Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling tells CNN’s Anderson Cooper that he’s sorry for his rantings, feels like he deserves a second chance, and thinks Magic Johnson is a “good person,” despite having fallen short helping minorities, and as a role model.

"When I listen to that tape, I don't even know how I can say words like that,” Sterling told Cooper in his first public comments since he was caught on tape telling love interest V. Stiviano, “Don’t bring black people to my games."

Sterling said in the preview clip for ANDERSON COOPER 360°, “I don't know why the girl had me say those things … I was baited; I mean, that's not the way I talk."

Watch the video on Breaking Celebrity News

The 80-year-old billionaire declared he’s “not a racist," but rather an individual who “made a terrible, terrible mistake.

“And I'm here with you today to apologize and to ask for forgiveness for all the people that I've hurt."

Sterling said the reason he took weeks to come forward was because he was “emotionally distraught” in the fallout of the scandal, resulting in NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issuing him a $2.5 million fine, and a lifetime ban from the league.

“The reason it's hard for me, very hard for me, i