May 13, 2014
Top News Today
In Part 1 of an exclusive televised interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Sterling spoke off the cuff for more than an hour, hoping to make the world forget the racist remarks he made in the much publicized recording with ex-girlfriend, V. Stiviano. Interestingly, Sterling appeared without an attorney or a public relations specialist, leaving him to ramble aimlessly and talk himself into a corner more than once. He even appeared delusional, claiming that despite the hatred towards him invented by “the media,” the players and the fans all still love and support him. Hmmm… Â To say that the interview did not go at all well would be an understatement, as Sterling’s bombastic rant basically boxed, gift wrapped and handed the NBA all the proof they need to remove him as a league owner. Â It was so bad, that had it been a boxing match, the referee would have stopped it!
Sterling began the interview with contrition and tears, apologizing prophetically for his recorded remarks while making a point to remind viewers that he is not at all a racist. “I made a terrible, terrible mistake and I’m here to apologize,” Sterling told Anderson Cooper. “I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness. Â Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It’s a terrible mistake, and I’ll never do it again.”
After that, the entire interview went to hell in a hand basket.
Top News Today
In an odd twist, Sterling then turned the conversation into a blame game that made him a victim and everyone else the bad guy. “Jews help each other, but blacks don’t,” Sterling said, adding even more vitriol to the racist bonfire. Â He then went on a vicious attack against beloved NBA icon Magic Johnson, making a mockery of his HIV status, erroneously claiming Johnson has done nothing for the black community, even condemning kids who look up to a man like Johnson “who should be ashamed to have AIDS.”
“What has he done? Can you tell me?” Sterling said.  “Big Magic Johnson, what has he done? He’s got AIDS! Did he do any business? Did he help anybody in South LA? … What kind of guy goes to every city and has sex with every girl and catches AIDS?”
“Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about?” Sterling continued. “I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. And what does he do for black people? He hasn’t done anything.”
So, this is the man the NAACP wanted to honor with a SECOND Lifetime Achievement Award???
Top News Today
If Donald Sterling somehow fooled himself into believing this interview would magically make everyone love him and make this all go away, he was sadly mistaken. Â Prior to the interview, NBA Commissioner Silver named former Time Warner chairman Dick Parsons — a black man — as the interim Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Clippers. Â Following the interview, Silver made the following statement on behalf of the 29 NBA owners:
“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.”Â
Ouch!
Part 2 of the exclusive interview with Donald Sterling will conclude tonight on CNN. Â In case you missed Part 1, check out portions of it below and tell us: Â Did Donald Sterling help or hurt himself in changing negative public opinion?
.
 .
could be the final nail in his professional coffin.
Yeah. I watched the entire interview last night (or at least the part CNN showed). And you're right DJ…the hole Sterling is digging gets deeper and deeper.
I mean…Good Lord…is there NO ONE who can convince these two (Sterling and his wife quite frankly) to simply STOP talking?!
But I also have to say…..
I am now beginning to wonder, just what role (if any) has Magic Johnson played in all this mess?
Sterling claims that he didn't come forward right away to address the recording made public by Stiviano because Magic told him to "lay low" while he tried to squash the fallout.
Sterling also claims that Magic told him that he too knows Stiviano.
Sterling believes Magic has a vested interest in seeing him forced out of the NBA. Magic wants the Clippers.
Now Magic is going on CNN tonight to respond to Sterling's accusations.
Honestly, I'm beginning to think there is WAY MORE more to this story than meets the eye!
Yeah, sometimes less is more. Something the sterlings do not understand. Tact is not a word in their vocabulary. This definitely is making things worse for him. On the other hand, it's better for everyone else as he will soon be ousted and maybe then he will go away.
I watched the blip that CNN revealed yesterday. I am confused to who thought this was a good idea. I do not think that coming forward just for the sake of "coming forward" and "defending yourself" is the best idea. I agree with Jodie, sometimes less is more. In Sterling's case he should have handled this behind the scenes and not before the public. Round one was bad enough and now his wife is conducting interviews, enough is enough!
I didn't read your comment until after I posted mine and I must say, you bring up a lot of interesting points.
First, I think you may be on to something, Magic appears to possibly be behind this fall out. As you noted he seemed pretty invested behind the scenes while presenting himself to the media as a shocked athlete. I am interested to see what unfolds, especially if it comes to light that this was a scenario that included his former wife, V. and Magic. Who else knows who could be involved.
I just find it odd that both V and his former wife do not believe he is a racist, they appear to be backtracking and cover things up. I do not think Ms. Sterling thought this through completely if she was involved.
"…he (Magic) seemed pretty invested behind the scenes while presenting himself to the media as a shocked athlete."
Yes indeed Matt. THAT is what has really got my brain jumping. IF Sterling's claims about Magic are true(?) then we're talking about a whole new dimension of Evil added to an already ugly narrative.
It's called a Setup and you'd better believe it would involve more people than Stiviano.
Is Sterling a racist? Yes. There's no question about that (despite his inability to see himself for who he really is). But in the world he lives in, among his kind of people, his way of thinking is the norm. The NBA has known it and accepted it for 35 years.
