Dukes: Sorry For What?

Troubled Tampa Bay Devil Rays player Elijah Dukes issued an apology of sorts on Tuesday, but it was only for causing "a distraction" and not for, uh, allegedly threatening the life of his wife and children. The difference seems more than minor.

There is no requirement that baseball players be public speakers, so let's accept the cleaned-up version of his apology that was issued by the team after Dukes' somewhat garbled remarks to reporters:

I would like to apologize to my family, teammates, the fans and the organization for the distraction that this situation has caused. I would like to thank them for standing by me and hope that my family and I can move on and put this behind us.

For sure, it's a start just to say he's sorry for something, a week after the St. Petersburg Times reported that he had (among other things) messaged his wife a photo of a gun and left a voice mail saying, "You dead, dawg... Your kids, too.''

But it would still be good to hear more from Dukes and the Rays organization than about how they want to "put this behind us." They should show that they grasp the seriousness of this and show that they are doing something about it.

A "distraction" is when pitcher Casey Fossum gives up five straight hits in the first inning. A threat to kill your family ranks a little higher. [Times photo | James Borchuck]

Comments

[Toby]

So he should apologize for what has been reported by your newspaper? He hasnt been charged with a single crime here, yet you would like for him to simply admit guilt. There have been rumors swirling that the phone message wasnt even left for her, but for another man. Get off your high horse...there is a reason why I dont subscribe to the Slant Pete Lies, and you are one of the reasons.

[Joe]

Finding out the "other side" of the story before you try to destroy a person's life would be preferable. The SPT's journalism regarding this matter has been atrocious, slanted and ripe with jumping to conclusions. It appears the agenda of your journalists is to ruin this person, regardless of the veracity of the matter. Shame on the SPT.

[Mason]

Are you people that have written in serious? You're actually standing up for this loser?? You are actually more into the slant of the St. Pete Times?? Ok, ok, I know it's a liberal newspaper, but geez people, we are talking about an individual that went into a school and was escorted by the SRO (Student Resource Officer), and seen by other witnesses berating his wife at the school?? GUILT?? I would think so! Whether or not you think this newspaper is liberal, WAKE UP!!! People like you are the problem, not the solution...This man has a problem, and he shouldn't be playing professional baseball making millions of dollars, but also being a horrible role-model and father.

[Jeremiah]

He should not have to apologize for anything that he hasn't done. I am ashamed and disappointed that so many people, including this newspaper, are quick to persecute him. It is a distraction!!! It is an allegation by a soon to be ex-wife. He would not be the first athlete this has happened to. A similar thing happened to Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy.

[Jason]

I've got to say....ummm ....the wife or girlfriend or whoever she was certainly seemed like she was telling the truth. Also...there were witnesses at the school like another commenter had mentioned. But, someone that has an office job and does what he does won't have to apologize to the press...so why should this guy? I definitely don't agree w/ what he did though.

[Eric]

There are also rumors that his wife, cleaned out the bank account...

She also has arrest history of spousal abuse.

SPT is a joke of a newspaper..They always report to slant their view of things. Liberal to the end..

[Mark]

Well, the headline "Wife wins court order" is the most damning proof of SPT's slant on this. First, this was a negotiated deal among the parties, and second, a restraining order is evidence of nothing, and third, putting domestic disputes in terms of wins and losses is infantile and moronic. None of SPT's reported allegations have been substantiated and in fact the women's motives have been put severely in question by her past assault, cleaning out the bank account, and going to the newspaper instead of the police. This entire issue was not worthy of a week's coverage and is just another sorry example of sloppy, one-sided journalism.

[Mark]

To say SPT's obvious slant on this is because they are "liberal" is equally moronic. This is the same newspaper that knew about Republican Congressman Foley's e-mails years ago and sat on the story. If anything, their Foley silence and week-long obsession with bringing down a black athlete when there is little or no story would tend to put them in bed with Fox "News".

