Hawks' Kane in hot water

If all this is true, how stupid can you be? If I were there, I'd be giving each of the Kane Kuzzins a ten spot, get them out of the cab and just let them have it verbally. Heck, if it's Patrick and he picked a fight with me, I'd like my chances. 5:00 in the morning? I subscribe to the notion that there's no reason to be out that late in the first place, but that's just me. It's likely each one of them was absolutely annihilated.

We still are under investigation over the Hossa contract.

This must be Chicago. Things just can't look golden for long.

I lost a lot of respect for Patrick Kane. In the interviews, he seemed like a down to earth, "nice guy". But after reading this, I keep he thinking how much of a punk he really is.

It's interesting that the reports says "the Kanes" did this. I hope, though doubt, that this cab had a security camera on board. Because right now all you have is word against word and relatively rich athlete involved.

If the allegations are true the Kanes deserve what ever they get, however what really appalls me is that they would even ask for change. I mean what is $1.20 when you make millions?
Gig as a former resident and former bar DJ of Niagara Falls, NY which is just minutes from downtown Buffalo I can tell you the night life doesn't get started before 10 P.M. and really doesn't come to full life until midnight. Also in Buffalo's county last call is 4 A.M. but you are allowed until 5 A.M. to finish drinking what you bought at 4 A.M. and the bar can re-open at 7 A.M. Believe me I've known people that bought enough at 4 A.M. to take them to 5 A.M. then head to Denny's for breakfast and be back in the bar at 7 A.M. Bottom line here Gig is that New Yorkers (and not just the ones in NYC) are basically crazy.

Since alcohol was involved we are going to chalk it up to that and let it go. And really since he's 20 and not legal he should go to rehab. Slap on the wrist and a little money removed from his wallet will sober him up. 20 cents is a silly reason to get into a dispute over since it's going to cost have a million times more than that. Cautionary tale indeed.

Idiot

In a previous topic I touched upon the idea that there couldn't possibly be anyone in the world dumber than Plaxico Burress.

I stand corrected.

Seems every sport has a vice...basketball it's hooch, and baseball and hockey players love their booze. At this time of the morning I'm guessing he would have blown a .2 - at least 2 good things came out of this:

1. he wasn't driving
2. it wasn't Toews...mark my words, if and when they have to decide on which one they can afford, it's no contest between the 2

These guys needs jobs in the offseason to keep them busy...

I question this story because of the celebrity of Kane. I just cannot accept it as face value. Why would someone so rich and famous do something like that without PROVOCATION?? Sounds like he was taken advantage of. And I know those oily cab drivers too. They EXPECT more money for less product (the new American attitude). If you are a cab driver why didn't you have change? BEING CHEAP IS NOT A CRIME. Why not accept the money, take the loss and get those drunks out of your cab? But here is the big ONE "why go to the cops"??? I am not buying this. Too fishy for me. The drunk Kanes were probably in a state of mind where they just didn't feel like being hustled. And for that guy to go to the cops over some foolishness like that is petty. I believe he is prospecting.

Well, can't wait to hear Kane's side of the story on this, but assuming all the allegations are proven factual, then that's a big blow on his character reputation, but nothing he can't recover from. If the beatdown actually did happen at 5 AM or so forth, then most likely, alcohol or some form of party drug had to have been involved, but one thing that we have to keep in mind is that he's only 20 years old. Obviously many people are going to start comparing the crime to other celebrity crimes in the news today and there will be all sorts of discussion and outrage, possibly even race-related, but in the end, he's a still a kid who made a dumb decision like many College kids have done. I see a public apology down the road and many many many hours of community service assigned, but I'll be surprised if there's an actual conviction and jail sentence. Big headlines today, but certainly not the most heinous act I've ever read. Kane has always come across as a spoiled rich kid who's had everything going his way for most of his life to me and now he's finally had a taste of negative publicity for once. Sometimes kids like these need it as a reality check. I would have been more surprised if this had come from Jonathan Toews, but not so much Kane. Just my opinion.

Patrick Kane is automatically in trouble for under-age drinking. He and his cousin did the right thing by catching a cab home after a night of drinking. But I guess the alcohol sloshing around in their bodies cause their brain cells to mess with their thought process on the way home. The cab driver did state he thought it was some college kids and we know how they act after a night of drinking.

The establisment(s) where he was drinking can be sued by the cab-driver as well for serving to underage people. Regardless of the phony I.D.s, people know how old Patrick Kane is. Heck, he is a hometown favorite and during the week donated to building a ice-skating rink.

The best thing for PK to do is to pay this guy off, go to re-hab or angry management courses - probably both. And keep his nose clean from now on. Hocky fans will forgive him.

