Dave O'Leary writes in regard to this article on Shelly Duncan in New York Newsday:

I assume this was intended to paint him in a positive light. As a Met fan, I went into the piece liking him, his style, dirty play from last week aside. This gives me reason to reconsider:

"While playing for Class A Greensboro in late 2002, Duncan broke his hand and was told he could go home for the year. Instead, he surprised Chris, who was playing in the Class A Midwest League.

After a late night, the Duncan brothers were awakened by kids playing "Marco Polo" in the pool at Chris' apartment/hotel complex. When the kids didn't quiet down at Chris' urging, Shelley called out to them, using an expletive in the process, which brought the hotel manager to their door to investigate. She was upset, and told the kids to keep playing - and to be louder.

The Duncans still were trying to sleep, so the 6-5, 225-pound Shelley decided to show Chris how to handle it. He did a giant cannonball into the pool, then joined in the game of Marco Polo, splashing water on the kids' parents and frightening the kids. The hotel manager didn't find Shelley very funny and called the police, but when they showed up, they could only laugh at his antics.

In recalling the story, Duncan grinned, but that, he insisted, was a low-level prank for him. He could come up with a book full of humorous stories from his and Chris' childhoods."

That anecdote about the hotel is questionable. As one who travels often, I've been awoken by late night partiers far more often than kids in a pool. The cursing and apparent physical intimidation lead me to believe he's a typical meathead with the jock sense of entitlement. Funny, the piece is intended to frame him well, this is how he wanted to come off? If Duncan thinks that story portrays him well he is badly mistaken. Keep in mind this was his version of events, not the family's, not the hotel manager's. Hard nosed blue collar players are easy to root for, this guy is apparently the exception to the rule.