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Embattled and racist L.A. Clipper owners Donald Sterling decided to put his foot in his mouth further during an interview with Anderson Cooper. He was contrite, telling the CNN 360 host that it was "one mistake after 35 years...I'm wrong. I caused the problem. I don't know how to correct it."
Though Sterling asked for forgiveness, he also brought up Magic Johnson, the Lakers legend, whose presence in a photograph with Sterling's "assistant" V. Stiviano got Sterling so upset. While he called Johnson a "good man," Sterling said, "I don't think he's a good example for the children of Los Angeles, that he would go and do what he did and then get AIDS. I mean, come on." Basically, Sterling accused Johnson of telling him not to say anything when the tapes revealing Sterling's racist attitude came out:
Here's a transcript of some of the exchanges:
D. STERLING: I'm hurt that he called me up and he said: "Don't do anything. Wait until you hear from me."
Then somebody called me later and said, he doesn't want to be involved. And then he released the tape that I sent to him, that I talked to him in confidence.
I -- I don't -- I didn't give any interviews. You are my interview. I'm deciding if I like you.
No, but I -- here is a man who is -- I don't know if I say this. He acts so holy. I mean, he made love to every girl in every city in America. And he had AIDS.
And when he had those AIDS, I went to my synagogue and I prayed for him. I hoped he could live and be well.
I didn't criticize him. I could have. Is he an example for children? You know, because he has money, he's able to treat himself.
But Magic Johnson is irrelevant in this thing. He didn't do anything harmful to anybody. And I respect him. And I admire everything that he does.
You know, I would like to help even more if he would offer me an opportunity to help. I like to help minorities...
… D. STERLING: I think he wanted me just to do nothing, so he could buy the team.
He thought maybe the whole thing would be resolved in two weeks.
What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson, what has he done?
COOPER: Well, he has -- he's a businessperson. He...
D. STERLING: He's got AIDS. Did he do any business? I would like -- did he help anybody in South L.A.?
COOPER: Well, I think he has HIV. He doesn't actually have full-blown AIDS, but...
D. STERLING: Well, what kind of a guy goes to every city, he has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV and -- is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about? I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background.
But what does he do for the black people? Doesn't do anything.
You call up and say -- well...
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: He's opened a lot of businesses in inner-city neighborhoods.
D. STERLING: The Jewish people -- the Jewish people have a company, and it's for people who want to borrow money and no interest. They want to give them a fish pole -- a fishing pole. We want to help people. If they don't have money, we will loan to it you. You don't have interest. One day, you will pay us back.
COOPER: So...
D. STERLING: I'm just telling you, he does nothing. It's all talk.
COOPER: So, you're saying that African-Americans don't contribute to their -- to African-American communities as much as Jewish people do?
D. STERLING: There's no African-American -- never mind. I'm sorry.
You know, I -- they all want to play golf with me. They -- everybody wants to be with me.
