An uplifting story to start 2011.

Hazys · 05-01-2011 06:04PM #1

A reporter from Ohio randomly bumps into a homeless person with an extraordinary talent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk

In 2 days the video has over 4 million hits and Ted Williams has been offered many jobs and also he's been given a flight back to NY to visit his mother he hasnt seen in years.

The reporter who found him and uploaded the video to youtube has been updating his progress in the two days in the youtube description:

Throwing this video from the Columbus Dispatch out there, hoping we can find this talent a place to call home.

UPDATE-1: Many thanks go out to all of you who have been tossing phone numbers and e-mails my way for Ted's sake. I went up to Hudson/I-71 (Columbus) today, but Ted wasn't there. He is going to be on air tomorrow morning on radio station WNCI. I've left my contact info w/WNCI to call/e-mail me on a way to get your enormous opportunities over to him.

I'm going to give him a Trac phone (w/ample minutes) so that he can return calls to all of you.

Hopefully, in some way I'll get in contact w/him. Peace.

UPDATE-2: To all those who have been writing me (as one of Ted's only means of contact), I have learned that the radio station interviewing him tomorrow (1-5-11) a.m. is going to make him a formal offer. Whether true or not, we'll see.

Hope it works out well for him. That was the whole point of me posting this video. I cannot thank enough everyone who was willing to do their part in offering Ted their helping hand.

Whoever lands him is certainly getting much more than a memorable personality; they're getting a great human being as part of their team.

My best to all.

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.

His interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdOD7HwQoPo

DMG_49 · 05-01-2011 06:07PM

There is another thread about this. Such a cool voice

af_thefragile · 05-01-2011 06:11PM

It could have been the best story of the decade if only this happened a week earlier!!

AntiMatter · 05-01-2011 06:11PM

He scrubs up well.

Yakult · 05-01-2011 06:15PM

Great story

alexlyons · 05-01-2011 06:16PM

af_thefragile wrote: »

It could have been the best story of the decade if only this happened a week earlier!!

isn't the decade from 1/1/00 to 31/12/09? that'd be ten years if my maths is correct

af_thefragile · 05-01-2011 06:17PM

alexlyons wrote: »

isn't the decade from 1/1/00 to 31/12/09? that'd be ten years if my maths is correct

Hmm... guess you're right!!

Well, so then this is the best story of the decade so far!!

Hazys · 05-01-2011 06:21PM

Its also nice to see how human homeless people are, they are not all angry druggies and alcoholics and if you give them a euro it can go towards food and not booze, but then again it is very hard to tell.

af_thefragile · 05-01-2011 06:22PM

Hazys wrote: »

Its also nice to see how human homeless people are, they are not all angry druggies and alcoholics and if you give them a euro it can go towards food and not booze, but then again it is very hard to tell.

Which is why I always say don't judge people. Its not your job!
Just do the right thing.

Vinta81 · 05-01-2011 06:25PM

Thanks for posting. Bless him

Love stories like this!

annieire · 05-01-2011 06:27PM

Wow, i wasn't expecting that at all! I suppose its like the Susan boyle story...sometimes i/we are too quick to judge people.

Dan Dare · 05-01-2011 06:28PM

A fantastic story-hope it works out for him.

Hazys · 05-01-2011 06:28PM

I watched this "documentary" with Russell Brand recently, although the premise for the show is for Russell to take the piss out of the homeless lad, but it becomes a very good insight into the life and mentality of the the homeless.

The homeless lad James, has been on the street for years after alcohol ruined his life. He has been clean for years but you can see how low his confidence and self-esteem is that he may never be able to get off the streets, even if he was forced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obsLjK4s4IA

ScumLord · 05-01-2011 06:37PM

He's a chancer is what he is, he was back out on the street today with a new sign.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Turk/Photoshops/voiceguy.jpg

af_thefragile · 05-01-2011 06:38PM

ScumLord wrote: »

He's a chancer is what he is, he was back out on the street today with a new sign.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Turk/Photoshops/voiceguy.jpg

That's not very cool...

Even for AH standards...

Give the man some respect!!

figarofigaro · 05-01-2011 06:45PM

Fair play to him. I like to see good things happening for good people. He made this happen for himself. He knew the power of viral videos. I hope he really gets his pride back and finds his own place in the world.

allanb49 · 05-01-2011 06:48PM

The amount of support that has come in and only after 2/3 days online.

