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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Elijah Dukes: Lacking Role Models

While Elijah Dukes has been undergoing counselling to help him deal with the issues that caused him to momentarily lose his cool and leave a message that some might choose to interpret as "threatening" on his estranged wife's voicemail; the revelation that a young woman is carrying his child has again put this contemplative young man at the top of the story line.

Understand that it makes no difference if an athlete wants to be a role model, or not. The fact that they are constantly in the news and that their behavior is so closely reported mandates that they ARE role models. So, when impressionable and maturing young people read about and see the lifestyles of star athletes, often they make the mistake of emulating them.

Particularly if the impressionable minds are the minds of young athletes.

Duke is a young man. An immature man. No one can argue this. Certainly, he bears some of the blame for his misbehavior. But, just as certainly, there is enough blame to go around. We've touched in the past on how the Devil Rays let Elijah down. But, we certainly can't blame the team in this latest incident.

We blame the role models. And the media.

Athletes have a responsibility to provide a worthwhile and solid example for the up and coming young athletes. And the media should be reporting these examples.

Instead, the media harps on the questionable. Extols the negative. Values the borderline moral. And, young Elijah, his values skewered and shaped by the media, walks astray.

For months and months we've seen the sports and entertainment media glorifying the out of wedlock procreation of Tom Brady, Matt Leinhart and even Brian Urlacher. Pasting stories about these men and their womanizing on the web, in print and on the TV screen.

Is it any wonder that young Elijah followed their lead? Is it surprising that Elijah was led to believe that this is how star athletes live their lives?

Unfortunately for Elijah, he is now finding out that only certain athletes get to live life like this. Only certain athletes get the media equivalent of a pat on the back for filling the bellies of single women with babies.

Other athletes, instead of getting the Page 6 treatment and congratulations for the pending nativities, get lines like the following in their stories:

Tampa police said no criminal charges will be filed against Dukes, 22, because state law allows adults between 18 and 23 to have consensual sex with 16- and 17-year-olds.

Yep. While Brady and Leinhart get kudos and hand shakes, Elijah gets a lesson in Florida statutes. Being unbiased, it's hard not to believe that prosecutors weren't just searching for the chance to charge Dukes.

Also, lost in all this: The likes of Brady and Leinhart have NO history as fathers. None. Yet, we assume because of certain criteria, that they will be wonderful fathers. The media doesn't question their qualifications or wonder if they are fit.

Yet, there is a concern that Elijah will be a good father to this child.

Records indicate that Dukes is a fit father. He is credited with having 5 children. With 4 different mothers. Two of those children are even with his current wife. Brady, Leinhart and Urlacher can't even make the claim of having children with a current spouse. Yet, we choose to hold young Dukes under the scope and let these men off the hook.

Dukes doesn't even get credit for his passion about fatherhood.

When she told Dukes in March that she was pregnant, "he got mad and threw a Gatorade at me," the teenager said in the report.

Perhaps, Dukes estranged wife summed it up best:

"You're married and you're having sex with strangers? It's disgusting," Gilbert said. "Do you even know what a condom is?"

We asked a question along the same lines a few months ago.

Until young people are presented with positive role models who understand that children are a responsibility, we are destined to read tales exactly like Elijah Dukes'.

Let's not pretend it's so uncommon. And let's not pretend we don't understand the root cause.

29 comments:

Dave the Wave said...

"Let's not pretend it's so uncommon. And let's not pretend we don't understand the root cause."

right on! cause, young players banging their grandmama's foster kids happens EVERYDAY. the media just chooses not to report it.

outta your mind!

Unknown said...

"Certainly, he bears some of the blame for his misbehavior."

Shawn Kemp scoffs at your notion.

Unknown said...

"Unfortunately for Elijah, he is now finding out that only certain athletes get to live life like this."

Sir, let us not forget Randy Johnson, a WHITE MLB player who almost no one ever mentions has an illegitimate child that he ignores, yet young Elijah is taking it this week. Why, sir, why?

Al_Sharpton's_Banana_Hammock said...

Larry Bird!

The basketball jesus is another bad apple!!!

Anonymous said...

SCOFF

Malcom Hex said...

His wife seems so bitter.

The man is about to become a father.

She could at least have a little joy for him.

Steven A's Cheese Doodles said...

"His wife seems so bitter."


Jealous thing, she is.

No wonder he gets so frustrated.

Roll The Dice said...

"Dukes doesn't even get credit for his passion about fatherhood."

