"Your past will influence your future"

I have a take on the whole Elijah Dukes' fine and benching for helping out a local Little League organization in Northern Virginia. Dukes was fined and benched on Saturday for being five minutes to National Park. The Northern Virginia community raised the money to pay for Dukes' fine.

Dukes has a long history of trouble before he came to the Nationals and his past is catching up with him. But Dukes also had an incident last year with the Nats for being late. I am not surprise that the Nats disciplined Elijah Dukes for being late. I personally stand behind management for the fine and benching of Dukes . I must admit I was surprised by the stern waring the Nationals gave Dukes about Triple A demotion if tardiness happened again. But the Nationals feel at this point it is important to send a message to the young man.


The Nats are very please Dukes wants to give back to the community by giving up his time for a good cause, but his time management must be better. The Nats are changing the mentally of the current losing culture. No one is above the team and your accountability is the utmost importance.
Dukes took his benching and is playing unbelievable. I believe that it is a good sign. I also have to believe the warning of demotion is a great motivator.

I believe the reaction by the local Northern Virginia community on Dukes' fine and benching were two folded. The first message was bad. You as a community should not be shocked that organizations such as the Nationals have rules. A rule is a rule and if you are late by five minutes then you are still late. You as a community should not be appalled by that message, but rather supporting responsibility and the accountability. The second message was good. I believe the payment of the fine that was raised by the community was admirable because they felt that Dukes was there for them then they should be there for Dukes.

The reports I heard about the money that was payed by the Northern Virgina community will be donated like all fines by players to those in need.