[Jeremy]

How is the Elijah Dukes story news at all?!?...It might be news within his inner-circle or family, but what business is it of ours what occurs in the Dukes household. If I told my wife I was going to kick her ass tonight, no one would know about it tomorrow...but because Elijah hits a baseball for a living that makes him open season for ridicule?...If the St. Petersburg Lies actually cared about the situation they'd have taken the matter to the police instead of their front page, as it is they care about selling papers and becoming the nation's leading tabloid. Anyone remember the Steve/Susan Stanton episode? Another instance of the Times carelessly balling up someone's life and throwing it in their garbage bin of a paper for everyone to see so they can make a dollar and one up the Tribune.

[Toby]

Mason...get your facts straight. He doesnt make millions of dollars, he makes league minimum, which is around $350,000. Of course, she wants $28,000 per month in alimony. It's sad she is a teacher if she cant realize he doesnt have that kind of income.
Also, he was never arrested because of the school incident. You can be sure that if he had threatened her on a public school's property, he would have been arrested. We dont know what happened that day, other then he went to the school during her lunch hour and was upset about something. Maybe she did something to cause him to become upset. Who knows....well, apparently the Slant Pete Lies knows, as they have continued their one sided reporting.

[Howard Troxler]

Strong comments. I am glad I ain't in charge of the entire newspaper and therefore responsible for ALL that bad stuff, but only the idiotic stuff that I write myself.

I am in the camp that if he threatened to murder his wife and children then it is relevant and a legit topic for public discussion, given his public role, even if (as I have said) this sure seems to be a bitter two-party dispute with plenty of fault to go around.

Still trying to figure out the "liberal" part of it, though, as Mark points out. If I could get Mark matched up with the folks who think we are lefties trying to Help The Terrorists Win, I would like to hear the ensuing debate.

[Hark D. Sound]

Hang in there Mr. Troxler, you savage slashing lefty partisan.

Joking! Only joking.

There are a number of interesting questions here -- one that occurs to me is, if the spouse can put the incident behind her...are we supposed to hang onto it for, you know, headlines and everything?

Speaking of baseball, which we're doing, sort of...I trust the bright light of your attention is cast on the College Worlds Series at the moment

[Dee Berringer]

The guy is a punk!! Why do we treat these people like royalty? His past is nothing but anger and threats. Maybe the Devil Rays, or someone, should get him some help before he kills his wife and kids.

[Howard Troxler]

Hark: If you are indirectly referring to my lineage, alma mater and the #3 seeding of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (48-12), why, yes.

[Granville Towers, Esquire]

I have every reason to believe that is precisely what the scholarly Mr. Sound is referring to.

My take on Dukes is he has a most unfortunate surname, if you get my drift here.

Is there any evidence that Dukes has actually popped someone? Violent temper, check. Threats and objectively thuggish behavior, check. Any actual assaults? (I hope this isn't a hideously ignorant question).

[Tracy]

Not showing up for a court hearing with the serious allegations that he was faced with tells what the real truth is. One would think that Dukes would want to answer them if they were indeed untrue. Perhaps he is pretending that those abusive actions on his part never occurred (he is in a state of denial) for fear of more embarrassment??

[Howard Troxler]

Granville: First of all, what have you got against the Dukes of James Madison University?

Re: E. Dukes' past: a few alleged domestic batteries, mostly not prosecuted, one went to court with a withholding of formal adjudcation. Here's a summary that ran in the paper:

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/24/Rays/Elijah_Dukes__trouble.shtml

[C.U. Onfranklin]

If I recall correctly, the venerable Lefty Dreisell coached at Jam U. So, as Bill Murray's memorable character in Caddyshack observed under different circumstances, "there's THAT."

Look man, Dukes no-showed at the hearing because they were handing up an agreed order. No need for appearances when he agrees to the relief sought.

I come back to Mr. Sound's original question above -- if the state sees no reason to pursue a litany of run of the mill bullying, and if the people on the receiving end of these things walk away from them...why are we going to get balled up about it?

The threats are real real bad, no doubt about that. The rest of this looks like every day chowderheaded behavior to me. Throwing remotes, making girls kiss ... these don't sound like felonies or firing offenses.

I do think we ought to boo his bad self though, why not? (Dukes I'm talking about now, not Troxler)

[Dan]

Wow, I had no idea that conservatives were in favor of men threatening their wives and children.

Who knew?

Hardly surprising though.