Homeless Man with Pipes....Ted Williams...

( ITN version of original tape has his story....how he ended up on the Streets. The Reason this story is so profound is that usually we drive past Homeless people it is So Rare to HEAR their Stories....Ted in an odd way has Given Voice To Homelessness....So Next Time you drive by, remember ALL Homeless People have a Story....) Doral Chenowith from the Columbus Dispatch is who "found" Ted and has been covering all of the story and the situation, please do read the full page that Columbus Dispatch has now dedicated to following Ted's 2nd Chance....
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" If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down. "~Mary Pickford
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(NOTE*** The Original video has now been pulled.,but this Jan 6th CBS story has part of the original video and also has full 5 minute interview with Ted Williams and his newfound internet fame....)
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So this story has been all over the internet for the past few days and since it is a real Heartening Feel Good Story from Ohio I have to share it. For anyone who believes in 2nd Chances and the Opportunity for anyone to start over....please do read this and share. The man in the story is named Ted Williams for many years he was a Radio Personality, right here in Cleveland, but then his life declined and he lost it all and ended up with a Substance Abuse problem and a scattered lengthy criminal record. For years he has been homeless and living on the streets and he claims to now be clean for over 2 years, and just wants a 2nd Chance. (His life hit the skids in the 90s, and he has been homeless off and on since 1993). A reporter shot an interview with him and the rest is history, because once people saw and heard him, he was more than memorable....Below are the Updates on the Situation and as of late Wednesday Night he was trying to get home to NYC to see his mom and be on NBC Morning program. He is also seriously considering a Job as an announcer with the Cleveland Cavaliers ( and they also offered him housing).

Here is more from the Original Story ( that was run on local news stations and on Countdown ) The Columbus Dispatch posted a YouTube video that quickly got millions of hits....

And the CBS Evening news had more on him and his situation tonight, explaining how the Offers have been pouring in the past few days....

And here is an update from Yahoo Music News and shows new video of him with clean clothes and a haircut...talking about all the offers and his gratitude, literally showing how his life is turning around.

Update as of Late Wednesday Night....1.5.11
As of late Wed. Night the Cavs offer still stands even though they have learned fully of his Drug and Substance Abuse History and his Criminal Record.

""Williams was contacted Wednesday by the Cavaliers, who have offered him a position that could include announcing work at Quicken Loans Arena, the team's downtown facility. Williams said the team has offered him a two-year contract and said they would pay his living expenses."I can't believe what's going on," said Williams, a father of nine, adding he feels like Susan Boyle, the Scottish singing sensation who became an overnight star. "God gave me a million-dollar voice, and I just hope I can do right by him."

It's been a whirlwind for the golden-voiced man, who was recently living in a tent and whose past includes a lengthy list of arrests. He has served time in prison for theft and forgery and has been cited with numerous misdemeanors, including drug abuse.Williams was most recently arrested on May 14. He pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor theft charge. In court records, his address is listed as "Streets of Columbus."

Upon learning of Williams' criminal history, the Cavaliers said their offer still stands.
"We believe in second chances and second opportunities," said Tracy Marek, the team's senior vice president of marketing. "The gentleman deserves an opportunity to explain certain situations. We're not jumping to conclusions. It's not fair."Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper said exact details of the team's offer and their plans to help Williams with housing were still being worked out."

Stay Tuned for Updates....I will update when I find more...very curious and oddly hopeful for this man...
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(Photo of Ted Williams seeing his mom, who is 90 and had been praying for him all of these years. She is from Brooklyn and had not seen him in over 10 years. He went to NYC today for the AM shows, and also to see her. Photo by Doral Chenowith , note this photographer is the one that found Ted and originally filmed him and is still filming his journey....)
Thursday Updates:
So today Ted Williams did make it to NYC he was on both the NBC Today show and he also did make it on the CBS show as well. Kraft has hired him to do Voice Over work for the Fight Hunger Bowl this weekend and on CBS he did get to see his Mom finally in a conference room. Here is more from the Columbus Dispatch that has been traveling with him.

Today Ted Williams Introduced the Today Show, look how good he looks and so happy Working doing what he does best....
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Thursday Jan 6th Updates.
(1) For us Ohio folks we are waiting to see if he takes the Cavs job, still no word as of Thursday Eve, but this article does outline what he would/could have as a job for the Cavs and that the offer still is open, and he must be weighing alot of offers....
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Friday Jan 7th Update:
Here is the Kraft video/ad that he worked on this week, and they have offered him VoiceOver work on 4 commercials. The one Kraft Commercial will air during the Hunger Bowl this weekend.
And here is Ted on Jimmy Fallon last night talking about his Kraft Commercial and his whole situation,

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If you want to send Ted Williams a message of Hope and Best Wishes as he starts his new life I have been telling people to forward them to Doral Chenoworth the Columbus Dispatch Photographer. C/O Columbus Dispatch. 34 South Street,Columbus OH. 43215