Patrick Kane once again finds himself at the center of attention, apologizing for his crude behavior.
Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks’ winger is entering his 5th season in the league. At just 23 years of age, playing professional hockey while making over 6 million dollars a year, and already have won an Olympic silver medal and hoisted the Stanley Cup, it is safe to say he is living the dream. Despite all of this, while off the ice, he continues to get into trouble.
Many may remember in 2009, Kane and his cousin were arrested in Buffalo because of an altercation with a cab driver. They allegedly punched the driver and grabbed the money they had handed him after the driver told them he did not have twenty cents in change. The fare was $13.80 while they gave the driver $15. In a plea agreement, Kane pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a non-criminal violation, and in return had all other charges dropped against him.
This time around however, Kane is apologizing not for any criminal acts, but for his intoxication during the off-season in Wisconsin.
“We all saw the photos. They were pretty embarrassing,” Kane said. “And that’s probably the biggest thing. Nothing illegal ever happened and I guess it was the off-season and you’re trying to have a good time, but you’ve got to realize the spotlight you’re in no matter where you are. For me, the situation I’m in now, you’ve always got to act like someone’s watching you no matter what you do and it’s going to be put out there on the Internet or news blogs. That’s the standpoint I’m taking.”
He’s hoping he can learn from the incident.
“Hopefully it’s something I can learn and mature from,” Kane said. “So far in my maturation process, it’s something I’m still trying to get better at. The biggest thing is it was embarrassing and that’s from deep down inside of me, from myself and my family to everyone that supported me.”
He continued on by focusing on what he hopes to achieve from this incident.
“It’s not who I want to be,” Kane said. “I want to be somebody who can be a role model to kids and to everyone, for that matter. It’s something I’m looking to put behind me and I’m trying to move forward and be the best person and player I can be.”
His problems do not end there however, as rumors and talks are beginning about the possible trade of Kane to another organization.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t (concerned about it), but at the same time I think that comes with being part of the Chicago Blackhawks and how we have it here,” Kane said. “There are a lot of things presented here that you don’t have in a lot of other organizations. I think that’s another scary thing is to hear (about) moves and deals. You want to be part of this franchise and bring it the ultimate goal.”
Kane has a problem, whether he wishes to admit it or not. His drinking brings out the worst in him, as it would any 23 year-old. Kane is a professional athlete, and will be under a microscope not only for his professional status, but because he is a young and talented athlete. It would be wise of him to clean up his act, or at least refrain from any more public outbursts. Call your buddies over and have a drink at home instead. At least do something different than what he is currently doing, that is, if he wants to stay a Chicago Blackhawk.