ScumLord · 05-01-2011 06:48PM

af_thefragile wrote: »

That's not very cool...

Even for AH standards...

Give the man some respect!!

Your sensitive for someone who doesn't know the man. It's not like I called him a vagina inspector or anything. :rolleyes:

05-01-2011 06:50PM

It's a great story and all and he does have an amazing, but surely any employer would be taking a massive risk by taking him on, especially one in the public like a radio station? From what I had read, he was in broadcasting before but lost his job because of drugs and drink. What's to say that he won't relapse back into drug abuse?

TheZohanS · 05-01-2011 06:54PM

Hazys wrote: »

I watched this "documentary" with Russell Brand recently, although the premise for the show is for Russell to take the piss out of the homeless lad, but it becomes a very good insight into the life and mentality of the the homeless.

The homeless lad James, has been on the street for years after alcohol ruined his life. He has been clean for years but you can see how low his confidence and self-esteem is that he may never be able to get off the streets, even if he was forced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obsLjK4s4IA

Watched that clip in its entirety, the homeless dude gets "£50 on a bad day"....that's £350 a week, £1,400 each month. I think the dole over in England is less than £100 each week. The homeless dude isn't doing too bad at all...it would make you wonder what the hell he's spending his dosh on.

the keen edge · 05-01-2011 07:03PM

Great to see this guy getting so much well wishes and compliments on his talent, and the fortunate stroke of luck he received.

There must be thousands of homeless people in the US and indeed millions the world over, but this guy is obviously not like them other loser's.

This guy has a talent that we can appreciate in our homes via the internet.

But the rest of them; loser's.

ascanbe · 05-01-2011 07:23PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Your sensitive for someone who doesn't know the man. It's not like I called him a vagina inspector or anything. :rolleyes:

You clearly implied that this man, a man just recently the focal point of the feel-good story of the century, is now abusing his position and posing as a licensed vagina inspector.
The spreading of this scurrilous rumour is clearly the beginning of your dastardly campaign to bring him down.

ScumLord · 05-01-2011 07:26PM

ascanbe wrote: »

You clearly implied that this man, a man just recently the focal point of the feel-good story of the century, is now abusing his position and posing as a licensed vagina inspector.
The spreading of this scurrilous rumour is clearly the beginning of your dastardly campaign to bring him down.

I gave him a plate of corn muffins back in 1947 to paint my chicken coop, and he never did it!

Hazys · 05-01-2011 07:30PM

TheZohan wrote: »

Watched that clip in its entirety, the homeless dude gets "£50 on a bad day"....that's £350 a week, £1,400 each month. I think the dole over in England is less than £100 each week. The homeless dude isn't doing too bad at all...it would make you wonder what the hell he's spending his dosh on.

Actually the ironic thing about that "documentary", is that Homeless James is clean but this is a time when Brand was on heavy drugs like heroin.

Comparing how Russell Brand looks in those videos in the Re: Brand series to now, its a whole world of difference. The effects of hard drugs is scary.

the keen edge · 05-01-2011 07:32PM

ascanbe wrote: »

You clearly implied that this man, a man just recently the focal point of the feel-good story of the century, is now abusing his position and posing as a licensed vagina inspector.
The spreading of this scurrilous rumour is clearly the beginning of your dastardly campaign to bring him down.

Hold on now, he never said/implied he was an Licensed Vagina Inspector.

The US, while not able to look after its most vulnerable citizens has water tight law regarding Licensing and accreditation.

So much so even someone who goes by the name ScumLord knows not to imply Licensed vaginal inspection where it doesn't exist.

ascanbe · 05-01-2011 07:51PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I gave him a plate of corn muffins back in 1947 to paint my chicken coop, and he never did it!

Fair enough, so.

Superbus · 05-01-2011 08:40PM

So apparently he now has a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team, who have also bought him a house.

Awesome

ascanbe · 05-01-2011 08:47PM

Superbus wrote: »

So apparently he now has a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team, who have also bought him a house.

Awesome

Hope they didn't bring him in to try and replace Lebron James.

An uplifting story to start 2011.

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