Kane: Hard on Family, Video Game Rep

'Hawks star worries openly about whether he'll make the cover of a hockey game now

So he's not Kane in the membrane. He's just worried about being on the cover of a videogame.

After his non-apology at a scheduled 2009 U.S. Men's Olympic orientation camp photo-op, and after their first practice today, 'Hawks winger Patrick Kane said the hardest part of Cabbiegate was his family seeing him in handcuffs.

Second toughest: the possibility he might not be on the cover of a videogame.

"They said it's something they never want to see again," Kane told the Trib following opening practice (Hear the full audio from post-practice at ChicagoTribune.com). "My family didn't raise me that way, so it's tough to let them down too."

But then! Kane, reported to be subdued, worried openly about how people would perceive him, and about appearing on the cover of video games. Really? Video games? That's #2? Read on:

"At a time like this, obviously, you're worried about different things," Kane, 20, said to the Trib. "Things that come into play, being on the cover of a video game or coming to a camp like this or anything that you're involved with."

Yes! Dear lord! What will the other hockey guys think? But do go on...

"Everyone has been pretty supportive so far. They're tending to see that not all the facts are out but you can't just judge on the first impression of a story."

Yes. At first we perceived you as belligerent. Now we perceive you as ... twelve.

Kane also acknowledged that he'd be living this down for many years to come.

"There's probably going to be a lot of comments and jokes for the next couple of years," Kane said. "I'm going to have to deal with it and get used to it. It was fun to see the reception and still see the fans cheering and obviously we have great fans in Chicago so it was fun to see a lot of jerseys and the great reception from them."

At this morning's press conference, Kane said he couldn't talk about Cabbiegate because it was a legal matter.

“As you know, because this is an ongoing legal matter I cannot discuss details at this time,” Kane said during the press conference.

"Because I put myself in being in the wrong position in the wrong time, I've caused a lot of pain for my family and my hometown of Buffalo, the city of Chicago, the Chicago Blackhawks and obviously the great fans we have here in Chicago," Kane said. "And for that part I sincerely apologize."

The statement were the first public comments that Kane made about the August 9th incident. Kane, and his cousin James, are accused of assaulting cab driver Jan Radecki over a dispute concerning the change from a late night cab ride in Buffalo.

According to a police report, the Kanes gave Radecki $15 for a fare of $13.80. The driver gave them back a dollar, but not the remaining 20 cents. James Kane then allegedly tore the money from Radecki's hand and began punching him, the report said.

The cab driver’s lawyer, Andrew LoTempio began backing off the driver’s story almost immediately. News that the cab driver didn’t have a valid license quickly emerged.

The case went before a Grand Jury last week. The panel is expected to decide whether or not to move ahead with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors charges this week.

Both Kanes pleaded not guilty in their arraignment.

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