I like ANON's response. But I wouldn't pay that guy anything. I stand for the little guy in every situation, but I don't like users. They give hard workers a bad name. Cabby knew who was in the cab. AS A SOBER INDIVIDUAL - he held a responsibility to serve the Kanes - as obnoxious as they "allegedly" were. Something set them off. Kane doesnt "STRIKE" (lol) me as the kind of person to start punching on someone. And as ANON put it, he was in town "donating" a rink. And his brother, should have and would have STOPPED HIM from getting into a fight. But two guys whupping on one has a fishy grifter-like smell to it. Can you see Derrick Rose and his brother getting into a fight with a cab driver???

But Anon is politically correct on this one. The rich guy has to pay the tab of fame/wealth.

We've heard 1 of the 2 sides of the story. I would guess the cab driver did something to initiate this. Would it justify smacking him around? Of course not...

I would guess 1 out of every 5 cab rides I've taken in my life have either:
- got into an accident or VERY close to one
- drove out of the way to generate a higher fare
- were a disgusting place to sit
- the cab driver bitched back to dispatch cuz I was only going 2 miles or less in the loop

He said--he said? OK, that's the first issue. I'll wait on that one. Was he drinking, illegally? I'll wait on that one too. Was there $1.20 change to be given from the fair, no tip involved? I'm starting to feel a little nauseous. Is Forte next on the 'Black Eye' list of 'Chicago Sport Youth Gone Bad'?

OK, I feel better now.

Kids!?!

Keith.. you're cracking me up here, but don't forget who the victim here is. He is still the one who has the bruises and cuts on the face. Kane's statement to the press will be the key here if it'll be an apology or a flat out denial. Maybe the 2 kids were "provoked" and taken advantage of if the cab driver recognized them beforehand, but we're talking a 55-year old cab driver in Buffalo, NY, not exactly a favorite hangout location of the rich and famous like in Vegas or the Big Apple. I doubt this cabbie gets frequent celebrity clients. Maybe he really didn't recognize them at first. At this point, both of us are judging by the cover anyway... you said Kane doens't strike you as a person to start punching on someone and I just said that he seems like a spoiled rich kid even before he turned pro who's always had everything in his life and now is finally getting a taste of fame and its drawbacks. Ultimately though, it's down to the cabbie's word against their words, but the cabbie is still the victim because he was outnumbered and has the wounds to show it. We'll just have to see what Kane says when him and his handlers take up all this time to come up with their version of the story or if it's just a public apology. I say it'll be an apology related with alcohol. Stay tuned.

I agree that we shouldn't pronounce guilt until proper jurisprudence takes place as well as the idea that cabbies as a whole aren't exactly the bastion of social integrity. However, there is the old adage that very little good can happen after 3AM. The inference is that you're either making bad news or asking for bad news. I'm sure that the time of the police report is truthful.

Patrick is Jonathon Toews' roommate on the road. They tend to stick together throughout the season. I think Kane may need "no nonsense" Jonny to keep him in line. Jonathon Toews, are you still in Winnipeg? Could you possibly move to Buffalo to keep your sidekick out of trouble? Oh, and while you're at it, could you make sure that he's putting on like 15 pounds of muscle and watching videos on how not to play matador defense like Ben Gordon?

Bubba's Mom has something to say.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think the cabbie in question looks like the late W.W. Wirtz?

My assumption here is that Kane, age 20, was either drinking or drunk. Let's not be naive. He's playing in the NHL, where I'm sure he's already had many, ahem, temptations dangled in front of him. Most of us were - at least once or twice -- in bars drinking and doing exceedingly stupid things before age 21. I know I was.

He did many unfortunate things here, and given his profile, given the enormous amount of attention on him, you'd think he'd know better. I can hear his mother saying the same thing I've lovingly asked my sons over and over again - "what are you, STUPID?" I hope she'll ask him that while simultaneously kicking him in the ass. Some women can multi-task.

I don't think this kid will spend a lot of time hiding behind his lawyers. I think he'll own up to what he did, and he'll have to do whatever the courts determine will be restitution for the victim. And at the very least, Kane will avoid any bar visits for a few months until he turns 21.

Call it intuition, but I think that's what's ahead. And Gig, to answer your question about how stupid people can be - clearly, people can be very stupid.

Edgar, the cab-driver was 62 years old. That is considered a senior citizen. That is why I say pay up and get it over with. It doesn't matter Pat Kane's sob story. Underage drinking and he and his cousin beat on a old man, and I be damn if I am a lawyer, playing that aspect up to a judge or jury is very crucial in a case.

Did you see the old guy's face? He was beet -no pun intended- red!

A lawyer can look at the kid and his Mom and say we can make this go away with say old about 200 grand. If Patrick face was NOT plastered on NHL EA Sports, he probably could get off with 10 grand or less.

