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New York Knicks acquire Charlie Widdoes

Dec 19, 2012
by D.J. Foster



J.R. Smith and Rasheed Wallace discuss the team's newest acquisition.

J.R. Smith and Rasheed Wallace discuss the team’s newest acquisition.

Blogging can often be thankless. You get accused of being a Lakers fan masquerading as a Clippers fan for the “all the money we make” (what?), or you get told to pack up and move to Omaha. You put your life on pause, kick sleep to the curb, and ignore family and friends just so you can put up 1,000 words on a defensive rotation you saw in the third quarter of a game in December. We are a sick, sick breed, and perhaps there’s no one sicker than Charlie Widdoes.

I mean that in the best way, of course. I can tell you that Charlie is this weird combination of a calm, level-headed dude and an incredibly passionate guy; maybe a reflection of where he grew up and where he is now. There are so many admirable qualities he brings to the table, but it’s his approach that separates him from the pack. Charlie is obsessed with the process instead of focused on the result; something you don’t really find in sportswriting very often. It’s refreshing. He researches his ass off, he backs up all his claims and opinions with something substantial, and he never mails anything in. As a result, and as you know, Charlie is good every damn time he does this while the rest of us are swinging and missing all over the place.

For about three years now, Charlie has represented the New York chapter here at ClipperBlog, and I guess the Knicks got tired of us stealing one of the smartest voices in the game right from their backyard. It makes me very happy to announce that Charlie will be the new Social Media Coordinator for the Knicks — a huge pull for them, and a huge loss for us.

I’m sure he’ll pop in every now and then, like when Eric Bledsoe goes off for 30 points in 16 minutes, but for the most part, he’ll be diving into everything Knicks and providing the same smart analysis for them that he did for us. Follow him at KnicksNow.com, keep following him on Twitter, and please tell him to remember me when he’s running the Knicks front office in ten years.

I can’t begin to thank Charlie enough — for all the work he did to keep the site thriving, for being a tremendous friend, and for setting an example I can point to and say, “this is how it’s done” to anyone who follows in his footsteps.

You deserve this, Charlie, and I couldn’t be happier that your process led to this result.

D.J. Foster

Latest posts by D.J. Foster (see all)

  • http://twitter.com/12MG12 MG

    Amen! Loved reading Charlie’s stuff and watching him drive the Eric Bledsoe Bandwagon (with DJ as his co-pilot of course). Congrats Charlie. Clipper Nation loves ya!

  • Tim

    Congrats Charlie!! Hey Charlie, on the Pigskin, lets just hope the Steelers can win these last 2 games, and sneak into the playoffs. On round ball,we’ll be back over here winning Championships in Clipper Nation, don’t forget about us! PEACE!

  • Bongstradamus

    I tried to use the Trade Machine to send Willie Green to NY for Charlie Widdoes.

    For some reason it says the salaries dont match….

  • Clips4

    Congrats on the new gig, Charlie! I’m going to miss you on here. Your work was excellent and I know you will do the Knicks and Knicks fans proud! Thanks for your contributions to CBL! I second Bong on sending Willie Green to NYK for Charlie Widdoes!

  • Joelus323

    Congrats Charlie!! Show’em how its done!! and thanks for the good readings! Will be missed here at ClipperNation.

  • Tim

    You guys bag on Green like he’s the 2nd coming of Gomes or something. Get off the guy, you haters!

    • Clips4

      Well, someone has to fill the Gomes rule of being the worst player on the team. Right now, Green is exactly that.

  • Ian

    Charlie, it’s your calling to spread the gospel of Eric Bledsoe! Best of luck!

    • Tim

      Bledsoe is pretty awesome until he unleashes the Marcus Camby-ish set shot. A true-point should elevate, release at the highest point, and get nothing but net. But that Camby set-shot as got to go.

  • Chris

    Congrats Charlie! And BTW, I’m from Omaha, and it’s not thhhhaaatttt bad…

  • Clips4

    D.J., now you have to channel your inner-Charlie Widdoes when talking about Eric Bledsoe because the someone has to do it here now!

  • Tim

    One more Bledsoe rant. You guys talk about starting Bledsoe at the 2? The title is Shooting Guard, and a pre-requisite is actually being able to shoot. That Camby set-shot will not get it done. Send in Bob Thate and talk to me next year when Bledsoe can actually elevate off that shot. Ok, I’m done.

    • Clips4

      Bledsoe is positionally defined as a PG but he is more of a combo guard. He played the 2 at Kentucky off John Wall. He gives the team another guy who can penetrate and draw fouls in the half court to preserve CP. Remember when we had Corey Maggette? He played SG/SF and he can’t shoot at all. His biggest asset was his body being built like a tank and drawing fouls. Most of his points came from the freethrow line.

