Donald Sterling's interview with Anderson Cooper that airs tonight may have been an attempt to show the disgraced Los Angeles Clippers owner as an incompetent man dealing with the onset of dementia.
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But an attempt by whom?
ABC News reported Monday that experts asked in response to an exclusive Barbara Walters interview with Sterling's estranged wife Shelly in which the dementia defense came out responded that it is possible for someone with dementia to start talking nonsense that could include racist remarks.
The dementia defense could be a play by Donald Sterling's handlers to gain sympathy for the owner in hopes of salvaging the sale price of the basketball team if Sterling has to sell. Prospective buyers might be more willing to offer a fairer price if they thought Sterling's condition was an excuse for his comments.
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Or could the dementia defense come from Shelly Sterling's camp? She has indicated that she wants to keep the team, despite the NBA's insistence that the team be sold. If she can show the league's other owners that Donald Sterling was not responsible for his racist comments because of brain damage, then she might not have to sell the team.
Independent analyst Dr. Igor Galynker, associate chairman of research at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, has written several papers on dementia and told ABC News that "the most universal sign of early dementia is personality change, rather than memory loss."
"Two basic characteristics not related to memory are apathy and indifference or callousness," he said. People become withdrawn and disinterested in other people to the point of being rude."
Sterling's comments definitely belong in the callousness category. Galynker said that the changes in insensitivity and inappropriateness have "little to do with their personality before."
It was fairly just by listening to the original recording leaked between Sterling and V. Stiviano that other than offering an apology, Sterling should not be commenting publicly.
So whoever is letting him could have an ulterior motive.
Do you think anyone is trying to prevent Donald Sterling from speaking publicly for his own good? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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