Ms. Young NOT know if he’s black or white? He’s a MLB player on the Devil Rays in your home town...does she live in a cave with only access to a thread on TBO.com? I don’t speak that way either but it’s no reason to knock a man. Do you hang out with Ms. Young and make fun of handicapted people too? He had a troubled past with no father figure. I doubt anyone with his past will turn into a NASA scientist over night and speak like a college english professor (but you would probably complain about that too). He is a professional baseball player. Who are you?