Sterling Slams Magic Johnson for Getting 'Those AIDS'

Donald Sterling talked to Anderson Cooper on CNN in an interview that aired last night, and though he apologized for his racist remarks that could cost him his ownership of the LA Clippers, the comments getting the most play are the ones he made about Magic Johnson. Sterling says the reason he didn't come forward to apologize until now is because after his comments (which were centered around a photo of V. Stiviano with Johnson) became public, Johnson told him to "wait, be patient, I'll help you, we'll work it out," Sterling told Cooper. But instead, Johnson then tweeted and released a statement slamming Sterling, Sterling said, adding, "I think he wanted me to just do nothing so he could buy the team." But Sterling also got a lot more personal:

• "Here is a man who's—I don't know if I should say this—he acts so holy. I mean, 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 hoped he could live and be well. I didn't criticize him. I could have—is he an example for children?" When Sterling said, again, later in the interview that Johnson "got AIDS," Cooper corrected him, pointing out that Johnson actually has HIV, not AIDS.
• Sterling then claimed Johnson hasn't done anything "for the black people," explaining that successful Jewish people (like him) spend money to help their fellow Jews, whereas "he does nothing. It's all talk." When Cooper broke in to ask for a clarification, Sterling snapped, "There's no African-American..." before stopping himself.
• In response to the interview, Johnson tweeted, "After this week, no more Sterling talk." And NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the comments about Johnson "malicious."

(More Donald Sterling stories.)