11/23/24
April 16, 2004
There's just something about the playoffs that brings out the best in players, and then there's this story.
I was just about to post this too. Weird story.
posted by mkn at 07:57 PM on April 16, 2004
I guess Todd Bertuzzi's not so bad, really. So was this a secret gay affair that was about to go public? The last graf of grum's link seems to suggest it: "The complaint quotes from a call the intended victim made to Danton on Friday, asking why he wanted to have him murdered: 'Danton broke down and sobbed. Danton explained that he felt backed into a corner and also felt that the acquaintance was going to leave him.'"
posted by rcade at 08:08 PM on April 16, 2004
Makes me curious: - as to how a 19 year old girl from some little town would be the right person to call for a hitter - why Danton changed his name - when will hockey join the 21st century regarding homosexuality
posted by billsaysthis at 08:14 PM on April 16, 2004
Greg Wynshynksi of SportsFanMagazine predicted great things for Danton a while back:
Remember this name: Mike Danton. He’s a forward for the New Jersey Devils, and he buzzes around the ice trying to hit or piss off or do both to every player in a different-colored sweater. Plus, he’s been mouthing off to the media that Pat Burns isn’t giving him enough playing time--a fourth-liner calling out a Jack Adams Trophy winner! Oh, and last season he was named Mike Jefferson until he wigged out, took on GM Lou Lamoriello and was suspended for the year. He changed his name in the offseason, came back and made the team was a checking forward. He’s either going to be the next Claude Lemieux or hockey’s answer to Todd Marinovich, without the drugs…
posted by rcade at 08:22 PM on April 16, 2004
Whoa! When I came to SportsFilter looking for additional details, that was one additional detail I did not expect! Anyway, if the implication (the part about the relationship) is accurate, this is gonna be some media circus.
posted by molafson at 10:13 PM on April 16, 2004
Here's a Katie Wolfmeyer who's a freshman at St. Louis Community College. The age and area are right. Can't say I'd go to her first when I need to get someone got.
posted by rcade at 10:26 PM on April 16, 2004
Reuters is willing to put the innuendo to rest: "FBI agents arrested professional hockey player Michael Danton on Friday on charges he tried to hire someone to murder a man who had apparently been his lover, according to court documents." It's pretty weird that the U.S. press was so careful to avoid talking about the sexual aspect of this story.
posted by rcade at 10:31 PM on April 16, 2004
Indeed, that Reuters piece is a lot clearer than the other articles I had read. The whole story is kind of twisted, though -- with Danton asking his friend to find another friend to kill a guy over a debt, who turned out to be his boyfriend, who confronted Danton, who confessed on tape... Anyway, since Danton signed a confession, I guess there won't be a trial, and hence no media circus. I guess that's good.
posted by molafson at 11:07 PM on April 16, 2004
Anyway, since Danton signed a confession, I guess there won't be a trial, and hence no media circus. I guess that's good. A hockey player who tries to have his gay lover killed? There might not be a trial, but there will be a media circus.
posted by grum@work at 07:49 AM on April 17, 2004
Here's a copy of the full complaint. Creepy detail: When the prospective hitman was driven by Katie Wolfmeyer to Danton's apartment (so he knew where the killing should take place), Danton's boyfriend spoke to the guy and identified himself as Danton's father.
posted by rcade at 01:03 PM on April 17, 2004
since Danton signed a confession, I guess there won't be a trial That's not a sure thing. Confessions have a way of being denied after the fact. The only way to avoid a trial would be either the prosecution dropping the case or a guilty plea at the arraignment. I think.
posted by deadcowdan at 03:47 PM on April 17, 2004
It's a pathetic commentary of the sad state of pro sports that an athlete would rather kill his lover than be outed, if this all turns out to be true. The irony is, of course, that one can hardly doubt that an ice hockey player is "masculine" or "tough", gay or no. Although "possessed of common sense" or "not a thug".
posted by rodgerd at 06:10 PM on April 18, 2004
A little snippet from Dougie Weight: "Let's not jump to conclusions, but you know what, hypothetically I think it would be fine. I'd like to think people are bigger than that and look into the person as a person and as a teammate." When one of hockey's stars says something like that, I can only hope that maybe one day a gay player can feel comfortable about coming out. I'm sure it would mean a lot to at least these guys 'n gals.
