Patrick Kane Arrested

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 10, 2009 2:00PM

Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane was arrested early Sunday morning, along with his cousin, after an altercation with a cabbie in his hometown of Buffalo. Allegedly, the dispute arose over 20 cents -- the cab driver handed back $1 from $15 on a $13.80 fare, but claimed he didn't have the coins to make exact change. According to the police report, James Kane tore the money from the driver's hand and both men began punching the him in the face and head. "They broke my glasses, they ripped my clothes ... all over 20 cents," cabdriver Jan Radecki said.

Haven't those boys ever heard of a tip? Is Kane, who earned well over $3 million last season, even cheaper than Scottie "No Tippin'" Pippen?

A witness saw the incident and called police, who charged the Kanes with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors. Probably not the type of behavior EA Sports had in mind when they made Kane their coverboy for NHL 10 recently. The former Calder Cup winner was expected to return to Chicago next week for the U.S. Olympic team's orientation camp at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in suburban Woodridge, in the hopes of making Team USA for the 2010 Olympics.

Kane's arrest adds to the list of missteps by the Blackhawks this off-season that caused them to make more news than the rest of the NHL combined. The team was late making qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, which cost the franchise millions and GM Dale Tallon his job. The team then signed Marian Hossa to a giant contract that drew scrutiny from the fans when it was announced he needed surgery and would miss the beginning of the season, and drew additional scrutiny from the league for it's supposed cap-bending financial structure.