Jason Collins denies he is seeking book deal

NEW YORK -- Jason Collins, the NBA veteran who last week announced he was gay, is disputing reports from publishing insiders who say he is shopping a book deal.

Officials at three publishing houses told The Associated Press on Monday that they had been contacted about a planned memoir by Collins, the first active player in any of four major U.S. professional sports leagues to come out as gay. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the proceedings.

Collins tweeted that it wasn't so: ''I have no current plans to write any books. Sorry to disappoint my literary loving fans,'' he said, adding a hashtag ''GoingToTheGym.''