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Donald Sterling: 'I'm Apologizing And I'm Asking For Forgiveness'
Clippers owner Donald Sterling (Photo by cultureshlock via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Just after Barbara Walters landed an interview with Shelly Sterling, Anderson Cooper landed the big prized and nabbed an interview with her husband Donald Sterling where the Clippers owner apologized for his transgressions and said that he is not racist.
In the interview with Cooper, which is set to air tomorrow on CNN, Sterling expressed contrition:
"I'm a good member who made a mistake and I'm apologizing and I'm asking for forgiveness. Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It's a terrible mistake, and I'll never do it again."
The mistake that he is referring to is, of course, the recording that surfaced recently where he is heard saying racist remarks to his friend V. Stiviano. Of course, Sterling denied allegations of racism, telling Cooper: "I'm not a racist. I made a terrible mistake. I'm here to apologize." When asked why he waited so long to speak out an apologized, Sterling said he was "emotionally distraught."
Sterling received a lifetime ban from the NBA over the recording and the league is set to move forward on a vote to force a sale of the Clippers. Although he will likely lawyer-up and fight the forced sale in court, Sterling didn't sound particularly optimistic about his chances with owners voting on the issue, saying "If the owners feel I have another chance, then they'll give it to me."
The Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter today to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, tying the second-round series at 2-2.
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