the 4th star

If it was Tony Banta, look out!

Though he hasn’t officially been found guilty, things are not great for Patrick Kane these days. The Chicago Blackhawk soon-to-be-superstar punched out a Buffalo cabbie in the early hours Sunday morning after the driver couldn’t come up with the 20 cents change Kane and his cousin were owed, prompting a new nickname for the American-born forward.

And some new merchandise. (thanks to PD for the link)

Though things between the cab driver and Kane seem to be settling down and both sides will eventually come to some financial agreement, the damage to Kane’s reputation has taken another hit. With there already being whispers that his maturity may not be up to professional hockey player standards, this certainly hurts his bargaining power with the cap-strapped team as a new contract extension needs to be worked out before restricted free agency next summer.

Not exactly a great summer for the Blackhawks:

All of which makes the last month so bizarre. To say the Hawks have handled things clumsily in the off-season would be an understatement, starting with the bumbling of free agent contract offers, the “reassignment” of former general manager Dale Tallon and the decision not to reveal new Hawk Marian Hossa’s shoulder injury.

Of course, some would argue that this is the second summer in a row the Hawks have struggled. See the contracts of Cristobal Huet and Brian Campbell for more on that theory.

The Canadian Press added more to the story later:

Kane is scheduled for a court hearing next Monday in a Buffalo courtroom. He has pleaded not guilty to felony robbery and misdemeanour counts of theft and criminal mischief. His cousin, James Kane, faces the same charges. Next Monday is the same day a U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey orientation camp starts in suburban Chicago. USA Hockey spokesman Dave Fischer said Monday that Kane is still expected to participate in the three-day camp.

Judging by his off-ice actions, he should be a lock to make the U.S squad. Wonder how he handles himself in international hotel rooms…Hey-oh!

Is it too early to be thinking about the National Football League? No way, Jose. The season is ready for take-off, and my tray table is in its secure and upright position. So, in the spirit of looking ahead to things that really don’t matter in a big picture sense, let’s take some time this week, away from the patio and laughing at those with green Bud Lights on their table, to consider each of the NFL divisions — what happened last year and what will (probably) shake down once the snaps are for real and the volume of the television analysis increases:

AFC SOUTH

2008 regular season standings:

Tennessee Titans (13-3)
Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Houston Texans (8-8)
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

Tennessee was pretty good last year. Couldn’t name you a receiver. Are Haywood Jeffires and Ernest Givens still with the organization? That’s all I have to say about that.

Outlook for 2009:

Tennessee Titans (12-4)
Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Houston Texans (9-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

Sounds about right. The top two teams in the division drop a game each and the bottom two climb back towards respectability. Right now, Tennessee has the best defence in the division, putting them slightly ahead of an aging Colts offence that will not have Tony Dungy’s *inspiration* to draw from. Though I hate to say this, as countless before me have been burned by the paper tiger that is the Texans and their late-season showing, but Houston intrigues. If you were looking for a darkhorse in the conference, say a team to duplicate what the mighty Arizona Cardinals did a season ago, then the HT may be the club for you. Now that I’ve typed it, they have no chance and will probably take a two-step back towards a Top 5 selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. No team really blows you away on both sides of the ball. Jacksonville is in deep trouble. Outside of Maurice Jones-Drew, they don’t have any playmakers on offence. Defences will simply load up in the box and stop him cold. On the subject, Jack Del Rio should start collecting boxes.

Along similar lines of how meaningful moral victories are to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and its fanbase, Ed Tait echoes the thought with his column today — taking it a step further by implying that things might not be all wine and roses in the Polo Park area.

It was almost cliche, to tell the truth, to hear so many Bomber types speak of “strength of character,” “not throwing up the white flag” and blah-de-blah, blah, after falling behind 23-3 in what was an atrocious first half. But just for the sake of debate, let’s crank up the hyperbole and suggest here that the second half in Calgary — a 30-minute stretch in which the visitors outscored the home side 20-8 while racking up 20 first downs and 355 yards offensively — may just save this outfit from imploding.

Or, at the very least, stave off the implosion for a spell.

We could even suggest that given the Bombers’ complete offensive ineptitude for much of this season, those final two quarters in Calgary not only serve as evidence that Kelly’s blueprint does have merit, but — more importantly — will keep the wolves, some of them in his own locker-room, at bay.

OK, so who’s unhappy?

Could it be the receivers, who must wonder why they should even bother to run the full route with the options at pivot back there? Damon Allen Michael Bishop can throw it more than 10 yards, but I’m sorry, the jury is still out on him. Let’s give him a couple more games — maybe we’ll see why TWO teams in the Canadian Football League have already given up on this guy.

Could be the defence, who cannot not be pleased with the prospects of Saturday’s game. Five and one Montreal can score, yes, but their defence is also the best in the league (fewest points allowed, 94), which means the Bombers offence will have their buttery hands full with several two and barbeque opportunities. Or maybe it’s a combination of veterans on both sides of the ball, who are going weary of offensive guru coach Mike Kelly’s promises as each week passes.

The news of dissension in the Bombers locker room certainly isn’t surprising, given the woeful 2-4 start with Montreal coming up to the bar next, and it will be interesting to see if others pick up this ball and run with it. I’ve been around a few locker rooms in my time with a laptop, and even I know that when players grumble to a reporter — on the record, off the record, idle chit-chat while waiting for an ATM to open up — about how things are going with the team, it usually means there’s more to it then the smoke they’re floating out into the atmosphere.