Saturday, November 28, 2009

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

Living in Southern California we're blessed with the best of everything. Warm weather about 11 months a year practically provides us a mini vacation every weekend. However, the majority of people still take their actual vacations during the summer months. Depending where you go, staying connected to the real world can be a bit of a problem. Yet, hockey fans usually don't worry too much during that time period because after all...there isn't much NHL news between the three day weekends in late May and early September - sans around the first of July when free agency begins. So, if you took off with the fam' in early August, you may have missed one of the more disturbing hockey related stories of the summer.

Los Angeles is a hodgepodge of people. Some are transplants, coming from big cities like New York and Chicago. Others are natives, born and raised here in the most beautiful city in the world. True Angelenos don't have much experience with taxis and subways - unless you've done some traveling. Even then, a few days in a city with public transportation wouldn't make you an expert. So, lets quickly review proper taxi cab etiquette...

Beating up a cabbie over your fare is not acceptable!

We've all heard the stories about young athletes being pampered, not aware of how things are in the real world. Well, it happened once again. Stupid teenager, out drinking until the wee hours of the morning, thinking he was invincible, believing he was more important than the average person. Such was the case on August 9th when Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane was arrested in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. Seems him and his cousin decided it was OK to beat up 62-year-old cabdriver Jan Radecki.

What, you thought when you paid $15.00 for a $13.80 cab fare the driver was supposed to give you exact change? This brilliant line of deductive thinking came from a guy the Blackhawks said "is a big part of our organization and a team leader." Really, a leader?

Kings GM Dean Lombardi has repeatedly talked about the importance of character when building a team. Sure, there is no denying Patrick Kane is an incredibly talented hockey player. The goals, the Calder Trophy, the phenomenal plays - you can take it all. I have no tolerance for guys like Kane. When you're blessed with what he's been given and the money to go along with it, you flip the guy a $20, maybe even two $20s, and say "Thanks for the ride, be safe out there."

No, I don't expect players to be saints. I'm sure the big stars of the prior generation - Messier, Gretzky, Robitaille, Roenick, Chellios, etc. - I'm sure they all weren't perfect every minute of every day. Dumb enough to punch an innocent man in the face, grab his throat and smash his glasses? I think not.

Money can't buy you love...or so the saying goes. Apparently, it also cant buy you class either.

One19

www.twitter.com/Mayor119

NOTE: Tonight's Kings game versus the Chicago Blackhawks is not sold out. Better yet, CLICK HERE to get discounted tickets. Simply use offer code "WCC" to get savings of up to 60% off. Buy 'em now. Puck drops at 7:30, be there!

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