In Defense of the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane

I am 100 percent behind Patrick Kane.

First of all, let's set aside the fact that this is over 20 cents. The dollar amount is irrelevant, because any good cabbie knows he should have change. I, myself, worked as a driver for a hotel, working for tips, and I was expected to have change. If you're a business, you have change—period.

Next, while you can't ignore the fact that Kaner was probably drunk, I'm not going to get on his back about this either. The drinking age is 18 in the places Patrick has spent most of his life—Canada, London, and abroad. If you're coming on here to say that you never had a drink before 21, you're in the severe minority. Don't be a hypocrite.

So, here's the real issue:

Patrick Kane is a fresh young millionaire in tough economic times. We're living in an age now where people are angry at people who have money. I can't say that I blame them much. I myself am laid-off and recovering from cancer, which I dealt with without the benefit of health insurance. There are plenty of people like me, and hundreds of thousands are still being laid off every month.

Imagine yourself, being a millionaire, the most famous little person in Buffalo, and instantly recognizable on the street by all your old high school classmates. Imagine carrying the load for your family and suddenly being extorted by a strange cabbie who "doesn't have any change."

I'd be pretty pissed too, because how many people do you think "don't have any change" for little Patrick Kane? How many people see him and have no thought besides: He can spare some for me, too.

We might be struggling, but the thought that just because athletes have money, they "owe" us something seems to be running rampant in our "me-first" country right now. It's dangerous—just think how many have been robbed in their homes lately.

Let me tell you, just because we're struggling doesn't make it any harder to be a professional athlete; to give your body, your energy and your time to a city. To be on the road two-thirds of the year, to get up every day, to emotionally drain yourself and to still be asked for more is tough to deal with in any economy. To have everybody jump in your face, calling you a "thug" when you make one mistake, which you didn't do to Derrek Rose recently, Chicago.

Now, tell me you've never been a little tipsy and had the weight of the world fall down on you. Tell me you've never freaked out. There are people who will say: But Kane is not a normal 20-year-old, he must compose himself. Remember, he is only 20. Try telling a two-year-old that he should stop crying because he's smarter than that. Try telling a dog not to bark.  It's still a dog and Kane is still only 20. Patrick has been expected to compose himself for most of his life. He's due one error.

Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks just got me through a long, tough winter. They don't owe me a thing.

Thank you, Patrick. I've got your back.