      • Tim

        Maggette could shoot a little. He at least could elevate, had form, and a proper release on his shot. He was just more effective and imposed his will more, by attacking the basket, and drawing fouls. Jason Kidd is just about the only guard who ever got away with going an entire career without a jumper, he and Ervin Magic Johnson. Bledsoe still has time to add that Jump-shot to complete his game, and although he has some of the entangibles of a J-Kidd, and Magic, I highly doubt he’ll be able to make it a whole career without the long sword, which is a guards jump-shot, a basic tool, a fundamental of the game. Thate might make Bledsoe great some day, but he needs that final piece of the puzzle to get there. The Camby-set will not get it done.

        • Clips4

          I do not know what you were watching, but Maggette had one of the worst releases I had ever seen for a jump shot. I cringed every time he jacked up a three. Dwyane Wade couldn’t shoot his first few years in the league and he will never be mistaken for Jesus Shuttlesworth or Reggie Miller but he is doing just fine.The point is to use Bledsoe for his strengths right now and he will rectify his weaknesses this summer. By not using him, you are basically stunting his growth. If you look at OKC, Durant and Westbrook developed and worked through their mistakes. They did not have the benefit of having seasoned vets like a CP3 or Chauncey Billups or Grant Hill to guide them but they turned into top-10 players. I’m not saying that Bledsoe and DJ will ever be top-10 players but Bledsoe is already a starting caliber PG on most teams. The point is to let them play more minutes and prepare them for the long-haul in the playoffs because they are the future unless Bledsoe is going to get traded then this is the sole reason to not play him more.

          • Tim

            D-Wade could shoot from day 1. He straight-balled out at Maquette, took his team to the Final Four, and did it with the perimeter shot, while dominating both ends of the court. Wade was part of the argument of who should you draft, LeBron, Melo, or D-Wade. Still not sure why Detriot took Darko, and although Bosh turned ok, you have to wonder what would have happened had the Clippers had a higher pick than 6 where they took Kaman.

  • Clips03

    Congrats Charlie! You deserved it! You’ll be missed!!! BLEDSOE!

  • arnold

    i’m happy for mr. widdoes, but sad to see him leave. at least his departure has set off a discussion about clipper legend corey maggette. everything happens for a reason

  • Lawlers_Law

    Is this espn’s version of stealing KA
    from CB to the HeatCheck a few seasons ago?…They know where good analytical
    writing comes from(and it’s why DJ keeps coming back)! LOL!

  • http://www.facebook.com/joey.brooks.777 Joey Brooks

    don’t go charlie!!!!!

  • thodge

    Going to miss your insight. Thanks, Charlie.

  • The Blakers

    congrats Chariie! best of luck

  • charliewiddoes

    As was often the case during the time I had the privilege of writing for this site, I’m having trouble finding the words to express the many thoughts running through my head. All I can come up with is: Thank you.

    A part of me has never felt comfortable writing on the same electronic pages that I used to visit countless times a day to read Kevin Arnovitz and then DJ Foster. Like you all, I have always felt that these two are the best in the business, and I will be forever thankful to both of them for giving me an opportunity and then working with me to make me better. Over time, I began to find my voice, as they say, but it’s still surreal to read what DJ wrote above and what you all have written below.

    I haven’t done anything and I’m not going anywhere, but I can’t take this next step without voicing my appreciation for the boundless support I have found in this comment section. Even when I expressed my doubts about the trade that brought Chris Paul to the Clippers, most of you found it in your hearts to take it easy on me. And even though I’m only one of many, many people who think that Eric Bledsoe is a fantastic young basketball player who probably deserves some more playing time, you all have made me the unofficial president of his fan club, and it’s been an honor carrying that torch.

    It’s heartwarming to know that all the love I poured into what I have written for ClipperBlog has added to the experience of following this team for many of you. While I would have written about the Clippers even if no one were reading — as DJ said, I’m sick like that — it’s been the ongoing dialogue with you all that has made the last three years so special for me. So, thank you to Kevin, DJ, Jordan, Andrew, Breene, Jovan, Fred, Nick and everyone else who has joined in the conversation. I look forward to following along, and jumping back in whenever I can .

  • Chris McD.

    Congratulations Charlie! You deserve it.

  • http://twitter.com/TurboNegro7791 Tyler Hills

    Gonna miss you around these parts Charlie :/ keep up the good work man and best of luck!! You’re forever a part of Clipper Nation!!

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