Ali Siddiq Says Abdul Rauf Was Blackballed After National Anthem Protest
"This guy was basically like Steph before Steph. Lights-out shooter. He didn't wanna stand for it. They blackballed him. If you was Muslim and you were in the NBA at this time, you were getting shunned. They leave out Hakeem all the time, which is insane."
About this episode
Hosts Andrew Schulz, Akaash Singh, Mark Gagnon, and Alex Media sat down with comedian Ali Siddiq for a wide-ranging conversation touching on sports, comedy craft, prison experiences, and personal stories. The episode opened with extended celebration of the New York Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years, with Schulz emotionally describing the city's decades of hope and the cathartic victory. Siddiq, a Houston native and 29-year veteran of stand-up, shared vivid stories from his incarceration in Texas prisons, including how aerobics instructor Denise Austin became a unifying figure across racial lines and how inmates nearly rioted when a guard changed her channel. The conversation shifted to basketball history, with Siddiq arguing that Muslim players like Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Hakeem Olajuwon faced systematic discrimination and erasure from NBA legacy discussions. A major theme emerged around comedy craft and originality, with Siddiq criticizing modern comics for chasing viral success through imitation rather than developing unique voices like legends such as Pryor, Rickles, and Carol Burnett. He revealed extreme dedication to his craft, performing shows just one day after clavicle surgery and eventually collapsing backstage. Siddiq discussed his upcoming special 'My Father,' explaining how he processes his complicated relationship with his dad by celebrating what he learned rather than dwelling on what was missing. The episode closed with analysis of celebrity roasts, where Siddiq argued controversy stems from strangers roasting each other for industry exposure rather than friends roasting with genuine camaraderie.
Key takeaways
- Siddiq stated if legally authorized he would become a vigilante specifically targeting child predators and would work through lists methodically.
- Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was blackballed from the NBA after refusing to stand for the anthem in the 1990s decades before Kaepernick's protest.
- Aerobics instructor Denise Austin became the most celebrated figure across all racial groups in Texas prisons where Siddiq was incarcerated.
- Siddiq argued modern stand-up comedy has lost originality with comics recreating viral content rather than developing unique voices like past legends.
- Siddiq performed stand-up shows one day after clavicle surgery and collapsed backstage when a fan accidentally hit his injury.
- Siddiq shot four stand-up specials in two days and rarely runs material before taping preferring to organize stories naturally over time.
- Celebrity roast controversy stems from strangers roasting for industry exposure rather than friends roasting with genuine camaraderie according to Siddiq.