After weeks of silence since being condemned by Adam Silver, the players and everything else that represents the NBA, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling finally broke his silence publicly in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN.
Not surprisingly, the conversation turned uglier by the minute as Sterling went off about “gorgeous black guys” and how terrible a person Magic Johnson is for not doing anything for black people (which is obviously a ridiculously false statement) and making love with every girl in every city when he “had those AIDS”. You can find him talking about that particular issue in the fourth clip:
His ultimate point appeared to be that he’s sorry for the “one mistake” he’s made in 35 years. Not because of the fundamentally-terrible things he said. Not because of the way he truly thinks. He’s just sorry that he got caught and can’t seem to figure out why the world just won’t let it go and think of him as this wonderfully wealthy man who is always looking to help others like he has always done (in his mind, of course). This is the true problem with Sterling: he just doesn’t seem to understand why everyone is so damn mad at him, and he never will. He’s not sorry to the public. He’s only sorry to the other owners around the league because they’re in position to try to get rid of him. This is why at the end of the day, there is just no room for Sterling in the league.
One particularly interesting accusation he made during the interview was that Johnson actually reached out to him and told him not to do anything when the first recording initially came to surface. Sterling then said Johnson leaked the information that was given to him in confidence, believing the former player hoped to ruin Sterling and buy the Clippers team for himself. Of course, there is no real way of confirming whether any of that is true, but it’s also hard to believe that Sterling made up the phone conversation story. If that story is real, Johnson’s deceptive tactics are questionable at best.
Adam Silver, upon seeing the interview, released the following statement:
“I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling’s interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn’t need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack. The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible.”
Here are some of the reactions from around the league, including one from Johnson himself:
I’d rather be talking about these great NBA Playoffs than Donald Sterling’s interview.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 13, 2014
Interesting question regarding the NBA: why is it taking so long for the owners to vote on Sterling? I don’t understand. @ESPNNBA — Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) May 13, 2014
Sterling’s comments & highlights from his interview with Anderson Cooper make him look absolutely PATHETIC ! — Dick Vitale (@DickieV) May 13, 2014
Donald Sterling is really coming-off well in this Anderson Cooper interview. #OnOppositeDay
— Rex Chapman (@rexchapman) May 13, 2014
Dear Donald Sterling, You are now being recorded. Probably shouldn’t bad mouth Magic Johnson. Sincerely, Jay Williams
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) May 13, 2014
Yep, Donald Sterling – #whipped . A senile old fool. All over the map mentally. Was jealous Magic took a pic w his “girlfriend”.
— Rex Chapman (@rexchapman) May 13, 2014
Sterling desperately wants to be forgiven and return to the NBA as the owner of the Clippers. Silver obviously has other plans. This isn’t going to go away any time soon.
Tweet of the Day: NBA Players React to Jay-Z and Solange Altercation
Tweet of the Night: Clippers rally from 22 down, tie series 2-2
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.