Exclusive | Mitch Modell ripped retailers new owner during Knicks historic NBA Finals run: You blew it. I hope you choke on it

While the New York Knicks were battling to win the NBA Finals earlier this month, Mitch Modell landed in the middle of a testy exchange with the new owner of Modell’s Sporting Goods — capping months of failed negotiations to buy back the faded retail brand, The Post has learned. The former “Undercover Boss” and CEO of the sporting-goods chain, which went bankrupt in 2020 and closed 140 stores, on Monday revealed MitchellModells.com, a new online apparel site that’s selling a T-shirt commemorating the Knicks’ historic title.That was after months of on-again, off-again talks to buy back the 137-year-old brand – famous for its “Gotta go to Mo’s” jingle – fizzled in acrimony, sources told The Post. On June 12 – the day before the Knicks clinched the championship – Modell was locked in a heated text exchange with Raj Gupta, head of Omni Retail Enterprises, which had scooped up Modell’s in 2023.Omni now operates Modell’s as an e-commerce business, and the site was down — just as a frenzy for Knicks merchandise was going full-tilt.“Modell’s website is closed down for maintenance??? Everybody is calling where to buy shirts,” the 72-year-old Modell texted Gupta.“You blew it.

I hope you choke on it.”Gupta responded, “Stop texting me,” and later, “site back up.FYI.”Modell replied with a thumbs-up emoji — and that was the last they communicated, according to both parties.

That’s after talks that had gone as far as a written, unsigned sale agreement that had been drafted by Gupta’s attorney.Modell — whose great-grandfather Morris Modell founded the business in 1889 — had first tried to buy back the brand from Gupta in 2024.He initially offered $500,000 as he and his sons also tried and failed to buy Party City and Big Lots.

In December, Modell upped his bid to $1 million.Gupta tentatively agreed, but the talks hit a roadblock when Gupta demanded that he retain a 5% stake in the company — along with a piece of its...