Donald Sterling flatly denies harboring racist views

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling spoke on a range of topics, including his views about blacks and minorities and his relationship with V. Stiviano, during a CNN interview broadcast Monday night.

The embattled billionaire apologized repeatedly for the racial remarks he made that prompted the NBA to ban him for life. At the same time, he made other statements that are likely to spark new outrage, including how some successful blacks “don’t want to help anybody.”

In the highly publicized recording released by TMZ two weeks ago, Sterling told Stiviano not to associate with black people, including Lakers legend and Los Angeles businessman Magic Johnson.

During his interview with Anderson Cooper, Sterling lashed out at the NBA legend’s HIV-positive diagnosis. “What kind of guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then catches,” Sterling said. “I think he should be ashamed of himself.”

Sterling also spoke on a number of other issues. Among them:

He apologized repeatedly for his remarks and said they had resulted in people being hurt, including his granddaughter.

“My little grandchild goes to a Catholic nursery. And they were passing around candy to everybody. When they got to her, they said, ‘We don’t give candy to racists,’ ” he said. “So it hurts me.”

Sterling also tried to set the record straight regarding his feelings toward African Americans.

“But I want to explain a couple things that I said,” he told Cooper. “One of the things that I said was, don’t bring blacks to my game. Well, there’s 25% of my whole game are black people. And I love them.”

He also talked about Jewish people and African Americans helping their respective communities.

“Jews, when they get successful, they will help their people,” Sterling said. “And some of the African Americans -- maybe I will get in trouble again -- they don’t want to help anybody.”

Sterling flatly denied harboring any racist views.

“I’m not a racist, and I have never been a racist,” he said. “It’s not me.”

In fact, Sterling said, he has used his considerable wealth to help minorities.

“Do you know what I do?” he told Cooper. “I spend millions on giving away and helping minorities.”

Sterling also shared his thoughts on Stiviano.

‘You know, forgive me for saying this, but she -- she is a good person. She is a beautiful person,” he said.

“There’s 15 of her, 15 children, 15 Hispanic kids, sisters and brothers, and she supports them all. Perhaps she’s made some mistakes,” Sterling said.

“I thought she cared for me,” he said. “I was stupid.”