This is going to cost dude, if he actually did this!

It's always good to get a mother's input especially when the issue involves a child.

Bubba's Mom has solved the mystery - Kane's thought he was Old Man Wirtz!!! They weren't sure until he tried to cheat them!!! LOL!!!

And that brings me to another point. Don't you think 2 drunken 20 year olds (one a professional athlete) would've beaten the brakes off a 62 old man? I got a strong feeling dude tried to lock them in, and they reached through that protective glass and shook the daylights out of him.

Well I just read that the cab driver's lawyer just released a statement saying that this case is "being blown out of proportion..." Uh-oh, here we go... you know what that typically leads to... Cha-Ching! A settlement!! Forget it, we'll never know the TRUE story now. No video evidence, just a beat up old man's words against a sports celebrity and a relative. I can see the 2 sides negotiating $'s as we speak. Just win games, Blackhawks. This will be old news the quicker Kane and co. release their official statements to the press.

I live a couple blocks away from Patrick Kane and his parents. He is a smug, arrogant kid who seems to forget that when he comes home in the off season that he's going to be treated like a regular kid from South Buffalo. No body cares that he's a hockey "super-star" here. What he did was wrong on so many levels. Did he or would he stoop to this level? Yes. Would his cousin? Yes. Would his father if he was in the cab? Absolutly. His father has a temper and so does he. It's a shame that he wasn't taught that fame doesn't give you the right to do whatever you want.

Wow, So.Buff., if that's true, then this is more than just an isolated incident of idiotic 20-year-old judgment. This caricature you've made regarding Patrick Kane and his family is on one hand shocking as his persona here in Chicago hasn't been that at all. On the other hand, I keep saying how much athletes are often spoiled to the point that how they behave and treat others is overlooked as they climb the ladder of success in the one thing they do extremely well forsaking all other attributes.

I'm afraid that I can't accept your post on its own as it could be from some fan from another team just trying to portray Patrick Kane as a first-class punk. Nevertheless, this depiction happens so often in our society that it's not out of the realm of possibility even if it contradicts what Chicagoans have been witnessing.

By the way, if Patrick Kane is indeed a first-class punk, I'd say find a way to get rid of him.

Edgar, as I said before I lived minutes from downtown Buffalo and for your information the Chippewa street area is where many famous people do hang out when they are in Buffalo. That includes members of the Bills and the Sabres and team members of the opposition not to mention Rock and Country stars that have gigs in Buffalo. So it may not be unusaul for a cabby to have a celebrity fare. And one other thing, Hockey in Buffalo is not a sport, it's a way of life and I'd be shocked if that cabby did not know his fare was Patrick Kane.

Gig, reality check sometimes... that is the price of fame and fortune. That stuff changes even the best of people or makes it even worse sometimes depending on the lifestyle history. I remember watching documentary profiles on Patrick Kane when he was frist drafted by the Blackhawks and I'm telling you, he wasn't exactly mr. ghetto who grew up in a tough neighborhood when he was a kid. The Kanes appeared to be a pretty well off family and Patrick Kane was already playing in prestigious hockey clubs and semi-pro leagues in Canada way before he was drafted by the Blackhawks. You should already know that going into hockey full time isn't exactly cheap, let alone enrolling in these Hockey Clubs and Semi Pro leagues underneath the NHL. Patrick Kane was not a feel good story when he grew up. He already had it all early on, including the inborn talent to play the game.

As for being a "model citizen" with the Blackhawks until now, like I said in another post, sometimes when things are going too good too fast, you let your guard down and you become susceptible to these kinds of mistakes. It's not a coincidence that things are snowballing downward for both the organization and some of the players. These guys have to admit the mistakes NOW and then learn from it. The problem here is no one has taken accountability yet. All the lawyer and advisors to Patrick Kane are just looking for ways to completely exonerate him from any wrongdoing. The longer this drags on without any full blown statement on Kane's side makes it look bad on them. I mean really, any sharp lawyer can draw up a fancy written statement or could have easily coached Kane to say the right things to the press by now. The sooner Kane speaks (not a lawyer) out and admits his mistakes from that morning, whether it's the assault charges or underage drinking, whatever, and come up with a settlement asap, the better this will be. Otherwise, we're looking at a long drawn out legal process of he said-they said on an incident that will not be able to provide any witnesses and video evidence. Not good, especially for the cab driver who's already at a disadvantage going up against celebrity status plus high priced lawyers and an NHL Franchise like the Blackhawks who are already known for covering things up very well. Tsk tsk.

Alright Tim, thanks for the clarification about Buffalo then, but still, the longer this drags on without a "story" from Pat Kane himself and not from his lawyer or advisor, then it just does not look good on the surface for him. We'll see.

