In an ideal world, Devil Rays OF Elijah Dukes would be receiving attention today for leading all AL rookies in with 8 home runs. Instead, he’s once again managed to drag the good name of the Tampa franchise through the mud. From The St. Petersberg Times’ Eduardo Encina and Abbie Vansickle.
In late April, Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes barged into his wife’s middle school classroom at lunchtime.He was so irate that she ran to get the principal and a deputy, who banned Dukes from the property, records show.
His wife, who said she fears for her life, sought a restraining order and told the court it was the latest in a string of outbursts by the 22-year-old rookie player.
Dukes’ wife, NiShea Gilbert, 26, a teacher at Beth Shields Middle School in Ruskin, told the court in another filing Thursday that her husband threatened to kill her and sent a photo of a handgun to her cell phone.
She played the St. Petersburg Times a voice mail message she said was from Dukes:
“You dead, dawg, ” says an angry voice. “I ain’t even bulls——-. Your kids, too.”
Dukes, when approached after batting practice Tuesday evening, declined to discuss the allegations.
“I’m just going to play ball, that’s it, ” he said. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got a video game to finish.”
A video game, eh? Please, oh please, great givers of blog content, let it be this one.