I'll watch Magic's interview tonight and pay close attention to what he says and how he says it.
If Magic told him to lay low or whatever don't matter. We're missing the big picture. The man still said what he said no matter if he spoke publicly right away, a week later, or whenever. Just listening to him speak proves he's got too many issues to be a owner. He's got to go and I'm glad the commissioner came out and said that last night. Sterling gave all the ammo they need now.
"If Magic told him to lay low or whatever don't matter. We're missing the big picture."
Now BD come on. As a long time reader of this site, you know me better than that.
Yes, we all can see/hear that Sterling is a racist (and a bigot too for that matter). And Yes, he's provided more than enough "ammo" to get the boot from the NBA ownership.
But as has recently been revealed to the country …his disgusting history has been WELL known within the NBA, especially in LA (which includes GMs, coaches and players) for at least 3 decades!?!
What we don't know is IF his claims concerning Magic are true(?)
Does Magic know Stiviano? And in the immediate aftermath of the recording being made public, did Magic tell Sterling to lay low while he try to calm the waters?
Hopefully Magic will answer both questions tonight and put them to rest.
Hello All,
For those of you who may think Magic Johnson had ulterior motives, here is a just released statement from TMZ. Take it for what it's worth:
Magic Johnson would NEVER, EVER steal the Clippers … hell no … because if he WAS gonna steal a franchise, Magic tells us he'd go after the Lakers instead!!!
Magic just called into "TMZ Live" — and shot down Donald Sterling's allegations that Magic concocted a diabolical scheme to take over the L.A. Clippers after the racist audio surfaced.
"If I'm gonna set somebody up," Magic said … "It won't be to buy the Clippers, that's for sure. It'll be to buy the Lakers!"
Of course, Magic says he's not a crook or a thief and would NEVER do anything underhanded like steal a team … but IF he did, he'd aim WAY higher than the Red and Blue.
"I love Doc Rivers, Chris Paul and Blake … but if I'm gonna try to steal a franchise, it ain't gonna be the Clippers."
My recent post Reality Show 'Ratchetness'
There is something seriously wrong with this man. When I heard him interviewed, I just couldn't stop thinking that he has some sort of mental health problem. I hope he can get some help. I don't know much about his ability to own a basketball team or not, but there seems to be something wrong here.
This guy has made a lot of enemies through the years because he has a history of being sleazy.
If someone has been generous in their dealings with fans, customers and employees — then that person will likely have a reserve of goodwill built up if they have to draw on if they ever make some uncharacteristic ignorant stupid remarks like Sterling has made. They will have an easier time walking them back.
That is not the case here. Sterling's latest comments are just the final straw.
Wed. May 14th
I watched Magic Johnson's interview on CNN last night. In the words of Anderson Cooper, Magic was very "gracious" in answering all of the questions put to him. He appeared to be very much at ease and denied the allegations made by Sterling.
He said he doesn't know Stiviano. He said he didn't call Sterling….Sterling called him. He didn't advise Sterling to lay low. He advised Sterling to apologize and to consult with his attorney for direction.
IMO, he seemed to be quite forthcoming with his answers…..with ONE exception. He made excuses for why it's taking so much time for Adam Silvers to gather NBA owners together to vote on whether (or not) Sterling should retain ownership of the Clippers franchise.
I think the reality is….while most owners want nothing more than to oust Sterling, those same owners are also very much concerned about the very real possibility of having their own skeletons dragged out into the light of day by the Sterlings (Donald and his wife) who've indicated they're not going anywhere without a fight.
No one wants to believe that Magic is capable of a setup. It is easier to continue with Sterling is a racist than to pause and see that there may be more to this story.
I am not surprised by his response. To be honest, I think he made jokes about wanting to buy the Lakers to cover his tracks. Kudos to his PR team for deflecting.
Your last sentence is key! I think they are more concerned of a windfall of bad behaviors and are almost stonewalling Silver for fear of the dueling Sterlings.
…a related question…….
Will LeBron James lead boycott next season over Donald Sterling?
Vice President of the NBA Players Association Roger Mason said LeBron James is willing to lead a boycott next season if Donald Sterling is still the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I was just in the locker room three, four days ago,” Mason said during an interview with Jim Rome on Showtime. “LeBron and I talked about it. He ain’t playin if Sterling is still an owner.” […..]
H/T: TheGrio.com
Welp…..we shall see.
Good point Truth but it's not going to come to that. Sterling will get removed before free agency begins because no free agent will go to LA if he's still the owner. So this will get settled before Lebron can boycott. Also, I think the owners haven't acted yet because they're scared they have some similar skeletons in their own closets. This whole mess is taking headlines away from the playoffs and needs to be addressed ASAP.
I want to actually see LeBron boycott. Everyone can say what they want in the comforts of the current season, money will talk and reality will set in…they will stop the idle threats.
I agree Matt, I think there is more to Magic's involvement that he is willing right now to admit to. Partly because he is interested in the team but not interested in the speculation. He will ride this out and then say something months later, possibly raising doubts but not to the point where it will cause controversy. He is playing us all.