Shelly Sterling tells Barbara Walters her husband may have dementia

The clock is ticking down for Barbara Walters’ retirement later this month, but she still managed to get in one more major exclusive in a sit-down with Shelly Sterling, wife of L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

In the aftermath of the NBA’s decision to ban Donald Sterling from all NBA events and participation in the operations of his team, Shelly Sterling has said she will fight to keep her 50% of the team. She also told Walters that she believes her husband has dementia.

When Walters asked if she had discussed the racial remarks he had been caught on tape saying, Shelly Sterling responded, “He saw the tape and he said ‘I don’t remember saying that. I don’t remember ever saying those things.’ ... That’s when I thought he has dementia.” Donald Sterling is 80 years old.

Shelly Sterling, who has been estranged from her husband of 60 years for a year now, told Walters she had never heard him make racist comments. She also told Walters she’s been contemplating divorce for 20 years, but hasn’t yet filed the petition.

Why not? “My attorney and my financial advisor said now is not the time,” she said.

Though the Sterlings remain married, she told Walters, “I don’t love him. I pity him and I feel sorry for him.”

On Friday, the NBA named former Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons as interim chief executive of the Clippers while the issue of ownership is worked out.