 He is given $30,000 by his publisher to do so.The book was written in 1973, and the season in question is the 1972 NFL season, special in which the 1972 Miami Dolphins were the only team in NFL history to go undefeated with an unblemished 17-0 mark.At this time in some states, including New York, where Merchant lives, have a ban on gambling, which is also discussed some in the book.