Dukes should get all the credit in the world. He will be getting what, like 15 cards this sunday from his childrens all across the globe?

Dirty Sanchez said...

Another instance of black women not supporting the Negro male in his time of need. Elijah Dukes doesn't need scolding, he needs a gentle, guiding hand. And a box of condoms.

Dirty Sanchez said...

And his mentor must be proud... Elijah's sperm will not be easily controlled!

matt said...

Perhaps all this off the field trouble is affecting his on field performance. Any time your batting average (.192 thru Sat) is less than your weight (225 or so) and you OPS (.717) is almost less than A-Rods slugging, maybe its time to sit.

Anonymous said...

your postings are awesome..the comedy is great...keep it up. How true that it must have been tom bradys fault that Dukes decided to have sex with a 16 year old...what i wish for you is that you have a teenage daughter and dukes gets a crack at her.

Anonymous said...

i think dukes was just following the strong example set by shawn kemp, stephon marbury, lebron james, michael jordan, tank johnson, etc etc. you keep riding the brady, leinart, and urlacher wagon but dont realize that they are the exception to the rule...a caucasian athlete behaving as a negro athlete off the field.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Dukes decided to have sex with a 16 year old"

Sir, stop spreading your lies.

She was NOT 16.

And NO ONE blamed Tom Brady for this.

Certainly Dukes made his OWN choices.

To blame Brady would be ridiculous.

Although, studies prove inconclusively that media deification of certain stars unequivocally effects the behavioral adaptations of young, pliant minds.

So, I'll leave conclusions up to you.

Anonymous said...

"Dukes decided to have sex with a 16 year old"

Sir, stop spreading your lies.

She was NOT 16.

you are right i apologize...she was a 17 year old foster kid..so i hope that you have a 17 year old daughter and dukes gets his hands on her..she would end up pregnant or dead...and the funniest thing now is Dukes mother is blaming the girl for getting pregnant...what a class act family.

Although, studies prove inconclusively that media deification of certain stars unequivocally effects the behavioral adaptations of young, pliant minds.

So, I'll leave conclusions up to you.

You are correct again...that is why the media force feeding us great stories about lebron james is so scary...the number of illegitimate children born is sure to jump dramatically as long as someone of his low moral fiber is painted as a hero.

Anonymous said...

is "lacking role models" some negro slang for not having any condoms?
Like as Dukes was molesting this teenage foster kid did he say "sorry bitch..we doin it bare back cause I be lacking role models and i aint going to the store to buy any".

Anonymous said...

"Unfortunately for Elijah, he is now finding out that only certain athletes get to live life like this."

Sir, let us not forget Randy Johnson, a WHITE MLB player who almost no one ever mentions has an illegitimate child that he ignores, yet young Elijah is taking it this week. Why, sir, why?

Yes the white media truly has their darling with randy johnson...i mean all their reports of him are so overwhelmingly positive....Are you blind or is it that you just cant read..the randy johnson story was a front page story in new york newspapers and received more publicity than this Dukes story has....again you are blinded by racism and anti-white sentiment. Stop defending poor behavior with this "if he can do it so should I" mentality. The fact is dukes is in his early twenties and can already put an all illegitimate kid basketball team on the floor.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

NOIS: Although, studies prove inconclusively that media deification of certain stars unequivocally effects the behavioral adaptations of young, pliant minds.


Anony: You are correct again...that is why the media force feeding us great stories about lebron james is so scary...the number of illegitimate children born is sure to jump dramatically as long as someone of his low moral fiber is painted as a hero.

Sir, we said "inconclusively"....so if we are "correct"; you damage yourself for offering that example as being supported by our "correct"-ness.

Thank you.

censored said...

Sir, we said "inconclusively"....so if we are "correct"; you damage yourself for offering that example as being supported by our "correct"-ness.

Thank you.

yes you are correct and that is what makes the medias attempt to make lebron james a role model even scarier...as long as we have people with such low moral fiber being held up on a pedestal we are nowhere.

Al_Sharpton's_Banana_Hammock said...

"yes you are correct and that is what makes the medias attempt to make lebron james a role model even scarier"

and WHO runs the media?

you say James is a horrible role model.

white people run the media.

so, it would seem like they PURPOSELY pick horrible role models for young blacks in an effort to continue to degrade black America.

You can't have it both ways.

If you wanna say James is a shitty role model, blame the WHITE people that run the media, the WHITE people that run the NBA, and the WHITE people that run Nike for shoving him down our throats.

