Daryl Morey to change his name to Yusuf Islam, abandon managerial career?

by Xiane on Dec 18, 2009 12:53 PM CST in Whimsical Posts Comment 11 comments

In an interview with Jason Friedman of Rockets.com Morey said that he did not think of himself as "Dork Elvis", the moniker supplied him by Bill Simmons, but instead as Dork Cat Stevens. This could be an ominous sign for Rockets fans.

For those who don't know, Cat Stevens was a very successful folk singer who converted to Islam, changed his name and more or less abandoned his former mellow hippie ways, while leaving the world with some very groovy songs. Evidently he continues to perform, but not the songs that made him famous.

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You're completely wrong

Cat Stevens aka “Yusuf Islam” is still the same mellow guy. This idea of him converting to radical Islam is all baloney. It stems from some comments he made during the whole Salman Rushdie scandal that were taken out of context and the fact that he is a practicing muslim (which to some people means he’s automatically crazy). He’s actually an educator now in London and is still as chill and as mellow as ever. I think his new reputation is largely the product of some not so subtle religious bigotry. He actually still makes music,…and I heard that he is one of the most sought after artists in terms of the rights to his music for Hollywood movies however he only gives permission for movies with good and uplifting messages. Like Remember the Titans,…..which used the great song “peace train”.

by ismail on Dec 18, 2009 4:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not completely.

Here’s the thing. The joke is that Daryl Morey says the comparison with him should be Dork Cat Stevens, not Dork Elvis. So we have a guy at the top of the game in his field give it all up to follow his conscience and embrace a new religion.

It’s unfortunate that he didn’t call himself the Dork Thomas Merton, as then I could make the same joke about going into a monastery and it probably would have been utterly shrugged off for the obvious sort of joke it is.

Here’s what I’d like to do. I’d like you to write the 2nd paragraph for me, and I’ll put it up, with an attribution to you. Can we agree on these facts?

1. Cat Stevens was a very successful folk singer
2. Cat Stevens converted to Islam.
3. He announced that he wished to be known as Yusuf Islam and not Cat Stevens
4. Essentially contemporaneous with this, he more or less abandoned his previously very successful musical career
5. He did not perform the songs he wrote previously again (the songs that made him popular), or only very rarely.

I also wonder if what you detect as media bias against Islam isn’t actually anti-religious bigotry. If you watch much mainstream media from the US, and even more, the UK, see sometime how most other religions are treated, particularly by anyone claiming to be “edgy”.

by Xiane on Dec 18, 2009 7:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also remember

Everyones favorite all-time basketball player around here is a devout Muslim. This isn’t really the crew to sling nasty bigotry around, as having Hakeem around for so long very likely changed a lot of perceptions.

If Cat Stevens had become Brother Cyril I still would have made the same joke.

by Xiane on Dec 18, 2009 7:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well I was mostly saying you’re wrong in saying he followed an extreme version of Islam. He did no such thing. As far as Cat Stevens abandoning music,..yeah I could see why you would see that as a negative. He did make some great music and we can only wonder how many other great songs he could have composed.

But to anybody with such strong convictions,..Cat Stevens, The Dream, or Daryl Morey should he choose to go that route,…you can only tip your hat to them.

But I get what you’re saying.

by ismail on Dec 18, 2009 8:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's such a loaded issue, I almost didn't write anything.

I used the phrase “less moderate form of Islam” not to say he was a radical Islamist, but so as to not give the idea I was in any way attacking the vast majority of moderate Muslims. I honestly don’t know if converting to a mainstream form of Islam would necessitate giving up the musical career or not, or if that was mainly a personal choice to change his life.

With various Christian sects I have a pretty good read on what their theology will be, and what actions would be consistent with it. I don’t with Islam.

by Xiane on Dec 18, 2009 8:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I liked this interview. For all his stats genius, Morey is a people guy also

Glad to know that he thinks of the players not as pieces or assets, but people. And it will take a lot before we break up the solid group that we have now

by RoxBeliever on Dec 19, 2009 12:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yusuf Islam

Has been consistently performing his old songs for quite some time.
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ArtistsAndEvents/Stories/yusuf-islam-returns-1210/

And he never “converted to a less moderate form of Islam”. He became a practicing Muslim in 1977. An ordinary, peaceful Muslim.

by PurplePeopleEaters on Dec 19, 2009 7:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

"An ordinary, peaceful Muslim."

Yeah, who by the way, stated that according to his interpretation of the Qu’ran, Salman Rushdie “must be killed”.

Becasuse of something he wrote.

In a book.

Peace Train, indeed.

by RugbyJohn on Dec 19, 2009 8:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

“The zeal of a convert” is a common phrase used for the attitude he may have taken earlier in his life. Human beings are complicated creatures that evolve and change attitudes all the time. I’m only 28 years old but even I sometimes look at some of the social and political beliefs I had at 21,..and I just shake my head and laugh. To say that he isn’t peaceful based on 1 comment he made during a transformative period of his life doesn’t make much sense. I think its despicable that he should be excoriated for something he said 25 years ago.

Like I said,..he’s an educator in London and has used his wealth to help kids all over England. That should count for more than an ill conceived comment.

by ismail on Dec 19, 2009 8:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I don't mean to sound offensive in any way...

But your logic/morality is completely wrong.

So…his comment isn’t despicable, but bringing it up, is?

And…just because we are complicated creatures…does that mean we can overlook past follies with a shake of a head and a laugh? Given that his comment is of such vindictive/violent nature (which, fairly or unfairly, perhaps, has been associated with fundamental Islam), one should think that he should at least make a retraction of his statement, given his influence/visibility in this world, if he were indeed an “ordinary, peaceful Muslim”. Or has his views not changed over the past 25 years?

Finally…while I applaud his charity, and all charity, does it excuse him from such a comment? Even if I do agree with your assertion that it “counts more”, what does that have to do with his Rushdie comment at all?!

by Daniel C on Dec 19, 2009 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I never said the comment was not despicable, thats your own reading of my comments. The nature of the comment should not be an obstacle in giving him the benefit of doubt in my opinion. There is a difference between words and actions,..and if our follies consisted of only words and we’ve truly gotten past those wrongheaded opinions,..then nothing more than a shake of the head is necessary. People change,…and in some ways I have more respect for those who have had disgusting political/social views in the past but have since come around. It shows a willingness to think,…and it shows growth. I have to assume that Cat Stevens does not hold those views because he has said so repeatedly. I don’t know if he has outright apologized,..but even if he did,.. would we know? The media is always around for the car crash but never for the recovery,..if you know what I mean.

Human beings unfortunately only remember the low points of some people and I fear Cat Stevens will be one of those people. Malcolm X was one of those people too. Most of his current day critics have NO IDEA that he completely denounced his racist and segregationist views before he died. He was a changed man.

Some how our idea of forgiveness has become so harsh and perverted .

by ismail on Dec 19, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs