Magic Johnson - Interview: A Response to Donald Sterling's Remarks lyrics

Anderson Cooper: When you first heard the audio tape that was released a couple of weeks, what did think? Magic Johnson: I was just—I was blown away. I couldn't believe that he had said those things, first of all. He made those statements, those racist statements, and then threw me in: “Don't bring him to my games.” And so he personally attacked me. And I had known Donald; not very well. I knew him. I met with him three or four times, been to his office. Anderson Cooper: Yeah, so were you guys friends, or acquaintances? Magic Johnson: I would say we were friends. My first trip, when I got here in L.A. about 35 years ago, Dr. Buss took me to his beach house for his annual beach house party—you know, in the summertime. So that was one of the first things I did. So, to reflect back to that to these statements that he made about myself and minorities, it was just disappointing, I was in disbelief that he would say these things. And then, you know, to throw me in to the situation. I don't know the young lady, I don't know Donald. So now I'm caught in the middle of this love affair—whatever they have. And, so it was sort of disappointing. But I had to respond in terms of, “Okay, you don't want me to come to your games, I won't come to your games. You don't have to worry about that.” But also, I was upset because he threw minorities in--African Americans, Latinos-- into this situation and so I had to speak up. Look, I'm one of the leaders of the black community. So I can't let anybody attack our people and not respond. And so that's why I responded. Anderson Cooper: When-- first of all, you said—you were photographed with V. Stiviano. You're probably photographed with… Magic Johnson: Millions of people. Anderson Cooper: Millions of people. Do you know—he claimed in this interview I did with him the other day, he said that you knew her and you knew her well. Magic Johnson: These are the facts, Anderson. I've never met this young lady. I took a picture with her, probably—looked like we were at a Dodgers game. That's it. That's all I know of her. You know, and then he says I'm trying to set him up. How am I trying to set you up? Anderson Cooper: One of the things he said in the interview—in fact, let me play that part-- he said to me that you called him up-- he doesn't have your number, he didn't call you-- you called him after the tape was released and told him to kind of lay low, don't say anything in public. I want to play that. Magic Johnson: These are the facts: I was in my office, I get a call from Donald Sterling. Anderson Cooper: He called you? Magic Johnson: He called me. I took the call. Anderson Cooper: Apparently, he has your phone number. Magic Johnson: Yes, yes. His a**istant called my a**istant, and she put him through. And, this is what happened: he asked me to go on the Barbara Walters show with him. Anderson Cooper: This was what? A week ago? A week and a half ago? Magic Johnson: A week ago? Anderson Cooper: Because he met with Barbara Walters on a Friday afternoon. Magic Johnson: Exactly. It was before that. I told him I wouldn't do it. I said the number-one thing you need to do which you haven't done is apologize to everybody, and myself. “I'll get to that. I'll get to that.” Anderson Cooper: So he wanted you to go on with Barbara Walters sitting next to him. Magic Johnson: Sitting next to him. Anderson Cooper: To kind of give him cover? Magic Johnson: Exactly. So I said no. Then I told, I said, Donald, you should consult with your attorneys. I said this thing is a big thing and you should deal with your attorneys and let them advise you on what to do. But I said you need to go public and apologize to everybody. Anderson Cooper: How did he respond? Magic Johnson: “I'll apologize later, but I want you to go on this show.” He was adamant about me going on this show with him. And I told him no, I wouldn't do it. And that's what happened. Anderson Cooper: That's it? Magic Johnson: And then I called Adam Silver, our great commissioner, and told him what had happened. Anderson Cooper: You told Adam Silver that Donald Sterling had called you? Magic Johnson: Had just called. And so I wanted him to know that had happened so he wouldn't be blindsided either. And so then I called all my people to let them know that Donald Sterling had just called me. Anderson Cooper: There is a report that somebody called his attorney and said, “Look, don't keep calling Magic. Don't call Magic back.” Magic Johnson: Yes, because he wanted to call me again. So my people—my attorneys and my advisors—said, “Look, you can't be talking to Donald.” I said, “Okay.” So, that's what happened. So we just called his attorney and said, “Don't be personally calling me,” because I didn't want him to feel that he could just call me… because he hadn't apologized to me. This is really weird. I'm really disturbed by the fact that—when he called me, he should've said, “Magic, I'm sorry.” Anderson Cooper: Right. And I asked him specifically if he had apologized to you, and he said no. Magic Johnson: No, he didn't apologize at all. Anderson Cooper: It seemed like a surprise to him that he would actually be expected to make an apology to you. Magic Johnson: Well, he's the one who said, “Don't bring Magic to my games.” So, you know, he's the one who made these comments. So, I was expecting at least an apology. And the American public wanted an apology; he finally did that. But this is… it's sad. When I saw the interview, it's sad. It really is. I'm going to pray for this young man. I hope Donald can see the mistake that he has made and also the people he has hurt along the way. And then, what's really sad is, you know, it's not about me. This is about the woman you love outing you and taping you and putting your conversation out here for everybody to know. That wasn't me. I didn't do that. I don't know this young lady. This is between you two. But then he wants to include me, and I'm not included in this situation. And then he wants to, ask me what I've done in the minority community. That's well documented, what I've done in the minority community. That's well documented. --------------------- Anderson Cooper: Some of the things he said, two comments in particular, that have really outraged a lot of people understandably-- I was shocked when he said them to me. Let me just play this. [FLASHBACK TO COOPER/STERLING INTERVIEW] Donald Sterling: What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson. What has he done? Anderson Cooper: Well, he's a business person. He's - Donald Sterling: He's got AIDS. Did he do any business, I want to know, did he help anybody in South L.A.? Anderson Cooper: Well I think he has HIV. I don't think he actually has full blown AIDS. Donald Sterling: Well, what kind of a guy goes to every city and has s** with every girl, that he catches HIV. Is that someone we respect and tell our kids about? I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. [CUT TO ANOTHER PART OF COOPER/STERLING INTERVIEW] Donald Sterling: Here is a man who - 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? [CUT BACK TO COOPER/JOHNSON INTERVIEW] Anderson Cooper: I'm embarra**ed to even play this in front of you. Magic Johnson: Yeah, well, you know, he's a man who we think would be educated and a man who would be smart enough to build this type of wealth and own a team that has an incredible platform to change the world. But he's doing it in a negative way. You know, first of all, 22 years ago, I announced that I did have HIV, and I came out like a man. You know, I told the world: [FLASHBACK TO MAGIC JOHNSON'S HIV ANNOUNCEMENT/RETIREMENT SPEECH] Magic Johnson: Because of the -- the HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers -- today. [CUT BACK TO COOPER/JOHNSON INTERVIEW] Magic Johnson: I didn't blame nobody else. I understood what I did was wrong, okay? So I announced that to the world. And I hope that I was able to help people in doing that. And I think I did. Anderson Cooper: You helped countless numbers of people. Magic Johnson: Yes, yes. And I've been to hospice, hugging people with HIV/AIDS before were dying and people didn't know if they could live a long time. I hugged them, I counseled them, I coached them, I talked to them. I talked to them about taking their meds and making sure that they stay on their regimen, which is the key. I talk to a lot of young people who just got HIV and were thinking about committing suicide. You see? And I try to talk them out of that. And then, we've given away over $50 million; my foundation. I've joined the president's HIV/AIDS council. And so, I've done a lot of work in the HIV/AIDS community. Anderson Cooper: I mean the Magic Johnson Foundation has been around for 20 years. You've given away millions and millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS education, you've expanded out to other education for people in underserved communities; community outreach. The idea that you have not done the stuff, you don't put ads in the paper about what you do, which is something that Donald Sterling has done but you do the work. Magic Johnson: Yeah, I do the work. And we work with great HIV/AIDS organizations across this country; we partner with them. So I don't have to sit and publicize everything I do; it's not organic like that. Look, I just feel sorry for him. I really do. It's sad. Anderson Cooper: It's interesting to me that, a) He clearly doesn't know the difference between AIDS and HIV, which… whatever; a lot of people don't know the difference. But also that, in this day and age, he would bring this up as, somehow, what he feels is like a club against you to wield against you. And, to me, there's a larger issue here of discrimination against people with HIV. Magic Johnson: Right. Anderson Cooper: And attitudes towards people with HIV. And I was reading studies on the way over here: there is still this stigma about HIV in this country and I think some of what he said really-- it's like a teachable moment on this. You know, there are people who don't want somebody working in a kitchen who's serving them food who's HIV positive. They don't want someone working in an office going into the same bathroom as them. There's still this stigma around. Magic Johnson: Anderson, our biggest fight in the HIV/AIDS community is first: stop discriminating against people who have HIV/AIDS. We got to continue to educate people, just like Donald Sterling, about those who are living with HIV/AIDS. And then the last thing we got to continue to care for people who have it. I hope this doesn't set us back. The stigma is still there. We know that. We've been fighting it for years. And what we want to continue to do is to just educate the world that it's okay to high-five person who has HIV. It's okay. Anderson Cooper: You could play on a sports team with somebody. Magic Johnson: Exactly. Your kid can go to school with somebody, a kid who has HIV; nothing's going to happen to them. Or play with them; nothing's going to happen to them. So it's a shame that Donald used this platform with you to, instead of coming out and apologizing to the world, which would've been great, and said, “You know what? I'm sorry. I made some mistakes,” and just left it there. Magic Johnson shouldn't have been included in your conversation; because I had nothing to do with this. But since you put me in it again, and then you want to try to disrespect me and the work that I've done in the minority community; that really makes me upset. And then my competitive spirit comes out, because I've done all this great work: all the kids we've sent to college and—I got 150 kids on scholarship right now. Anderson Cooper: And I've heard-- I mean, again, this is not something you publicize—but I was talking to people who know the work you've done. They tell me that a young man came up to you in a speech you gave and he was talking about the difficulties he's facing about gynecology and you, on the spot, were like, “You know what? I'm going to pay to put you through school.” Giving millions to open up churches in urban communities, and even—and again, you don't trumpet this—even your business work, not your foundation work, even your business work is devoted to largely underserved communities, urban communities and bringing business in. You were instrumental in bringing Starbucks and all these business and movie theaters into underserved communities. Magic Johnson: It's important that we have options; that we can go and have the best cup of coffee served by coffee. But also it brought jobs. See, it brings jobs. We've created thousands and thousands of jobs in urban America. Those people can now walk to their job. They can take care of their families because of Starbucks, 24-hour fitness… on and on and on. The Magic Johnson theaters. So, I've continued to do good work in urban America, and I will always do that. My whole life is devoted to urban America. So, I just wish he knew the facts when he's talking, but he's a man who's upset, and he's reaching. He's reaching. He's trying to find something he can grab onto to help him save his team. And that's not going to happen. It's not going to happen. ------------- Magic Johnson: Adam Silver, our commissioner of the NBA, did a wonderful job; he abandoned him for life. Now the Board of Governors got to do their job. And, again, I'm going to pray for the man, because—even if I see him today. I am going to say hello to Donald, and his wife, as well. I'm not a guy who holds grudges and all that. Am I upset? Of course. But, at the same time, I'm a God-fearing man. I'm going to pray for him and hope that things work out for him. And he needs to address this young lady, because that's the problem. That's where the problem started; not with Magic Johnson. It started with his girlfriend. Anderson Cooper: I want to play one other thing that's gotten a lot of attention here. [FLASHBACK TO COOPER/STERLING INTERVIEW] Donald Sterling: I remember when he came from Detroit, he came to my house. You know — he was a great player. But I want to know exactly what he — what does he do? He works with the Dodgers? Do you know what I do? Anderson Cooper: I mean he's got a business. He owns movie theaters. Donald Sterling: I spend millions on giving away and helping minorities. Does he do that? That's one problem I have: Jews, when they get successful, they will help their people. And some of the African Americans — maybe I'll get in trouble again — they don't want to help anybody. What has Magic Johnson really done for children's hospitals? Kids are lying in the hallways. They're sick. They need a bed. [CUT BACK TO COOPER/JOHNSON INTERVIEW] Anderson Cooper: This larger idea that African Americans somehow don't help African Americans… Magic Johnson: You know, it's disturbing, it's sad, he didn't do his homework. Tyler