One of the beauties of being able to say things in this country without fear or persecution from the government is that it lets keep going on talking and talking ... and saying more ridiculous things.
That appears to be the case with Donald Sterling, the ousted Clippers owner, who took a chance at delivering an apology and turned it not only into a hollow version of one, but also used the occasion to insert his foot even more deeply into his mouth.
He apparently couldn't help himself on an interview with Anderson Cooper when the subject came to Magic Johnson, who was also part of the racist diatribe that started this whole Sterling mess:
"What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson, what has he done? He's got AIDS. Did he do any business? Did he help anybody in South LA?"
Sterling was just getting started.
"What kind of guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he goes and catches HIV," he said. "Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about? I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. And what does he do for black people? He hasn't done anything.
"Here's a man I don't know if I should say this, he acts so holy. He made love with 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? You know, because he has money, he's able to treat himself. But Magic Johnson is irrelevant in this thing. He didn't do anything harmful to anybody and I respect him and I admire everything that he does. I'd like to help even more if he would offer me an opportunity to help. I like to help minorities."
"If I said anything wrong, I'm sorry. He's a good person. I mean, what am I going to say? Has he done everything he can do to help minorities? I don't think so. But I'll say it, he's great. But I don't think he's a good example for the children of Los Angeles."