No problem Edgar, infact until I Moved to Niagara falls (15 minutes from Buffalo) I wasn't aware of just how much goes on in Buffalo at night. There were nights I'd finish DJ'ing in the Falls where closing time was 2 A.M. and a few of us would head out to Chippewa street until 4 A.M. And you are right about Kane needing to make a statement and not just read a prepared statement drawn up by a lawyer.

If that is true. you are such a fool. how can you do this stupid thing.

Anonymous - pointed out the bottom line, and Edgar touched up on it: Kane is going to have to pay to make it go away.

But I believe TIM. This has stench on it. I am not an athlete, but if me and my brother had decided to whup up on an old man - it would be for a very good reason, and he wouldn't look as good as this guy did. Especially when one of us had so much to lose. I am not saying its RIGHT. Its always smarter to walk away. The famous guy is always going to lose. But I understand why Charles Barkely had to throw a guy through a window and why actors attack papparazzi. Contrary to what most people think - people can get on your last nerve and there are a LOT of con artists/opportunists out there.

If you are a cab driver - OLD - ALONE - AT NIGHT - do you challenge two young guys for 15 dollars???? Or do you go home???

Oilyness. And if he didn't recognize them - how did he know WHO to report to the police????

Check this out: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/08/report-buffalo-cabbie-had-no-valid-drivers-license.html

I wonder what Kane would have done if he got into Cash Cab and got a question wrong!

So did I call it more than several times in this blog thread or not? Patrick Kane just APOLOGIZED in a public statement today. Too bad it was in the form of a prepared and written statement by his lawyer or one of his advisors. So, still more conspiracy theories against the cab driver, Keith? ;)

Edgar my friend, that is what you call tying up the loose ends. I still don't think Kane was guilty of anything. He just happened to be the richest guy in the cab - AND THUS - the only story. He gets to apologize and PAY.

I can relate to how he feels. And a LOT of husbands can too, LOL! You apologize even when you are wrong because making up is much better than winning an argument. Kane gets to make up with his fans and remain a rich man. I believe he is innocent. I'm still not convinced.

Keith, sometimes you really have my head scratching. Innocent people don't apologize, they DENY that they did something wrong. Kane practically confessed to a crime and was even indicted by a Grand Jury today. Keith, a person will only get indicted by a Grand Jury if there is strong evidence against that person. He's in trouble, but he'll get off lightly because he has money, money money. He's really lucky that this man wasn't one of those really frail senior citizens who may have been much more seriously hurt from the beat down. Keith, you give waaaay too much credit to pro athletes sometimes. Believe me, this kid needs a big dose of humble pie because if he dosn't now, he's never gonna learn and this is going to happen again down the road during his playing career, bank on it. Look, I'm not saying crucify the kid and sentence him to years in jail, but he can't just get off easy on a settlement. That's weak and that's wrong. I mean this is already turning out to be another sad day in Chicago sports with Derrick Rose now back in the center of attention with NCAA violations against his former school and all his Final 4 accomplishments soon to be forfeited and erased. The funny thing is, I'm not even on the NCCA side of this because they're already one of the most vile, corrupt and hypocritical organizations this side of sports, but Rose's "good guy" image will have taken a huge hit after today. This is also the NBA's fault for installing that stupid 1-year of college draft rule for cases like this to ramp up.

Edgar my friend, the smartest thing Kane did was listen to his lawyer. He was indicted on a misdemeanor which will be expunged next year. He ALLOWED that indictment because it was quicker than fighting the case and it gave the press their pound of flesh BEFORE the soon upcoming season. A misdemeaner is nothing of a story and this has a good chance of going away. Timing is beautiful too because EVERYONE is talking about Vick, Farve and Rose as you just stated. Edgar, I don't think he is a saint, but neither do I think that cabbie was either. SHUUUUUURE he didn't know that was Kane. And like you said, they could have hurt him. And that just didn't add up for me. When an athlete hits an old man - you get a homicide. And especially two young folks. Just didnt add up for me. I know if I was an old dude, I would let some drunk folks go. I show nuff wouldn't lock them in for some CHUMP CHANGE. At 3 in the morning??? Not adding up Edgar. Cabby got his check and thats what he scammed for. His lawyer was not seeking a felony. They sought an "amicable" solution for Mr. Kane and his Client. Actually when I think about it - Kane might have beat that case because that cabbie was driving unlawfully. But it wasn't worth the hassle.

I agree the NBA is dead wrong for putting in that college requirement. And the NCAA is wrong also. Because they are not going to REFUND one dime of that revenue they got from the Derrick Rose show!!! Bunch of hypocrisy man.

If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.,