Perry called me right after the interview; he was so upset. Spike Lee called me. I mean, look, we help each other. You know, and what we try to do is band together to see how we can better our community. We also give the information. Because I'm successful, Tyler's successful, on and on and on. We go back and educate the others on how they can become successful. So it's not about just giving them money. It's also about giving them the tools so that they can be successful in the African American community. We work very well together—Reverend Sharpton. We have different people who always work together to make it better for the others. And that's what we do. And so, it's a shame he doesn't know what he's talking about. He didn't educate himself before he actually came on and talked to you. Anderson Cooper: Is this the Donald Sterling you knew? I mean, you have only talked to him a couple of times. You've only hung out with him a couple of times, but his wife indicated in an interview with Barbara Walters that perhaps he has early onset dementia. Does this seem like the Donald Sterling you talked to in the past? Obviously without him saying these things about you to your face— Magic Johnson: I don't know this Donald. You know, we had basketball conversations. We never had life conversations. I knew about the lawsuits and the things that happened before. I didn't know that he would take it to this level. And— Anderson Cooper: Do you believe that he's slipping, that he has some sort of dementia, or do you think--? I mean, to me, I'm not a doctor; I wouldn't do an interview with somebody who I felt was not up to doing an interview. He certainly seemed lucid enough for that. He certainly remembered things he was saying, remembered train of thought, brought it back into conversation when he wanted it to. Does he seem much different than—beyond the content of what he's saying; just the way he's speaking and stuff. Magic Johnson: Well, you know, I only judge by what he says and so, he seems like he's all there. In your interview, he's a guy who's making conversation. And he remembers time, dates. I mean, he remembered when I came to his beach house; and that was 35 years ago. And so he can't be slipping that much. But the problem is he's living in the Stone Ages. He can't make those comments about African Americans and Latinos. He just can't do it. Anderson Cooper: Spike Lee, last night, was saying to me he's messed with the wrong brother. Magic Johnson: Well, you know, Anderson, I'm going to always fight for myself and for my people. I will never change. And so, when he attacked me personally, I have to speak out about it. --------------- Magic Johnson: In the league, there's 80 percent, at least 75 percent of African Americans. He wants us to play for him, but he doesn't want us in the stands. He wants us to help him win a championship, but he doesn't want us in the stands. And the same thing happened with his housing. You know, he wanted to discriminate against Latinos and African Americans; it makes no sense. And so I think, for him, I just wish that he would—first of all, I don't know who's advised him… because this interview was not good. Anderson Cooper: Yeah, and as I told you before-- we got to his house, he doesn't have any media people there; there were no attorneys there; you know, it seemed very much to be him. There were two of his friends there giving him advice, but that was it. Magic Johnson: Yeah. And again, and he said I walk around like I'm holy. No, no. I lean on my faith, but I don't walk around like I'm better than anybody. That's why I've basically forgiven him. I'm not going to never not speak to him, or anything. And then, we think it's about this team. Anderson, look… Anderson Cooper: He claims the Clippers still love him. He believes that the players—he says that the players genuinely love him and they've just been pressured by the media and others. Magic Johnson: Really? Hmm. Now he is delusional. And not only the Clippers don't love him, the other players in the NBA don't love him. So the players have rallied together. Now the only thing they're waiting for is to see what's going to happen with the vote by the Board of Governors. Anderson Cooper: By the other owners. Magic Johnson: By the other owners. And I'm hoping that they understand that they can't have this type of action in our league, or in our society. We just can't have it. Anderson Cooper: Sterling claims that, when push comes to shove, he can kind of buy time—push comes to shove, the players are going to play, the sponsors are going to sponsor his team even if he stays there… that money talks, and in the end, they got contracts, sponsors want to make money, everybody wants to make money. He clearly believes there's a root for him to remain as owner of the L.A. Clippers. Magic Johnson: He can't buy his way out of this one. He's bought his way out of all the other situations; he can't do it this time. Anderson Cooper: Do you think that goes for his estranged wife, Shelly, as well? I mean, right now it's a trust that owns the L.A. Clippers. Magic Johnson: I don't know his wife Shelly that well, so—our commissioner Adam Silver has to deal with that, as well as the Board of Governors. So I can't tell you what's going to happen there. All I know is that Donald Sterling is not welcome back in the NBA. He shouldn't be welcome by the owners; I hope they vote it right. But the players, former players, and the fans-- I was there the other night, at the Clipper game—don't want to see Donald Sterling as the owner anymore. Now, what he thinks and what he feels, he's in another world if he thinks that everybody wants to see him back owning the Clippers. Anderson Cooper: You know, he was saying to me that there was a $3 billion TV deal on his d**h with FOX, that he can negotiate, that there's money to be made and he can do it. Magic Johnson: Well, I think he's right. No question about that there's money to be made. And let's— Anderson Cooper: Are you interested in the Clippers? I mean, there's a lot of reports that you'd be interested in being owner or part owner. Magic Johnson: Well, you know, we have to wait. That's going to be 8 months to a year, to see if it hits the market. But for me, if it comes out and it's for sale and my Guggenheim partners and I say “Okay, we'll take a look at it and we want to buy it,” of course, we'll make a run for it. I could be an owner tomorrow. I could've been an owner—my friends who own Golden State asked me to join them; I could've been the owner of the Golden State Warriors. My friend Tom Goes owns the Detroit Pistons; I could be an owner tomorrow with the Pistons. He asked me to be part-owner of the Detroit Pistons. It's not about owning the team. Now what I would really want to do is own the Lakers. If there's any team I'd want to really have or be a part of, it would be the Lakers; not the Clippers. But, if I can't be a part of them, and it's a team unlike the Clippers that I like and my partners like—because you have to remember it's going to be a billion dollar deal. So I have to include the Guggenheim Mark Walter and Todd,— Anderson Cooper: You can't just write a check. Magic Johnson: Exactly. They're going to be a part of that. So, we have to wait and see. But this notion that I want his team… If I was going to trick somebody, deceive somebody, be dishonest to somebody, steal somebody's franchise, it's going to be the Los Angeles Lakers. Let's make that clear right now. Anderson Cooper: You're putting that on the record. Magic Johnson: It won't be the L.A. Clippers. Look, I'm a respectable guy. I'm a guy who worked hard to put myself in this position. I am not going to do anything bad to ruin that. I can't look my kids in the face and say, “Hey, I'm a thief. I'm a guy who backstabs people to get to where they want to get to.” I don't do that. You go and ask Howard Schultz of Starbucks. You go and ask all my partners. You go and ask the African American community, the Latino community… all the work I've done, I've never deceived anybody, I've never tricked anybody, and I'd never do that to gain wealth for myself or popularity for myself, or whatever the case may be. Anderson Cooper: Do you think—and obviously you don't know what's going to happen—do you think it would be appropriate for any member of the Sterling family to retain some level of ownership? Magic Johnson: I think the players, the fans, the sponsors wouldn't go for it. That's what I feel to that. Now, if the Board of Governors decide that, you know, they're going to vote him out and one of the Sterling family members could take it over, so be it. Now the Clipper players and Doc Rivers got to make a decision, as well as the players in the NBA. And Adam Silver has to make a decision. Anderson Cooper: When that tape initially broke, you tweeted out that you and your wife Cookie would not go to a Clippers game as long as Sterling was the owner; you went the other night. Why did you feel it was that important to go? Magic Johnson: I wanted to support Doc Rivers, the coach of the Clippers, and Chris Paul and the rest—Blake Griffin and the rest of the players. And I wanted to show that Adam Silver, our great commissioner has stepped up and banned him for life, did a wonderful job, and I wanted to support that decision, as well. And so that's why I went to the game. And I'm happy I did. I saw a great game. Anderson Cooper: It was a good game. Magic Johnson: Yes. And then, Anderson, this is what's so bad about this. LeBron James scored 49 points last night; we should be celebrating that. The Clippers and Oklahoma City in a great series: we should be celebrating that. These playoffs have been the best playoffs we've seen in the first round in 30-35 years. We should be celebrating that: the NBA. Right now, we can't celebrate that, because of the fact of what Donald Sterling has done. ---------------- Anderson Cooper: Last night, as