Sterling is sorry as Clippers rally
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LOS Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling apologized on Sunday for racist comments captured on tape, saying they were a “terrible mistake.”
“I’m not a racist,” Sterling told CNN. “I made a terrible mistake. I’m here to apologize.”
In his first public comments since being banned for life from the NBA, Sterling said years of good behavior as an owner should count toward his future. “I’m a good member who made a mistake,” Sterling said. “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.”
The interview came nearly two weeks after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling, fined him US$2.5 million and urged the other league owners to force him to sell the team. Sterling said he waited to make a public apology because he was “emotionally distraught.”
“The reason it’s hard for me, very hard for me, is that I’m wrong,” Sterling said. “I caused the problem. I don’t know how to correct it.”
He later added, “If the owners feel I have another chance, then they’ll give it to me.”
NBA said Sterling’s wife Shelly cannot keep her ownership of the franchise if her estranged husband can’t.
“Under the NBA constitution, if a controlling owner’s interest is terminated by a three-quarter vote, all other team owners’ interests are automatically terminated as well,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement.
On the court, Darren Collison scored eight of his 18 points in the final 2:58 as the Clippers rallied to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-99 to level the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2.
Elsewhere, Paul George scored a career playoff-high 39 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers back from a 19-point deficit and past the Washington Wizards 95-92 to move one victory away from returning to the Eastern Conference finals.
Russell Westbrook, who scored 27 points, missed a 3-pointer and Serge Ibaka’s tip attempt was too late at the buzzer, allowing the Clippers to salvage a game they trailed until the final 1:23. Blake Griffin led Los Angeles with 25 points, making 9 of 11 free throws, and Chris Paul had 23 points and 10 assists. Kevin Durant scored 40 points for the Thunder.
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