Sterling Says He's No Racist, Bashes Magic Johnson in CNN Interview

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Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, right, and V. Stiviano, left, watch the Clippers play the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles on Dec. 19, 2011.

Image: Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

By Colin Daileda2014-05-13 16:05:34 UTC

The disgraced owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, insisted he's not a racist in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN Monday evening.

Sterling, who was recently banned from the NBA for life for essentially saying African Americans are not welcome attendees at Clippers games in recordings that his former girlfriend released. Though he still owners the Clippers, the other team owners are expected to vote soon on whether Sterling should be forced to sell.

See also: Audio Recording Almost Got Donald Sterling Booted From NBA in '82, Report Says

During the interview, Sterling repeatedly apologized for his comments, saying his ex-girlfriend V. Stiviano "baited" him into saying what he did.

Yet in the same interview, Sterling lashes out at Magic Johnson, former LA Lakers star who was one of the first prominent voices to call for his ousting.

He disparages Johnson's battle with AIDS, asks what he has done to give back to people around him, and implies that African Americans do not give back to surrounding communities as much as other groups of people.

However, Johnson, who is CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, a company that strives for "community/economic empowerment," seems to just want to move past the situation.

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Topics: basketball, donald sterling, Entertainment, Los Angeles Clippers, magic johnson, NBA, Sports, Television, U.S.