Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is making an impassioned plea for forgiveness, claiming he was “baited” into making a “terrible mistake.”
Sterling was banned for life from the NBA after being caught on tape making racist remarks while in conversation with his mistress. The owner was immediately condemned in the court of public opinion, with many people calling for him to sell the team. But in an interview with Anderson Cooper, the entirety of which is scheduled to air on AC360 on Monday night, Sterling struck a contrite tone, saying he was “emotionally distraught.”
“I’m a good member who made a mistake, and I’m apologizing, and I’m asking for forgiveness,” Sterling told Cooper. “Am I entitled to one mistake, after 35 years?”
“It’s a terrible mistake, and I’ll never do it again,” the owner added just moments later.
Cooper also asked why Sterling had waited so long to apologize for his remarks. The owner said it was “very hard” because he know he was “wrong.”
“I caused the problem,” Sterling said. “I don’t know how to correct it.”
The 80-year-old apologized to the innocent people he hurt, especially his players, saying they “didn’t need this cloud over their head.” Sterling said he could hardly believe the remarks on the tape, adding that he’s not a racist.
“I was baited,” he said. “That’s not the way I talk.”
The owner said he must have been deluding himself to believe that his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, had actually cared about him.
During the interview, the two men discussed Sterling’s future with the team, and it looks bleak by any standards. Some critics, including Miami Heat player LeBron James, have argued that no one in the Sterling family should be allowed to own the team. The NBA team owners will vote on whether or not Sterling should be allowed to keep his team. Sterling told Cooper that he likely wouldn’t fight a legal battle to keep control of his team, if it went that far.
“What, at the end of the road — what do I benefit?” Sterling posed. “Especially at my age.”
The owner also provided a mixed reaction to his conversation with retired Los Angeles Laker player Magic Johnson. Sterling stressed that Johnson is “a good person,” but added that he hasn’t done everything he could do to help minorities.
“He’s great,” Sterling told Cooper. “I just don’t think he is a good example for the children of Los Angeles.”
Watch the clip below:
