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Elijah Dukes News & Rumors

Elijah Dukes is rapping now, says he smoked marijuana before Nationals games
February 12
Washington Post
 
"The Tampa Tribune is going to run what sounds like a crazy story about Elijah Dukes in tomorrow's editions, and there is a preview up now on its Web site. Dukes, the Nationals' former right fielder who was released last spring training, is now rapping in his home city of Tampa, having evidently halted a comeback in baseball that took him briefly to the independent Newark Bears last summer. He calls himself Fly Eli, and he mines his troubled past for material. The most salacious part of the upcoming story has little to do with his rap career. He makes some pretty wild accusations and claims. An example: He says he was blackballed by baseball after he came forward last year with allegations"
In surprising move, Washington Nationals release outfielder Elijah Dukes
March 18
Washington Post
 
"Elijah Dukes's tenure with the Washington Nationals ended Wednesday when the team unconditionally released him, a decision the team said was made for reasons pertaining only to baseball. The move left Dukes stunned and the Nationals without a set right fielder with the season less than three weeks away. General Manager Mike Rizzo called Dukes's release "a performance-based decision" and that "no singular incident" led to the decision. But Rizzo also implied that Dukes's presence in the clubhouse adversely affected the Nationals, saying they "will be a more cohesive group" without him. "The clubhouse will be more united," Rizzo said. "We'll have a better feel around the ballclub. We'll"
Elijah Dukes released
March 17
Washington Post
 
"The Nationals this morning granted outfielder Elijah Dukes, a player brimming with potential yet haunted by a controversial past, his unconditional release. Manager Jim Riggleman said it was a strictly baseball decision and not related to any off-the-field problems. "We like some of our other options in right field, really," Riggleman said. "Elijah was great.""
Slumping Dukes Is Sent To Class AAA Syracuse
July 2
Washington Post
 
"The Washington Nationals sent Elijah Dukes to Class AAA Syracuse on Wednesday morning, saying Dukes was not a "finished product" and needed to play every day rather than sit on the bench in the majors. The move came in response to the team's acquisition Tuesday of middle reliever Sean Burnett and center fielder Nyjer Morgan in a trade that sent Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates. "I don't think we're going to be doing him any help by just sitting him here," Acta said before Wednesday's game against the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo called the demotion of Dukes "a pure baseball decision" designed to ensure Dukes would"
Dukes Pays Estranged Wife's Legal Fees in Time
June 6
Washington Post
 
"Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes avoided the possibility of a 90-day jail sentence yesterday by paying $39,767 in outstanding legal fees several hours before the court-appointed deadline. One week earlier, a Hillsborough (Fla.) Circuit Court judge had ordered that Dukes must pay the money, owed to attorneys representing his estranged wife, by 5 p.m. yesterday. "Right now, the money is being processed by our firm, so I consider it paid," said attorney Carlos Ramirez, who represents NiShea Dukes. "They made the deadline." The deadline -- and the court's ruling that Dukes must pay the debt -- came after NiShea Dukes's attorneys filed a motion for civil contempt, a means to claim"
Outfielder Dukes May Face Jail Time For His Legal Fees
May 30
Washington Post
 
"Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes will spend the next several days with Class AA Harrisburg, trying to rehabilitate his left hamstring injury. In the meantime, he must deal with another problem. Hillsborough (Fla.) Circuit Court Judge Mark Wolfe on Friday ordered that Dukes, 24, must pay $39,767 in outstanding legal fees for his estranged wife's attorneys. If he doesn't make the payment by June 5 at 5 p.m., he could face 90 days in jail. Dukes did not attend today's hearing, which came after attorneys for NiShea Dukes filed a motion for civil contempt, a means to claim unpaid fees. Dukes, with a history of legal trouble, faced a similarly sized debt -- and a similar threat for"