TITANIC Talent
Elijah Dukes career was steaming towards Tampa Bay through troubled waters. Has it finally run aground?

Brian ROSS
MLNSportsZone.com

TAMPA - 01.17.07 - The waters were calm and the sailing smooth in Tampa Bay during the off season. 2006 had seen rough seas aplenty for the Devil Rays farm system, as the "Bad Boy Bulls" (Triple-Bs) trio of Delmon "The Ump Hunter" Young, B.J. Upton and attitude anchor man Elijah Dukes drew more than 100 games in suspensions between them. Monday, the skies over Tampa Bay darkened, and the D-Rays front office battened down the hatches as tropical storm Elijah began kicking up media head winds once again.

Dukes was arrested for possession of marijuana in Tampa, Florida, on Monday.

He was stopped by Tampa police for blaring music from his car, a noise violation in the local vehicle code.

Officers making the stop at 21st Ave & 29th Street North detected the odor of marijuana, and expanded the scope of their traffic stop. A search of the vehicle produced less than 2 grams of marijuana from the center console of the vehicle.

Dukes and an unidentified passenger were released on their own recognizance with a promise to appear in court.

This makes the sixth arrest for Dukes over his six year pro career. His most recent prior run-in with the law was in 2005 for driving an unregistered vehicle.

The arrest is just another page in a history of conflict that has plagued the Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect throughout his life. The question for Dukes is: Will this latest problem be the final straw, and scuttle his career as a professional baseball player?

The Tragical History Tour

Elijah Dukes, Jr. was shrouded by controversy and attitudinal problems throughout high school. He attended four high schools in four years after repeated arguments with teachers and coaches. An altercation with a teacher between his junior and senior year almost resulted in his expulsion. He sobered up for a time, with the prospect of a baseball career and some level of financial salvation for his mother and family of six on the line.

His run-ins with the law extend beyond his troubles as a pro player, including two arrests for battery when he was 13 and 14 years old.

That he has trouble with authority figures is an understatement. Dukes drew more suspensions than the a bridge in 2006:

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