Patrick Kane embarrasses the NHL, himself and it should cost him a spot on the 2010 Men's Olympic Hockey Team

In a story that is somewhat familiar in professional sports these days, a player takes a minor dispute too far and gets himself in a lot of trouble by getting into a fight and then finds himself apologizing in front of cameras outside of a police station or courtroom. If I was to say this was an incident committed by a troubled NFL player like Adam 'Pac Man' Jones or Plaxico Burress or perhaps disgraced former Vikings running back Onterio Smith it might not even register as a mild shock. Just another same old story for your usual suspect so to speak. Yet to NHL fans, to hear one of their star players beating up a cab driver for an inability to pay back $.20 in change would likely be a little disturbing to them. That unfortunately is the case for rising Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane who pleaded not guilty on Sunday to three different charges; felony robbery, theft of services, and criminal mischief. I must admit, when I first saw the story posted on the wild.com message board I thought it was going to be the subject title to an article from the satire-based publication, the Onion. It might come as a shock that this is going to create such a story but there are two factors that make it notable. 1. He is a star player, a skill player, not an NHL enforcer who makes his living by using his fists. 2. 20 cents seriously? He beat a guy up over 20 cents? Patrick Kane, the Buffalo-native was visiting his hometown and apparently enjoyed the night out with his cousin James Kane and after taking a cab ride where the driver was unable to come up with the final 20 cents in change. Apparently enraged the NHL star and his cousin who responded by taking all of their money back and then they proceeded to punch the cab driver whose glasses were damaged as well receiving a few small abrasions. It seems almost surreal that Patrick Kane would do such a thing, with his boyish appearance and diminutive stature. Especially when you hear that on Thursday that Patrick Kane met with the mayor of Buffalo as the Blackhawks forward decided to donate the money for improvements at the ice arena he grew up playing hockey in as a kid. What a difference a few days makes. What does this mean for Patrick Kane, what does this mean for the league who is eager to promote an American-born star player, and what could it possibly mean for Team USA who is hoping to have a strong performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver? Since Kane is charged with a felony it could mean that he spends some time in jail and at the very least a heavy dose of community service. Yet a trial will still likely take time to get rolling but this news is just another strange story in what has been a bizarre off season for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks surprised many by signing Marian Hossa to a 12-year deal. Soon thereafter a filing error caused Chicago to have to shell out a significant amount more money to sign some of its restricted free agents and ultimately led to the re-assignment its GM Dale Tallon, to be replaced by Stan Bowman the son of NHL coaching legend Scotty Bowman. Yet going back to Patrick Kane a jail sentence could lead him to miss a portion of the season, which could be a significant blow to the Blackhawks who have found themselves in one of the toughest divisions in the league. There are also possible rammifications for the league who would like to have promoted Patrick Kane as the United States' greatest player. With an older generation of American-born players like Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick, and Bill Guerin at or near retirement the league needs to start promoting younger American-born faces and Kane seemed poised to become that player. Although, the thought of some young star, beating up some poor cab driver for 20 cents is hardly a family friendly image to promote. Patrick Kane certainly will not have the image problem of a Todd Bertuzzi or a Michael Vick, but it might make the league hesitate and simply resign its itself to promoting Canadian Sidney Crosby and Russian-born stars Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. For young American kids playing hockey, it would be helpful to have that American-born face to look up to; especially in the Olympics. Should Patrick Kane lose his spot on Team USA if these allegations prove to be true? I think he should lose his spot. While Kane was going to be a go-to player for the 2010 team, I think this casts a dark shadow over what was supposed to be a fresh start for the USA Hockey program. The team was looking to go with a lineup full of young talent, and Kane really was supposed to be the centerpiece. It is terribly embarrassing for the league as well as Team USA and it will be interesting to see what the fan reaction will be as this story plays itself out. I can already see the $.20 cent signs in the crowds of hostile arenas as they try to get into the young NHL'ers head. Could it just be a stupid mistake that young people sometimes make, sure it could be, but there are consequences and I hope Kane is prepared to face them because life in the public eye is often unsympathetic and at times downright cruel. It won't ruin his career but it certainly adds a level of tarnish to a player who has been nothing but a golden boy so far. Hopefully he learns his lesson.