In his first public television interview, Donald Sterling apologized for making racist comments and suggested he wants to retain ownership of the Clippers. His apology came on the same day NBA officials dug in their heels, saying they have the right to oust both Sterling and his wife, Shelly, from the league.

In a sit-down interview with CNN host Anderson Cooper set to air Monday night, Sterling expressed remorse, saying he made a “terrible mistake.” CNN.com posted an excerpt of Sterling’s remarks on its web site Sunday afternoon.

“I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness,” Sterling said, according to CNN.com. “Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It’s a terrible mistake, and I’ll never do it again.”

The CNN interview marks Sterling’s most extensive comments yet on the scandal, which erupted two weeks ago after audio leaked of the Clippers owner scolding a female friend, V. Stiviano, for bringing African-Americans to his games and posting photos of African-Americans on her Instagram account.

Sterling’s remarks drew widespread condemnation and prompted the NBA to ban Sterling, impose a $2.5 million fine, and initiate efforts to force the Clippers owner to sell the team.

Though he is expected to sue the league if forced to sell, Sterling told CNN, “If the owners feel I have another chance, then they’ll give it to me.”

Sterling’s interview came the same day NBA officials said they are legally entitled to remove both Shelly and Donald Sterling from owning the Clippers, a move that suggested league officials are preparing for a potential legal battle with both owners.

“Under the NBA Constitution, if a controlling owner’s interest is terminated by a third-fourths vote, all other team owners’ interests are automatically terminated as well,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “It doesn’t matter whether the owners are related as is the case here. These are the rules to which all NBA owners agreed to as a condition of owning their team.”

Shelly Sterling’s attorney Pierce O’Donnell immediately questioned the league’s belief it could remove both Donald and Shelly.

“We do not agree with the league’s self-serving interpretation of its constitution, its application to Shelly Sterling or its validity under these unique circumstances,” O’Donnell said in a statement late Sunday. “We live in a nation of laws. California law and the United States Constitution trump any such interpretation.”

Over the last week, Shelly Sterling has distanced herself from her husband and repeatedly said she intends to fight to keep her ownership in the team, which which she and Donald own in a family trust.

She told ABC’s Barbara Walters in an interview that aired Sunday she plans to eventually divorce Donald, and suggested she was being unfairly targeted because she’s married to him.

“To be honest with you, I’m wondering if a wife of one of the owners, and there’s 30 owners, did something like that, said those racial slurs, would they oust the husband?” Shelly Sterling said, according to ABC News. “Or would they leave the husband in?”

During the Walters interview, Shelly also suggested that her estranged husband is suffering from “the onset of dementia,” according to the network.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said last week Shelly Sterling’s continued ownership would be “a very hard situation” due to her connection with Donald. Additionally, numerous civic leaders have spoken out against Shelly Sterling’s involvement with the team, with Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti advocating for a “clean break” from the Sterling family.

Shelly Sterling had been named along in past discrimination lawsuits connected to Donald Sterling’s properties, but her attorney O’Donnell has defended her, arguing that those lawsuits were settled without an admittance of guilt.

dakota.smith@langnews.com

@dakotacdsmith on Twitter

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