Sterling sparks fresh row with Johnson jibe
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, May 14, 2014
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Clippers' Donald Sterling attacks Magic Johnson, says he should be 'ashamed'. |
An interview that was supposed to be an attempt at rehabilitation instead had Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling facing fresh rebukes as he went from apologizing for recent racist remarks to slamming Magic Johnson.
Sterling repeatedly brought up the ex-NBA star's HIV status and called him an unfit role model for children.
"He's got AIDS!" Sterling said loudly at one point in the interview, cutting off CNN's Anderson Cooper. "What has he done, big Magic Johnson, what has he done?"
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who gave Sterling a lifetime ban and US$2.5 million fine two weeks ago, issued a statement saying, "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."
Johnson, who is scheduled to appear on Cooper's show, tweeted: "I'd rather be talking about these great NBA playoffs than Donald Sterling's interview. After this week, no more Sterling talk."
"He acts so holy," Sterling said. "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 I prayed for him, I hope he could live and be well. I didn't criticize him. I could have. Is he an example for children?"
Cooper corrected Sterling, explaining that Johnson did not have "full-blown AIDS."
"What kind of a guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV. Is that someone we want to respect, and tell our kids about?" Sterling said. "I think he should be ashamed of himself."
Sterling said he was "baited" into using racist language by V. Stiviano, the woman who made the recording.
"She would always use the word ‘black,'" Sterling said of Stiviano. "That's a black girl, that's a black guy, this is black, that's black. So when she said to me I'm going to bring ‘four gorgeous black guys to the game,' players she was referring to either football or basketball, I was a little jealous maybe."
"I used her words," Sterling said, later adding: "I don't know why the girl had me say those things."
In the playoffs, LeBron James equaled his playoff career high with 49 points and Chris Bosh made the tiebreaking 3-pointer as the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-96 for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Later, Damian Lillard scored 25 points as the Portland Trail Blazers staved off elimination in the Western Conference semifinals with a 103-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
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