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Donald Sterling tells Anderson Cooper: ‘I’m asking for forgiveness’

Posted at 5:02 PM, May 11, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-11 20:09:23-04
By Ismael Estrada and Catherine E. Shoichet

CNN

(CNN) — Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling says he’s sorry, nearly two weeks after the NBA banned him for life and slammed him with a $2.5 million fine for making racist comments.

“I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness,” he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in an exclusive interview set to air on Monday. “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.”

Sterling, an 80-year-old married lawyer and billionaire real-estate investor, hasn’t spoken publicly about the accusations since celebrity gossip website TMZ posted a 10-minute audio recording of him that drew widespread condemnation from fans, players and the league.

In that audio clip, Sterling chastised a woman for posting pictures online of her posing with African-Americans, including basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

The recording triggered a firestorm that led to Sterling’s lifetime ban from the NBA and a $2.5 million fine. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has asked the other 29 owners to force Sterling, the longest-tenured owner in the league, to sell the Clippers.

CNN’s Jason Hanna contributed to this report.

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