Sterling: Magic Johnson has HIV, not a good role model

Clippers owner draws further heat in CNN interview: "What kind of a guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV?"

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
In an interview in which he was supposed to be issuing an apology for racist comments he was caught making in a leaked audio recording, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling got himself in further hot water by disparaging former NBA star Magic Johnson for his HIV positive status.
Speaking in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Sterling said of Johnson, "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 asked. "I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. But what does he do for the black people? He doesn't do anything."
Sterling's comments in the CNN interview were immediately condemned by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who has already banned the Clippers owner for life and fined him $2.5 million for his previous racist comments.
"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," Silver said. "The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible."
Sterling's original racist comments which led to his NBA ban came in a secretly taped conversation with his girlfriend V. Stiviano. Sterling objected to Stiviano posting a photo of herself with Magic Johnson on her Instagram account because he is black.
He said in the CNN interview that he had talked to Johnson twice since the recordings were made public. Sterling claimed that he had wanted to apologize publicly to Johnson, but that the former NBA star had urged him to be patient.
"I know the girl, don't do anything. I'll help you," Sterling says Johnson told him.
"I think he wanted me to just do nothing so he could buy the team," Sterling said.