I had written a book about five or six years ago, kind of with Oscar Robertson, on the ABA, the Robertson suit that led to free agency, the mergers of the leagues, it was kind of an NBA history book of the '60s and '70s. It was great fun to do, because I'm interviewing all those guys who were playing as the best players on their team. No connection, but guys are dying. I'd done the last interviews with Havlicek and Wes Unseld.
[Dolan] said, 'I don't want you to go through it. I know what it's like to deal with these people [the media],' Jackson says in the book. 'I said, 'Unfortunately my relationship with Carmelo is kind of busted, and if he's going to be here, it's probably best that I go.'