Clippers’ Lawsuit Is Revived

A federal appeals court in San Francisco revived a suit by the former owners of the Clippers against Philip Knight, president and founder of the Nike shoe company. The suit claims Knight broke a contract to buy the team for $13.5 million in 1980.

Six months after the purported deal fell through, the Clippers were sold for a reported $13.5 million to Donald Sterling, who moved the team to Los Angeles in 1984.

But former owners Irving Levin and Harold Tipton claim Sterling’s actual purchase price was “substantially less” than Knight’s offer. They also blame their loss of $520,700 in attendance and concession revenues for the last half of the 1980-81 season on Knight’s alleged breach of contract.

Knight denies he agreed to buy the team and says there is no evidence he cost Levin and Tipton any money.