Ted Williams, homeless man with radio announcer voice, blocked from boarding plane to New York

[The Straight Story]

Ted Williams, homeless man with radio announcer voice, blocked from boarding plane to New York

A Brooklyn panhandler whose "golden radio voice" made him an overnight web sensation was stuck in Ohio Wednesday afternoon - delaying his long-awaited reunion with his mother in New York.

Ted Williams, 53, had expected to fly to New York to do a live interview on the "Today Show" tomorrow morning and see his 92-year-old mom after years apart.

But TMZ reported that airport officials will not let him board a plane because he doesn't have proper identification to make the trip. Instead, he spent the afternoon at a Columbus, Ohio, courthouse trying to obtain a copy of his birth certificate, the site said.

A convicted felon and recovering addict, Williams was living in a homeless encampment in Columbus until two days ago, when a video showcasing his startling talent went viral on the Internet.

The video, produced by the Columbus Dispatch, shows him begging for change on a street in exchange for a soundbyte of his buttery, baritone voice.

The interview has led to a whirlwind of media attention and job offers, including one to do voice-over work for the Cleveland Cavaliers.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/05/2011-01-05_ted_williams_homeless_man_with_radio_announcer_voice_blocked_from_boarding_plane.html#ixzz1AD1SErIe

[handmade34]

1. for those

that have never experienced homelessness... they cannot imagine the roadblocks put up.

I am not surprised that Ted Williams was impositioned and shame on us for collectively allowing people to suffer the way they do...

[Donnachaidh]

3. amen. n/t

[Donnachaidh]

2. oh fer Christ's sake!

The Today show should have rented a frigging jet to get him there -- they'd do that for Sarah Palin and other NON-celebrities. Is he still slated for the morning show?

[Zanzobar]

4. It's not just homelessness

The guy has larger problems.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/meet-felon-golden-voice

[tishaLA]

5. none of that looks like a larger problem than his homelessness

but maybe that's because I've been homeless and I know what a big problem it is to get out.

[Zanzobar]

11. It is for getting on a plane

A felon with no ID will have a hard time, homeless or not.

[rug]

17. A felon with an id will not. It's the id not the rap sheet.

[virgogal]

7. And this guy is going to be honored and has been offered a

job.

Unbelievable.

[hlthe2b]

9. So only second chances to the Michael Vicks of the world?

Damn it all. The hypocrisy knows no end. :eyes:

[virgogal]

10. Vick didn't deserve one either.

[hlthe2b]

14. This guy (unlike Vick) has committed no violent crime

and has done his time. Why do you believe he should be "thrown away" with no chances for help/redemption?


What exactly SHOULD happen to those who have made mistakes, served sentences and been released after non-violent crimes?

[udbcrzy2]

20. Robbery is a violent crime

stick em' up, give me all your money. Just sayin...

[Uzybone]

22. but he is such a nice guy

maybe he asked nicely with his radio voice.

[hlthe2b]

24. So you want to " throw him away" as well?

[Uzybone]

27. Not at all, I hope he has a full turn around

A lives a long and happy life. But lets not act like robbery is a victimless crime.

[hlthe2b]

28. I never said victimless. But nowhere does it say "ARMED"

Don't conflate.

[hlthe2b]

23. Where does it say armed robbery?

[udbcrzy2]

29. I hope he does get on his feet

It didn't say 'armed', but I did not see the official report. It just said 'Robbery'.
To mean that means he robbed someone. Don't know the details of the incident, but for
some reason the person he robbed gave them whatever it was he asked them for.

[malaise]

31. Just saying what exactly?

Bush and Cheney committed way more crimes.

[udbcrzy2]

32. ummm Saying that robbery is considered violent crime n/t

[udbcrzy2]

33. Bush and Cheney are war criminals -nothing to do with this though

[DainBramaged]

45. Hear hear

They KILLED thousands of our Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives with their reckless behaviour and these same folks condemning this man remain silent.


Shame on us.

[DainBramaged]

43. And we wonder why we're called elitists, shame on us

It isn't the hypocrisy, it's the cruelty.

[rug]

18. You prefer disgrace and sleeping in the street?

[REP]

30. VO jobs are very hard to get, too

Maybe I should commit some felonies and maybe my smokin' hot mezzo would get some offers.

[rug]

40. You wouldn't be able to do the time.

[hlthe2b]

8. He admitted a felony record and drug/alcohol abuse...

Living on skid row is not going to have you surrounded by a troupe of "Mother Theresas" or Santa Clauses. Do you think that precludes him from a second chance or help?

[Zanzobar]

13. No. I hope he does well.

I was responding to the proposition that his homelessness prevented him from getting on the plane. It wasn't his homelessness.

[Hannah Bell]

44. no, it was his lack of identification. which is likely due to his homelessness.

felons can get id cards. but it costs money & requires an address.

[Uzybone]

19. it was only a matter of time

How long before the M$M turns on him and his story?

[Zanzobar]

21. I would expect parabolic symmetry

[hlthe2b]

25. Seems as though in your earlier post.. that you already have...

:shrug: Perhaps "compassionate progressives" is becoming as much a misnomer as "compassionate conservatives." (unless of course, it is a rich NFL player)

[Occulus]

42. Here's a hint...

the punishists are not progressives...

[bullwinkle428]

36. The "businessman" quoted multiple times in the article was busted as a liar.

He claimed that he witnessed a number of his thefts, called the cops on him, and saw him being cuffed and placed in a squad car. "However, the Columbus Division of Police had no record of Williams being collared in December."

[butterfly77]

37. So...

he needs a job should he never be rehabilitated..Look,at all of the crooks in the government,and every institution in America.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. He couldn't have even rented a car: no license and no ID.

[Saboburns]

12. I'll go pick him up and drive him

I mean that, seriously. I live three hours from Colombus and will give him a ride.

[hlthe2b]

15. I hope someone helps him...

As well as the countless millions of others like him-- I refuse to believe they are all expendable.

[Raine]

16. Geeesh couldn't the Today Show get him a ride on their corporate jet

or something, they could even afford to send a limo for him! :wtf:

[TBF]

26. I'm happy he has job offers - good for him. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. hope he gets to see his mom

[HEyHEY]

35. That's nothing compared to how much homeless people can lose for lack of ID

In Canada they can't vote after a couple years ago when the government passed a law saying you need photo ID to vote. The FIRST thing a homeless person loses is ID.

[handmade34]

39. it is absolutely devastating

the loss of identification and the hoops one must jump through once they become homeless...

unless a person has been there- they cannot comprehend the struggle :(

[FLPanhandle]

38. Homeless or now famous...he needs to follow the same rules as the rest of us.

If I have to show an ID, so should he or any other famous person or homeless person. Rich or poor the rules should be the same.

[canetoad]

41. That's what I really admire

Rigid, inflexible thinking. Good luck to you.