In an utterly bizarre interview aired on Monday night, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling apologized for his racist comments — and accused Anderson Cooper of being more racist than he is.
Cooper’s show, AC360, teased part of the interview on Monday morning, revealing that Sterling claimed he was “baited” into making a “terrible mistake.” The NBA team owner also criticized former Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson, accusing him of being a poor example for the kids of the city. But the full interview on Monday evening was even more outrageous, as Sterling lashed out against Johnson, the media and even Cooper himself.
Sterling called his recorded comments “stupid” and “uneducated,” but tried to explain that girlfriend V. Stiviano had been talking about bringing black men to games and he was merely “jealous” because he liked her.
Cooper then pointed out that Sterling’s comments seem in line with previous charges, such as the one brought by former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor, who accused the owner of having a “plantation mentality.”
“Elgin Baylor has nothing to do with what — with the things I said 20 years later,” Sterling shot back at Cooper. “Well, that doesn’t have to do — ”
“Well, Elgin Baylor made a claim that you had a plantation mentality, and then now in this thing you’re saying you feed these guys — ” Cooper said.
“I think you have more of a plantation mentality than I do,” Sterling argued. “You know? You’re more of a racist than I am.”
“How so?” Cooper calmly responded.
“Because I’m not a racist, and I’ve never been a racist and I’ll never be a racist,” Sterling asserted.
And when it came to the ownership of his team, Sterling wasn’t so sure that he was getting pushed out. The 80-year-old said he was going to work with the league and wasn’t going to fight them, even though he said some people have told him to wage an all-out legal war. He said he would abide by whatever the league decides.
“The NBA says they want you out,” Cooper said. “Are you willing to give up ownership of the Clippers?”
“Well, I’m not sure that’s what they want,” Sterling responded.
“That is what they want,” Cooper answered.
“Well, that’s your opinion, and that’s what the media says,” Sterling shot back.
The owner went on to say that he doesn’t think the players or fans hate him, but that it was all a construct of the media. Sterling said thousands of people have called him to show their support. Cooper asked if Sterling honestly thought the players, who reversed their jerseys at a game in protest, still liked him.
“Why wouldn’t they like me when I’m respectful?” Sterling answered back, before shortly thereafter asserting, “I contend that they love me.”
And Sterling’s exclusive interview with Cooper — as well as his apology — was delayed because of Johnson, the owner claimed on Monday night. He said the former NBA player had called him up and told him not to do anything without his help because the former Laker “knew the girl [Stiviano].”
“He acts so holy,” Sterling said of Johnson. “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 prayed for him.”
