Injury to Olajuwon Given as Reason for Cancellation
Pay-per-view television took another another blow as a one-on-one battle between Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon, scheduled for tonight, was called off Friday.
The promoter of the $29.95 event, Century City-based agent Leonard Armato, who represents both players, said Olajuwon on Thursday had aggravated a back injury suffered a week earlier during an NBA tour stop in London.
There was speculation that lack of interest in the event may been the real reason for the cancellation, but Armato said, “I can assure you 100%, that was not the case.”
Mac Lipscomb, the head of Showtime Entertainment Television (SET), which was to distribute the telecast, said he had no way of telling how sales were going.
Armato said the event was insured but that he had not yet investigated how much of his losses would be covered.
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