And, since you agree that these role models DO have an effect on the people that look up to them...YOU have made the argument YOURSELF that WHITE AMERICA is substantially contributing to all the horrible things you claim black america is guilty of...

you can't have it both ways, YT....

You just PROVED a HELL of a lot of what NOIS has been saying since this blog started!!

Damn....in some weird way....NOIS turned you out...HA!

lost said...

"you can't have it both ways, YT"

Sir, well put.

I believe Al Sharpton's Soup Coolers should defer to you more often on these matters.

Al_Sharpton's_Banana_Hammock said...

"I believe Al Sharpton's Soup Coolers should defer to you more often on these matters. "

i don't know wtf that means, but goddamnit...they SHOULD!

like it is said...

If you wanna say James is a shitty role model, blame the WHITE people that run the media, the WHITE people that run the NBA, and the WHITE people that run Nike for shoving him down our throats.

And, since you agree that these role models DO have an effect on the people that look up to them...YOU have made the argument YOURSELF that WHITE AMERICA is substantially contributing to all the horrible things you claim black america is guilty of...

you can't have it both ways, YT....

Are you saying you cant think for yourself? I mean is it only black youth exposed to the media? On this very blog the support for lebron has been overwhelming...this is supposed to be the anti-media bias site but you look up to a low moral individual like lebron and actually pull for him to be the face of the NBA...it is YOU who wants it both ways...tom brady to be demonized for his behavior but Lebron to be idolized for his...that is the argument all along...this site is not about right vs. wrong it is about having a forum for anti-white sentiment...the idea that you fight racism with racism is stupid and stupid is what has become the norm from NOIS.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"Are you saying you cant think for yourself? I mean is it only black youth exposed to the media?"

Sir,
-so you contend that the use of NEGRO athletes is meant to sway WHITE youngsters? hehehe. You can be very silly when want to be. It's like, ummm...ever see those KOOL cigarette ads, with suave looking NEGRO men and hot NEGRO women...you think they target a WHITE audience? hehehe...YOU are funny. Or those Micky D's commercials with the Negro families and hip hop music, that's to appeal to the Berkowitz's down the street, right? LOL. Glad you aren't in marketing.

"On this very blog the support for lebron has been overwhelming...this is supposed to be the anti-media bias site but you look up to a low moral individual like lebron and actually pull for him to be the face of the NBA...it is YOU who wants it both ways...tom brady to be demonized for his behavior but Lebron to be idolized for his"

Again. Disconnect.

This site isn't about anti-bias. This site is about BALANCING the WHITE bias out. It's all well and good when the white media puts negative acts by Negroes in the front page, and buries the negative moves by white athletes. But when WE do the opposite, you cry like a baby to get your diapers changed.

"...that is the argument all along...this site is not about right vs. wrong it is about having a forum for anti-white sentiment...the idea that you fight racism with racism is stupid and stupid is what has become the norm from NOIS. "

-no, that hasn't been the argument all along. you haven't understood the argument all along. you have been arguing with yourself.

-the idea that you fight racism with racism is YOUR idea. Our idea is that you fight it with knowledge. But YOU reject that.

Stay true to your ignorance. You make a perfect couple.


And so do you Tim and Jackie.

nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

"like it is said...'

Sir, oh.

And one last time. See the "whitlock leaving aol" thread.

Go back to posting as "censored" or don't post.

lost said...

"Again. Disconnect."

Sir, this is putting it mildly.

the antonym for conscious is not ignorant

it's unconscious

if somebody doesn't wake up after a couple of weeks, that's called a coma

Mr. 'like_they_is' needs medical help.

like it is said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
nation_of_islam_sportsblog said...

like_it_is,

"and you will again censor me because you are afraid of others reading the truth."

Sir, no.

We will censor your comments because YOU aren't following the rules we instituted for YOU.

If YOU want to post, you must post as censored.

Comply (or conform, if you prefer), and say whatever you like.

Don't comply (or conform) and have your voice silenced and be marginalized.

Come on. What is so hard about this? YOUR people invented this system.

T said...

Quite the apologist you are. It's like saying "Person A beats his wife... but at least he's still with her... Person B divorced his wife LONG ago".

Having a child out of wedlock isn't ideal... but having one child out of wedlock with one woman versus having 5 children with 4 women could be classified as worse. Just because two are with the same woman doesn't make it BETTER! LOL

Travis Henry could use your support... write about him next.