
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 26, 1993                   TAG: 9306260205
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Short

GRETZKY FILES SUIT AGAINST NIKE

Wayne Gretzky sued Nike Inc. for $6 million on Friday, alleging that the athletic clothing company backed out of an endorsement deal when he was sidelined with a back injury.

The Los Angeles Kings star alleges that his deal "obligated Nike, among other things, to make Gretzky an integral part of its denim apparel marketing."

In exchange, Gretzky was to receive 2 percent of the net wholesale sales of Nike denim clothing, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

But "Nike has stonewalled; Nike has refused to acknowledge its promises and obligations under the agreements," the lawsuit said.

Gretzky claims he refused other endorsement offers, including one for a competing line of denim wear, and modeled the Nike clothes for advertising photos because of the contract.

In the lawsuit, Nike denies that the agreement ever existed.

Nike spokeswoman Liz Dolan said Friday that she was unaware of the lawsuit and couldn't comment.

"Nike made its promises at a time when Gretzky was at the peak of his athletic performance, popularity and fame, and then in a callous and despicable manner refused to honor its promises at a time when Gretzky was severely injured and unable to perform as a consequence," the lawsuit said.

Gretzky, the NHL's career scoring leader who led the Kings to a berth in the Stanley Cup finals, missed the first 39 games of the season with a herniated disk.

Keywords:
HOCKEY

by CNB