you know, Adam Silver responded to the interview with Donald Sterling. He said: "I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack. The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible". Do you think they're moving fast enough? Magic Johnson: Oh yeah. It's tough right now, because a lot of those owners are in the playoffs, trying to win a championship. So to get everybody together to get a vote - and also, they all got schedules - but I think that Adam is doing a wonderful job of rallying everybody. They will get the vote soon. Look, there's no rush: let's get it right. I thought that Adam Silver, our commissioner, got it right. He took his time, got all the facts, and then banned Donald for life. Same thing has to happen here. Just get it right. Get everybody together, and do a good job. That's all everybody wants. So, I'm happy with the way it's proceeding. Anderson Cooper: Doc Rivers, the players, have got to be in a really tough position. It's got to be really hard for them to be in these playoffs and dealing with this at the same time. Magic Johnson: I feel so bad for Doc. He's done a wonderful job of rallying all those guys and making them focus on - first, it was Golden State, when they beat them. Then, now, with Oklahoma City. Then give Chris Paul a lot of credit. He's the leader, not only of the Clippers, but also the players' a**ociation. He's the president, I believe. So, he's done a wonderful job of making sure that his Clippers stay focused, and actually did a wonderful job on Kevin Durant the other night too, as well. I think the guys understand that they got a job to do. Look, they're going after something that they've been wanting to do their whole lives, as little boys. Win a NBA championship. So I'm glad that they're still focused on that. Let Adam Silver, the NBA, the Board of Governors, handle Donald. You guys focus on playing. Anderson Cooper: Do you have any advice to Donald Sterling? What would you say to him? Magic Johnson: I would say - he finally apologized, but he still hasn't apologized to me personally. But that's okay. Even if I don't get it, I'm fine with that. Look, you're 80 years old. You've had a tremendous life, right? You're going to benefit - whatever the price tag is - from this team's selling. Just go ahead and enjoy the rest of your life. You're fighting a battle that you can't win. Then, you're putting your family in a tough situation as well. It's not just him. He's making his family members look bad by going out and saying these things about myself, African Americans, on and on and on. So if I was him, I'd just benefit from the fruits of my labor and just take the money. Go and enjoy your life. Anderson Cooper: Maybe give some of that money to some folks who need it. Magic Johnson: Well, I would say give it to some - especially in the inner cities, that could use it. That could benefit from it. At this point, I don't know if they would even take it, because they've been - you can't upset minorities today and then expect to buy them off or to write a check and they're going to accept it. It doesn't happen today. Anderson Cooper: Elgin Baylor had said that - you know, he sued Sterling back in 2009, alleging racial discrimination, age discrimination. He said a lot of these things back then, and a lot of people didn't really support him. Magic Johnson: Exactly. You're exactly right. Now we all feel bad that we didn't support him, because we should have. Everything that he said is coming to light today. Anderson Cooper: I think even in 2009, the year he was suing him, the NAACP in LA gave Sterling an award. Magic Johnson: Yeah, yeah. I hope that Elgin feels a lot better today. I know he doesn't, but I hope that now he will get some justice. The things that he had to go through, hopefully nobody else will have to go through. Including myself. Here I am sitting here, I'm doing this interview with you - which I don't mind because you do a wonderful job. I should be conducting my business, I should be going on with my day. And here I am, gotta answer questions about Donald Sterling. Anderson Cooper: That gets to my last question. I think you tweeted out late last night "this is a week we should be focused on the games, this is the last week we should be talking about Donald Sterling". You gonna stick to that? Magic Johnson: That's it. I'm going to do one more interview and that's it. I'm not going to do any more. I'm tired. I'm tired of talking about Donald. It's a shame - I wish I did something to deserve this, right? Taking a photo with a young lady and I have to answer all these questions. But that's okay, I'm gonna pray for him. I'm a God-fearing man. I'm gonna pray for Donald and his family, and I just hope the Board of Governors do what they're supposed to do. And I can get my life back to just being Earvin Magic Johnson. Oh, let me correct Donald. What does he do? He owns the Dodgers. He doesn't work for the Dodgers. He owns the Dodgers.