Sports briefs for April 23, 2003

Friday, April 23, 2004 | 10:33 a.m.

Blues' Danton indicted for 'hit' conspiracy

St. Louis Blues forward Mike Danton has serious questions to address after he and a woman were indicted in Illinois on charges that they sought to have an acquaintance of Danton killed. The indictment accuses Danton and Katie Wolfmeyer of conspiring to arrange a murder for hire.

Federal authorities said that Danton, with Wolfmeyer's help, tried to hire a hit man for $10,000 to murder an unidentified acquaintance at Danton's suburban St. Louis apartment. The men allegedly argued April 13 over Danton's "promiscuity and use of alcohol" and Danton allegedly feared the acquaintance would talk to Blues management and ruin Danton's career.

Wolfmeyer, 19, apparently was unaware the supposed killer she allegedly was helping hire began secretly working with the FBI.

Ronald Tenpas, the U.S. attorney for Illinois' southern district, asserted that Wolfmeyer, who had a "personal relationship" with Danton, had ample time to reconsider her choice to help in the plot, but did not.

Wolfmeyer made her initial appearance Monday in federal court in East St. Louis, Ill., and was freed on $100,000 bond.

Although Wolfmeyer's attorney has said his client had been lied to by Danton, Tenpas said, "I believe that the facts as laid out in the affidavit show this was more than a momentary lapse in judgment."

But puzzles in the case remained unsolved.

Tenpas wouldn't identify the person Danton allegedly wanted dead. He also wasn't clear about when the jailed hockey player would return to the St. Louis area.

Several media outlets in St. Louis, citing unconfirmed sources, maintained that the target was Danton's agent, Dave Frost.

Frost has said repeatedly that's not the case.

Danton, 23, was arrested April 16 in California, a day after the San Jose Sharks eliminated the Blues from the NHL playoffs.

Fame for Sifford

Charlie Sifford, who broke the PGA tour's color line in 1961 and was the first black member to win on tour, became the first African-American elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in Savannah, Ga. He will be inducted Nov. 15 along with 1992 U.S. Open champion Tom Kite, Japanese star Isao Aoki and Canadian amateur Marlene Stewart.

Upset claims Hewitt

Lleyton Hewitt wasted a 3-0 lead in the third set and lost to struggling Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters. Schuettler will meet sixth-seeded Tim Henman, a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 winner against No. 9 Nicolas Massu, in the quarterfinals.

Warriors pick Mullin

Chris Mullin, one of the most popular players in Golden State Warriors history, was named the team's executive vice president of basketball operation. Garry St. Jean was stripped of his title as general manager to make room for Mullin.

Maradona improves

World Cup hero Diego Maradona showed marked improvement and doctors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, said they were considering removing him from a respirator. He is hospitalized with pneumonia and is being treated for heart inflammation.

Vols win at Penn

The favored Tennessee women's 1,600-meter relay team won at the Penn Relays, giving the Volunteers their first win in the event since 1983. Also, Alan Webb won the Olympic Development 5,000-meter run in 13:46.31.

Armstrong wins twice

Lance Armstrong took both stages of the Tour de Georgia to assume the overall lead in the 641-mile, seven-stage competition.