Patrick Kane's troubles have nothing to do with being in a bar

Let’s put aside our thoughts on Patrick Kane’s guilt or innocence and deal with practical matters.

When news broke that police were investigating the Blackhawks star, one of the immediate reactions from many people, myself included, was, “At a minimum, how could he put himself in this situation?’’

But what does that mean?

That he shouldn’t be in a bar?

That he shouldn’t take women home with him?

I’m not sure what we expect of Kane, but monastic life seems neither likely nor realistic. If we assume he likes alcohol and women, and if we assume the interest is reciprocal on both counts, how is he supposed to proceed? With a posse of matronly chaperones?

He reportedly has a girlfriend, but whatever their views are on fidelity is for them to work through. All I know is that I would never want my daughter to date a professional athlete. Ever.

Since the allegation against Kane came out, I’ve been struggling to understand the correlation between it and his previous troubles. In 2009, he was accused of punching a cab driver over a fare dispute. Three years later, photos of him passed out after a day of drinking hit the Internet. What those two incidents have to do with whatever happened in his Hamburg, N.Y., home on Aug. 2 is beyond my understanding.

If Kane has a drinking problem, that’s a different issue altogether. And, yes, I am aware of the adage that nothing good happens in a bar after 2 a.m. But let’s not act as if meeting a woman in a bar is a gateway drug to bigger problems.

If Kane is in trouble, it’s not because he put himself in a bad situation. It’s because he’s a bad guy.