posted by NoMich at 07:21 PM on April 18, 2004
I was impressed by Doug Weight's comments, too.
posted by Philfromhavelock at 11:42 PM on April 18, 2004
Outsports, the place to go whenever an athlete is, was, or might be homosexual or simply well-groomed and single, has more on the story. The article makes Danton's agent sound like a weird Svengali figure, and the way they talk about him being alone with the guy behind closed doors should start a few more rumors. Chris Pronger also said that players could support a hypothetical gay teammate: "A lot would depend on the guy. And what kind of guy he was. If he was liked by his teammates. A lot of it would have to do with his character, more than anything. I wouldn't have a problem with it. If that's the way he wants to live his life, that's the way he should live his life. Everybody has a private life outside the locker room."
posted by rcade at 08:59 AM on April 19, 2004
I think rcade's last post should be stricken, on the grounds that it makes me agree with Chris Pronger... That said, based on what is known and what is speculated in this case, I kinda feel sorry for the guy in that he felt driven to this point. However, there are people other places that are trying to make Danton the victim. No matter what society, or sports, or the NHL, or anyone dictates about homosexuality, it does not make it OK to hire someone to kill someone else. You cannot be gay, and be famous, *and* keep it under wraps in this world. Realize that. Either come out from the get go, or be prepared for the media circus when, not if, your secret gets out. Being gay doesn't make you evil, but attempting to kill someone to keep your secret does...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:07 AM on April 19, 2004
This article points out that the relationship between Danton and the acquaintance was "not intimate".
posted by Succa at 10:13 AM on April 19, 2004
Too bad Denton didn't know his teammates better. Or perhaps the picture perfect answers from Weight and Pronger are the product of guilt.
posted by garfield at 10:50 AM on April 19, 2004
Though the affidavit is vague, the complaint states that Danton broke into tears when the male acquaintance confronted him about the alleged murder plot. It also states that Danton "felt the acquaintance was going to leave him." That has raised questions about the character of Danton's relationship with the man, but sources with knowledge of the investigation who are close to Danton have told the Post-Dispatch the relationship was not intimate. One source told the newspaper there is no indication the relationship had a "sexual element to it at all." Either Danton said this wrong (understandable) or the police report got it wrong (also understandable), but when someone uses the phrase "leave him," that implies a little more than good buddies.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:03 AM on April 19, 2004
Here's more from Danton's father and his long time coach/agent:
posted by garfield at 12:58 PM on April 19, 2004
Wow. I'm a bit confused how the Jeffersons allowed their teenaged son to drift off and start being controlled by the coach of his hockey team. That's just lousy parenting. It's also really freaky that Frost chose to move into a home nearby, and had the guys sleeping over a lot. And telling parents they couldn't talk to their son after a game? I think there's plenty of nutbaggity blame to go around in this case. One thing Frost and Jefferson agree on is that Danton isn't gay. Both say that speculation the intended target was a gay lover was based on a misinterpretation of court documents. "He absolutely lived alone, but that's not to say he didn't have a friend staying there in his apartment. But it's not a gay lover,'' said Frost. How the hell would Danton's real parents know whether he was gay or not? They apparently haven't been in touch with him on any meaningful level for more than a few years. And the agent? I'm sorry, but a guy who repeatedly has teenaged boys sleeping over at his house ... that's just weird. Is this some incredibly bizarre cover job?
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:14 PM on April 19, 2004
Remember that episode of 'Different Strokes' with the creepy old dude who would ask the neoighborhood kids to have a bath? That Frost character doesn't seem quite right, especially with him providing such an unbiased alibi, er, I mean, psychological profile of Danton. "The problem stems from a deep-rooted problem from the past. And the past demons have affected his mental state and he was delusional and paranoid"
posted by garfield at 02:22 PM on April 19, 2004
Dave Frost, according to law enforcement sources, was the hit target. Dave Frost has actually been banned from two minor leagues in Canada for "having a strong influence over a core of young players". According to Frost's lawyer, "There is a story behind the story which will be told eventually." All this, and more.....
posted by garfield at 09:15 AM on April 20, 2004
Weirder and weirder. Thanks for the many links garfield.
posted by 86 at 11:29 AM on April 20, 2004
I was just about to post this link on the story, which has a bit more detail. Man, that is SERIOUSLY f***ed up.