The NHL Kane Mutiny: Patrick Kane Accused of Beating and Robbing Cabbie

There are sordid tales about many hockey vets or post-NHL players having brushes with the law. But a young hockey star? Especially a young hockey all-star? Not so much. This is why most have read about Patrick Kane and perhaps had any mix of reactions: Incredulous. Laughter. Shake of the head, not quite believing. Wondering if the cab driver was from Detroit. Writing to favorite teams to not put favorite players on the cover of an EA sports title.

Patrick Kane, Buffalo’s favored son, forward for the Chicago Blackhawks, was arrested along with his cousin for beating up and robbing a Buffalo cab driver.

It gets better.

It was over 20 cents of change.

Even the recession seems to be hitting the young stars of the NHL. I mean, 20 cents is at least the price of a wing at Duff’s.

What has been terribly telling was Patrick Kane’s public apology to fans and the team. Kane used Michael Vick as a descriptive, making those who are already shaken take pause, even if they want to believe his innocence or that it was all a big misunderstanding that bruised up a cabbie’s face and broke his glasses.

By the way…there was no apology to the cabbie.

That in itself implies guilt and impending legal prostration. One has to think — unless the Vick remark was Kane riffing, causing his handlers to puke in a corner at the gaffe — it is more likely a peek at their upcoming legal stance.

A Buffalo grand jury who heard the case late last week agreed with most who were perplexed from the outside. Charges were made.

When this goes to court, I believe that the two things telegraphed earlier will come into play….

No apology came to the cabbie because they will paint him with a hard brush.

Kane will plead not guilty of the charges, but be assured that the Vick mention might mean some offset of guilt if it was a planned naming by his people.

Kane’s cousin could have been a hot tempered so-and-so. Did fists fly as Patrick Kane put on his cape, holding the cousin back from causing more damage and doom?

Possible.

The fact is, there are quite a bit of rumblings as to Kane’s attitude when “rolling” with his boys. Some have alluded that this was inevitable, as Kane is not only EA’s NHL 10 poster boy, but also the poster boy for millionaires that still haven’t grown up. There are many examples of this in other sports. But hockey players are rarely annoying petulant clods who get a large ego and poor social skills.

Some wonder if Kane’s fame attracts hucksters looking for a quick buck. Perhaps the cab driver might have known who was in the cab.

To be fair, the driver who has changed is story a few times for the press. Kane has plead not guilty, and his lawyer read the following statement on ESPN radio:

“[Patrick Kane is] devastated that anybody would accuse him of a crime. He’s not that sort of person. He wanted nothing to do with the cab driver in any way, shape or form. He simply wanted to get out of the cab. It’s been revealed today that the cab driver admitted he locked these two guys in the car and wouldn’t permit the one guy to stand up and simply reach for his wallet. There’s more and more being developed about this.”

It is common practice for Buffalo cab drivers, whose passengers are often drunken college kids, to lock riders in until they pay for their fare. This is nothing new, despite the mock outrage and spin from Kane’s lawyer. Kane grew up in Buffalo. I am sure he was familiar with this practice. What is more a question is what is two underage kids doing in the city drinking district. How much alcohol was involved? Unless Patrick Kane was buzzed off some pop.

Yeah, fat chance is right.

What is stone-cold clear here is Patrick Kane does not know how to conduct himself publicly. Rumblings of immaturity and obnoxious behavior come out of Chicago by some who have seen him with his “boys.” That said, some feel that Kane is not as bad as he was made out to be, and was not smart about the situation. But is that just wishful thinking?

Was his trip home further regression into teenage misbehavior?

Hockey players get out of cabs every day. How many drivers carry a load of bruises and call the cops? Plus, this couldn’t have been his first time in a cab in downtown Buffalo.

Since he was indicted, “20 cent” has been “coined” as Kane’s new NHL 10 handle. This is after Chicago’s front office shuffle, signing Hossa to a 12-year deal, and letting the team MVP, Havlat, go elsewhere. The Blackhawks could use a break, but simply have not gotten it.

Fans, teams and lawyers have their spin….but as I read the tea leaves here, and as we watch each coddled star march to jail lately, one has to wonder if Plaxico Buress might have company. Probably not. Kane will probably get a slap on the wrist or settle out of court (don’t forget the impending personal lawsuit). But whatever happens, rest assured that some behavior modification will be applied in Chicago, no matter what the spin. Patrick Kane did not hire the preeminent lawyer in Buffalo, Paul Cambria Jr. for nothing. A lawyer who, incidentally, had old friend Larry Flynt to his home in suburban Buffalo for a birthday party just this past weekend.

The legal “zoom” on this should be amazing to watch.