L.A.-based sports/entertainment agency Riprock and E!
Entertainment TV have started production on "Hard Bodies," a
one-hour special focusing on the increasing popularity of
women's sports and women athletes. Pro boxer BRIDGETT RILEY
will be among the athletes profiled on the special, which
will air on E! in the fall (THE DAILY). Riley was a guest
on "The Magic Hour" last night. Riley, on the acceptance
and popularity of women's boxing: "It's getting there.
We're making it happen" ("The Magic Hour," 7/27)....Film
director JAMES TOBACK said MIKE TYSON has agreed to play
himself in Toback's next movie, called "Black & White" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 7/28)....SHAQUILLE O'NEAL will perform a song
from his latest album, "Respect," at a FSN party at NYC's
All-Star Cafe tonight. The appearance marks the start of
O'Neal's 12-city tour to promote the album (N.Y. POST,
7/28)....ROD LAVER was listed in critical condition at UCLA
Medical Center after he suffered a stroke last night (Mult.,
7/28)....The SIMON DEBARTOLO GROUP INC. "has dropped the
DeBartolo name and has changed its corporate moniker back
to" SIMON PROPERTY GROUP INC. (STAR-NEWS, 7/28).