Sterling apology laced with vile

LOS ANGELES – In an interview aired Monday where he expressed sorrow for recorded racist remarks that earned him a lifetime NBA ban, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was anything but apologetic toward Magic Johnson, one of the men mentioned in the recording, repeatedly disparaging Johnson’s HIV-positive status, dismissing his work in charity and business and saying he’s not a proper role model for children.

“He’s got AIDS!” Sterling said loudly at one point, cutting off CNN’s Anderson Cooper as the interviewer attempted to cite Johnson’s accomplishments after Sterling asked, “What has he done, big Magic Johnson, what has he done?”

“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?”

Anderson corrected Sterling, explaining that Johnson was HIV-positive but did not have “full-blown AIDS.”

Sterling briefly adjusted his language but not his tone.

“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.”

Johnson had Tweeted after the recording emerged last month that he would never attend another Clippers game while Sterling was owner.

But Johnson was in attendance at Sunday’s playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder sitting next to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who handed down Sterling’s lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine nearly two weeks ago.