LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling apologizes for racist remarks

USPA News - Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling apologized Sunday for racist comments that were captured on tape and made public last month, saying he was "baited" by his long-time friend but recognized that he had made a "terrible, terrible mistake." Sterling, 80, said in excerpts of an interview aired by CNN on Monday that he was "emotionally distraught" after the release of an audio tape that caused national outrage and led the National Basketball Association (NBA) to ban him for life.

"I`m wrong. I caused the problem. I don`t know how to correct it," he told CNN`s Anderson Cooper in his first interview since the scandal made headlines. The Clippers owner was caught making racist remarks in a recorded conversation with his friend V. Stiviano, who had posted photos online that showed herself with black people. "It bothers me a lot that you want to promo[te]... broadcast that you`re associating with black people," Sterling said in the recording, asking Stiviano not to bring black people to his games. But in Sunday`s interview, Sterling said he had been "baited" into making the racist remarks. "I spoke to a girl that I was fond of," he said. "When I listen to that tape, I don`t even know how I could say words like that, and I`m so sorry. I`m so apologetic. I`m sorry that so many people are hurt." Sterling, who reportedly said in other audio tapes that he was jealous Stiviano was seeing black people, told CNN that he was under the impression his long-time friend cared about him. "I thought she liked me and really cared for me. I guess being 50-51 years older than her, I was deluding myself," he said, adding that he no longer trusted Stiviano. The interview comes nearly two weeks after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver concluded Sterling violated league rules through his expressions of "offensive and hurtful views." Silver banned Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers or the NBA, fined him $2.5 million and urged the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the Clippers.