Injury Derails Shaq-Hakeem

Hakeem Olajuwon, who appeared healthy and mentioned no injury at a news conference in New York on Thursday, pulled out of tonight’s $1 million one-on-one match against Shaquille O’Neal on Friday because of a back injury sustained last week while lifting weights, promoters said.

The pay-per-view event, dubbed “War on the Floor,” was canceled.

Promoters said they considered David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning as possible substitutes, but decided Olajuwon’s marquee value made him irreplaceable.