For specific questions, get with Jay Helfert - he knows more about this situation than anybody.
The entire match between Earl Strickland and Nick Mannino is not on tape - only the last 5-6 racks.
The match occurred in the first round of the first PCA Tournament in Dallas, Texas at Cj's Place.
Earl was dropping balls on the break, and getting out. I wasn't able see the entire match, I was part of the crowd that gathered when it started becoming important. What I do remember was that Earl was breaking very well, leaving roadmap outs and short game combos.
There were several stipulations to be met prior to any player getting paid the million bucks if they were lucky enough to "break and run" 10 racks in a row.
The problem was not with having the match on videotape. The dispute was in the wording - break and run - and the short racks were questioned, as was the official score of the match. IIRC, Nick broke dry in one game, and Earl ran out. Then someone said that didn't happen - all I remember was that there was a lot of excitement, it was the talk of the pool world for a long time.
FTR, when the tournament was over, Earl was EXTREMELY disappointed that he did not win.
CJ Wiley won the tournament.
Earl did get a settlement - an undisclosed but significant amount.
Watch the Color of Money match between Earl and Efren, that marathon was recorded around the same time frame. You won't find a better example of how well Earl and Efren played the game of 9 ball in their primes than the Color of Money match.
As Jay would say, I probably have it about half right. The other half I blame on the fact that I used to work in a paint thinner factory.