Thorp and Sailor's Grave Board

Amazing - check this out: Ted Williams, homeless man with a golden radio voice

Brit - 1-4-2011 at 04:30 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk&feature=player_em...

I really hope this guy gets a job...

JawnDiablo - 1-4-2011 at 04:36 PM

wow dude really does have a radio voice

Johnny_Whistle - 1-4-2011 at 04:54 PM

Holy crap, he's got some pipes. I could have sworn it was a put on at first, but if it is, it's very well done. Too bad radio is almost dead.

BDx13 - 1-4-2011 at 05:27 PM

damn, that threw me off! i mean, i saw the title of the video, and i was still surprised when it happened! ha!

i really liked that they did an interview, too. good to hear he's clean - hopefully something comes of this. anyone know if there's a facebook page yet?

BDx13 - 1-4-2011 at 09:56 PM

brit, i edited your original post a bit for clarification.
thank you so much for posting this.
seriously.

look at that man's face starting at 1:14.
you can't not feel his pain, his frustration, his anguish.

ted williams, i truly hope this little bit of internet stardom leads to something that will help you get back on your feet.


good to see the story getting picked up at larger outlets:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/homeless-man-golden-radi...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/04/national/main72129...
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/94193

Brit - 1-4-2011 at 10:43 PM

Thanks for fixing the post :)

It will honestly make my week if something good happens to this man so he's able to get back on his feet. I only wish I lived near him to help him out personally, but since I can't I've just been posting it everywhere and telling people to repost, hoping it gets passed along. Looks like it's working - when I originally watched it, it only had 300 views. Now it's 130,000+
At least the internet is good for something, and there are some decent people using it.

Brit - 1-4-2011 at 10:45 PM

Oh my god, this report says they can't find him: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/homeless-man-golden-radi...

I really hope they do... I hope he's okay :(

spyderdog - 1-4-2011 at 10:52 PM

this is awesome!

BKT - 1-5-2011 at 12:22 AM

I posted this on Action Recon as well and its been getting crazy traffic today. I read an update on him that a radio show in OH is going to have him on as a guest and who knows perhaps something good will come of that.

Great story, great post I wish him all the best.

BKT.

spyderdog - 1-5-2011 at 12:53 AM

its on the front page of yahoo right now

REV.PAULIE - 1-5-2011 at 05:40 AM

Anyone else think he kinda looks like the late,great General Johnson from the Sowmen/Chairmen Of The Board?

Does anyone else know who General Johnson is?

Oh,me...

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 08:26 AM

didn't general johnson just pass?

Ted Williams on WNCI 97.9 Radio this morning

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 08:26 AM










Dave - 1-5-2011 at 08:47 AM

AWESOME! i'm late for work because i've been listening to the radio post BD!

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 10:17 AM

OK, so those first three posted above are just kinda intro pieces.
some dude is posting the show piece by piece here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bunomous

I'll post the best clips as I hear 'em.

JawnDiablo - 1-5-2011 at 10:24 AM


I showed this to my girl last night and she was beside herself.
Sadly because I think it makes her think of her dad who let his life slip up almost this bad over the years from alcoholism. He was the founding member of a fairly famous local band in the 70s and owned his own business and everything just went to hell for the family.

I hope things come together for the guy

Ted tells his back story

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 10:28 AM

Ted's first offers

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 10:32 AM







XnMeX - 1-5-2011 at 10:40 AM

They are flying him out to the Today Show tomorrow and mentioned trying to get him some work.

Brit - 1-5-2011 at 10:54 AM

I'm all teary-eyed, this is amazing. I'm so happy. From 300 views to 130,000 to The Today Show?! Unbelievable!!!!!!!

I had a conversation the other day with Mark about how I don't understand why people put so much negative energy into the world via the internet. You know, hiding behind a computer screen on their critical soapboxes being rude and cruel for the sake of it. I don't understand that mentality. And I said that if people put that kind of energy into something GOOD, things would be better.

This is the perfect example. This shit needs to happen more often.

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 11:06 AM

same. i'm a HUGE sap for stories like this.

More offers - Cleveland Cavs, talent agent

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 11:10 AM




lifeisabitch - 1-5-2011 at 11:14 AM

The man has serious talent and I hope he stays clean and is able to turn his life around

XnMeX - 1-5-2011 at 11:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BD
same. i'm a HUGE sap for stories like this.


That is why I also like Reddit.com (the other place online where I waste my time).

Check out this list of things they have done for strangers and try not crying...

http://voltier.com/2010/11/12/reddits-astonishin-altruism/

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 11:23 AM

in this clip they get into something i've been wondering about... how does someone with a history of addiction deal with being so suddenly thrust into the spotlight and the pressure of all these newfound responsibilities?

"God knows, nothing would be better right now than some Seagram's 7." Amen, brother Ted!

The people from this station have said that they're going to help him go through all the offers and put together a plan on how best to deal with everything. Nice to hear that they're not just bringing him in, getting the ratings, then being done with him. Same with this friend of his he's referred to, Alfred Battle. I hope he's a true friend and doesn't try to take advantage of him.




BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 11:47 AM

You can hear him stressin' out in this clip. I hope he surrounds himself with the right people and takes everything one step at a time. Imagine having spent the previous 10+ years of your life without a home, in and out of your children's lives, battling addiction, and then within 24 hours you're THE talk of the country and have dozens of offers to fly you all over the world for interviews and job offers. This dude was panhandling YESTERDAY MORNING.



JawnDiablo - 1-5-2011 at 11:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BD
same. i'm a HUGE sap for stories like this.

