Kane pleads guilty, will write apology to cabbie
Patrick Kane and his cousin, James Kane, pled guilty to charges of disorderly conduct on Thursday in a Buffalo courtroom. Both of the Kanes where given conditional discharges. The one condition - write an apology letter to cab driver Jan Radecki. In doing so, the pair will receive no further punishment provided they stay out of trouble for the next year.
"Obviously, I'm in a little different situation than most kids at this age, but at the same time I think it's definitely been a learning lesson and something I want to move forward on," Kane told City Court Judge Thomas Amodeo according to the Associated Press. "It's maybe better I learn it now than later in life."
The Chicago Blackhawks forward was with his parents as he read a brief statement outside of court apologizing to all for the regrettable circumstances. Once again, Kane decided not to answer reporters questions.
By pleading guilty, the NHL All-Star is accepting some responsibility for the events on that early Sunday morning in Buffalo. We may never know the exact details, but Kane's actions appear to have crossed the line over what would be deemed acceptable behavior by someone who is locked in a cab.
"It's amazing that you're even here," Judge Amodeo stated to the Kanes in court. "If you look at the situation and think of 'what did I do?' and all the other alternatives you had to deal with the situation, it wasn't a smart move."
Reports indicated that Radecki is not interested in financial restitution. However, one has to wonder about the price the market will bring on the Kane apology letter. It might be one avenue for the cabbie to take in a big fare.
My guess is that the apology will contain no details of the incident. How about a "I'm sorry, Mr. Radecki" letter? Simple and and to the point.
Thursday's developments should bring an end to the Kane drama. I do not expect the Blackhawks winger in the news until training camp opens. Even then, Kane will reject questions regarding the incident. For the 20 year old, it will be all things hockey going forward.
By entering a plea admiting guilt, Kane may have opened himself up to further punishment (i.e., suspensions) by the Chicago Blackhawks and the NHL. However, I do not expect either organization to address the situation further in public.
The Blackhawks are best suited by siding with Kane on the issue and allowing the topic to melt away. Any action taken by the team would only give the story more legs in the media. The Blackhawks have had enough bad press for an offseason.
The same holds true for the NHL. Kane is an asset for the league in a year where hockey's best will be showcased in front of large audiences during the Olympics. Kane is one of Team USA's bright young stars and it only serves the NHL to position the winger in the best possible light.
For me, I've had enough Patrick Kane for the month of August. Let's play some hockey already.
8 Comments
Forklift said:
I'd be shocked if there wasn't some dough passing hands under a table somewhere. Anything public would be taxable.
But I'm with you - barring a trade, I'm hoping the next Hawks news is the Training Camp Festival.
Mark Kiley said:
A festivus for the rest of us...
Dave Morris said:
Mark, excellent article. Thanks.
You have to wonder if this all couldn't, and wouldn't have been settled sooner in a mutually acceptable fashion, had the media piranhas not turned what appears to have been an argument and a scuffle, into a complete circus.
Let's not even begin to talk about the outpouring of hate from so-called hockey fans who wanted to hang Kane from the nearest tree and drag the corpse behind their "Kill Kane" bandwagon.
Yeah, it sure looks like Pat Kane acted like a dumb 20-year old. He's sorry, and for more than just losing his cool.
Now, he sees how being a superstar means you have a target on your back.
And if it means walking away or turning the other cheek in public, so be it.
Who knows, the anger and shame Pat Kane feels from his public evisceration might just make him a stronger individual and a tougher hockey player.
The wisest person in this whole affair seems to be Judge Amodeo: "It's amazing that you're even here. If you look at the situation and think of 'what did I do?' and all the other alternatives you had to deal with the situation, it wasn't a smart move."
A simple, and very true, statement. Hopefully, it brings closure to an unsavory episode.
Mark Kiley said:
I tend to agree with your assessment on Kane becoming a tougher hockey player. Not necessarily a tougher physical player, but a tougher mental player. The whole team will have to be tougher mentally. They are not kids anymore.
The Hawks will have a bullseye across their back this season with the opposition taking free whacks whenever possible. How they respond will go a long way in predicting their playoff future.
Forklift said:
How many people who were salivating at the thought of having Dany Heatley on the Hawks were ready to run Kane out of town on a rail?
I'm guessing more than a couple.
Dave Morris said:
Fork, funny you should mention Heatley...many Ottawa fans and journos there, are ready to draw and quarter Dany.
So get this...tonight, as the crowd in Calgary BOOED him, he scored a shootout goal to lead his Red squad over the Whites. Also looked pretty chummy with Thornton and Marleau... ;-)
Back to Pat Kane...he gets no respect. But he resembles the young Stan Mikita in more ways than one.
Like Mark says, if he becomes tougher mentally as a result of the media and fan bashing, he could be REALLY dangerous...and I don't mean in a taxicab at 5am.
Remember how he annihilated the Canucks in the SCPs; and BTW scored the Hawks' lone goal in the last Conf Final game Vs the Wingdings...this kid has the touch.
And when Hossa comes back in January? Watch out.
Forklift said:
Heatley shouldn't get too chummy with Marleau, as they'd probably wind up passing each other in the airport.
Dave Morris said:
Fork...turns out Dany was telling Patty he's ready to rent Marleau's house when PM gets shipped to wherever the heck he's going. ;-) Y'know the Sharks just cleared about $6MM in cap space today with their latest trade. Hockey is SUCH a funny game, idinit?
PS can Pat Kane score 35 goals this year? Yup.
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