Donald Sterling recently apologized about his comments in an interview with Anderson Cooper.
Cooper was able to sit down with the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. The interview is set to air tonight on CNN.
Donald Sterling was caught on a recording making racist comments during a conversation with his then girlfriend V. Stiviano.
Sterling told Cooper, “I’m not a racist.” He continued, “I made a terrible mistake. I’m here to apologize.” Sterling commented, “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,” said Sterling.
TMZ first broke the news that Cooper nabbed an interview with the embattled NBA team owner. According to the site:
Cooper flew in to Los Angeles this morning, checked into his hotel, and made a bee-line to Sterling’s Beverly Hills house, where the interview went down.
Before the interview, Sterling met with his lawyer, who was not present during the interview with Cooper.
But his comments Magic Johnson fall real short of an apology:
“He’s a good person. I mean, what am I going to say? Has he done everything he can do to help minorities? I don’t think so. But I’ll say it, he’s great. But I don’t think he’s a good example for the children of Los Angeles.“
Sterling said he also feels emotionally distraught after the leak of his conversation went to the public. But, he said “I caused the problem. I don’t know how to correct it.”
Two weeks ago, ABC News’ Barbara Walters spoke with Sterling’s estranged wife Shelly. She said she will “eventually” divorce him. She also commented on the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s urging the league’s Board to force sale of the team, telling Barbara that she “will fight that decision” in order to keep her 50 percent ownership stake in the team.
For more on the Anderson Cooper/Donald Sterling interview, click over to CNN.