JawnDiablo - 1-5-2011 at 11:56 AM

amazing

BDx13 - 1-5-2011 at 12:05 PM

Johnny_Whistle - 1-5-2011 at 12:39 PM

I have to be honest. When I first saw this story, I was VERY skeptical about this. I've seen radio stations do similar things (mysterious billboards around town for some dude looking for work, etc.) to stir up publicity over some new morning man they just hired or whatever, so I wouldn't have put it past some sleazebag promo director (is there any other kind?) to try and make some cynical use of the bad economy and the homelessness issue for ratings.

But this guy really does seem legit. I haven't listened to all the clips, but after that woman called in about her friend freezing to death...if it is a hoax, and they didn't kill it right then and there, that's a special kind of evil. I hope the dude finds work and does well. He's already gone farther in radio than I ever did.

XnMeX - 1-5-2011 at 01:11 PM

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/homeless_man_with_gold...

"The homeless man with the "golden radio voice" wanted a second chance -- and did he ever get it.

As soon as Ted Williams, a panhandler who became an online hit after video of him begging on an Ohio roadside was posted to the Internet, appeared on a local radio show this morning the offers began pouring in -- including a dream job with the Cleveland Cavaliers and a free house."

Brit - 1-5-2011 at 01:57 PM

So the original YouTube video has been updating people, and this is the final one:

"UPDATE-FINAL: Well everyone. You can give yourselves and Ted a high-five. He's being given offers hand-over-fist over the air. He'll be set for life.

My request to all. Whenever you run across a story such as this, don't assume it'll take a life of its own, on its own. It won't. It can't. There are too many other stories that drown out the one before it.

You need to spend time to get that story and its word out to many. If you care, you'll do it.

Keep the faith, pay forward and always lend a hand; even if you're the one who needs it.

God bless Mr. Williams. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of him for sometime to come"

BKT - 1-5-2011 at 04:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Brit
I'm all teary-eyed, this is amazing. I'm so happy. From 300 views to 130,000 to The Today Show?! Unbelievable!!!!!!!

I had a conversation the other day with Mark about how I don't understand why people put so much negative energy into the world via the internet. You know, hiding behind a computer screen on their critical soapboxes being rude and cruel for the sake of it. I don't understand that mentality. And I said that if people put that kind of energy into something GOOD, things would be better.

This is the perfect example. This shit needs to happen more often.


Brit you hit the nail on the head. What you said is true and even I myself have been guilty of the above statement. I am glad you brought this to my attention and I have given it a lot of time on my Action Recon site.

http://www.actionrecon.com/2011/01/radio-man-ted-williams-is...

Thanks again, and here's to Ted and his new life.

BKT.

BDx13 - 1-6-2011 at 11:20 AM

Somewhat running updates are available here: http://dispatch.com/goldenvoice

Ted is supposed to be on Fallon tonight.

Here he is on The Today Show this morning:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40943737#40943737

I love how honest he is about his difficulties, talking specifically about drinking a fifth a day, snorting cocaine, smocking crack, doing time, the crimes he committed in order to support his habit. He's definitely not glossing over what it can mean to be an addict.


random - 1-6-2011 at 09:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Brit


I had a conversation the other day with Mark about how I don't understand why people put so much negative energy into the world via the internet. You know, hiding behind a computer screen on their critical soapboxes being rude and cruel for the sake of it. I don't understand that mentality. And I said that if people put that kind of energy into something GOOD, things would be better.

This is the perfect example. This shit needs to happen more often.


I was thinking about something similar the other day, and the main thing I could tell myself is that people still have the mindset of "it's just the internet, and it's not real life, so I can say/do whatever the fuck I want without consequences." That made sense a decade ago, but not now.

The Reddit thing is awesome, too. I read it the other day. Reed83's friend is on that, I think it was like #6. The guy with the kid who had some problems and started up the program to introduce kids to healthy food, who won, I think, a $25,000 grant from Pepsi.

BDx13 - 1-7-2011 at 07:20 AM

good to hear on that today clip that they've gotten him a psychologist to talk with.

apparently, he knocked out a commercial for kraft mac& cheese yesterday, too.

i wonder how much he's getting for these appearances.

here's an interview with ted's ex-wife:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/07/2011-01-...

and him reuniting with his mom yesterday:



and introducing the jimmy fallon show last night:

BKT - 1-7-2011 at 01:06 PM

The media is going to chew this guy up and spit him out. That is the saddest part about this story.

BKT.

BDx13 - 1-7-2011 at 01:50 PM

i'm sure he'll largely be out of the limelight (news, blogs, appearances) by next week or the week after.

but he does have a marketable talent and that's the huge difference between him and most internet stars. like that bed intruder dude. yeah, i'm glad antoine rode his fame for every cent it was worth and i was certainly empathetic given how he came to his fame, but what's he gonna do when it all fizzles out? at best, he'll invest in something that will help him improve his situation down the road - a new house, education, whatever. or worst case, he's already blown that cash on getting his hair done.

if ted's getting paid for all the appearances he's doing now, and he takes that job with the cavs, maybe gets an agent for contract work on the side, he could be well set. if he plays this smart and can stay on the wagon i'm sure he'll do just fine.

BDx13 - 1-13-2011 at 01:29 AM

come on ted, get it together!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110112/wr_nm/us_homeless_voice

BKT - 1-13-2011 at 01:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BD
come on ted, get it together!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110112/wr_nm/us_homeless_voice


Told Ya.

This poor guy. A wack load of media attention and all the money in the world will not cure a life time of drug and alcohol abuse. He needs to take that more seriously then every offer he gets combined. That is the only way he has any hope in hell of making his way back to a good normal life. And I am for one am rooting for this dude 100%.

BKT.

MikeFromInhuman - 1-14-2011 at 06:55 PM

He needs a REAL rehab, like 100% serious.
Hope he makes it.