Donald Sterling hopes the world can forgive him.
More specifically, he wants a second chance. While most people have no remorse for the conflicted LA Clippers’ owner, he hopes other NBA owners and those he offended can eventually forgive him. During the second part of his interview on Anderson Cooper 360, he made his sentiments quite clear.
“I want to show all of the people that are associated with basketball and the world I’m not a racist,” Sterling said during the 80-minute interview, which aired Wednesday evening. Sterling also shared his perspective on race relations in the United States. The 81-year-old business magnate feels that Americans handle racism better than most foreign countries.
“I don’t see it. I’m not an African-American,” the former lawyer and billionaire real estate investor, said. He also gave an example of his point of view with a reference to last month’s Jewish Center shootings near Kansas City, MI. “You know, take Judaism … I don’t think the Jews have any problem. I mean there’s a couple of people that they killed that are Jews coming out of a synagogue.”
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He also recounted his years as a lawyer, and his professional interactions with people outside of his race. In his profession, he stated that race was not a factor, as he only judged people based on their legal expertise.
“I wouldn’t think he (a black attorney) was any different than a white lawyer. … I think America has worked well with that. Maybe not as well as the African-Americans would like, but I’m a Jew. I watch what’s going on with us, too,” Sterling explained. “I think it’s better than it’s ever been. Doesn’t mean there isn’t anti-Semitism, there is … a lot of it, especially in the South. But it doesn’t matter.”
Throughout the interview, Sterling was also very apologetic for his actions. He claimed that he was “baited” into making the “terrible remarks” that were recorded. He also noted that he generously supports minorities. The millions he’s pledged over the years have been given to a number of foundations for good minority causes. “I support minorities, God has been so good to me,” he said. “I’m so lucky, and so I want to give, and that’s what my life is all about. Giving and helping wherever I can.”
“I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness,” he said. “Am I entitled to one mistake? After 35 years. I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. … It’s a terrible mistake, and I’ll never do it again.”
Image via Anderson Cooper 360, Facebook