Posted on 01/11/2011 8:51:18 PM PST by LesDowrey
The Man with the Golden Hand Out By Les Dowrey
By now you know the story of the “man with the golden voice.” After an online video was posted of Ted Williams showing off his velvety-smooth dulcet tones, the media and the public worked themselves into a flurry of emotion over a faux rags-to-riches story. Despite the fact that Ted Williams hasn’t had a job in almost two decades, the job offers have come pouring in from the Cleveland Cavaliers to MSNBC. Before you start getting that warm feeling in your stomach and thinking that this is the stuff Hallmark movies are made of, ask yourself this question, how many other qualified voice-over artists could have taken these positions? And how many of those people actually dedicated the past twenty years to hard work and dedication as opposed to drug use, petty theft, and public urination?
As uncouth as it may sound, that’s the real story of Ted Williams. After a brief stint in the military and some time attending a school for voice acting, Williams started working for a Columbus, Ohio radio station. With his natural-born gifts it appeared that he was on the start of a promising broadcasting career. That was until 1993 when “the man with the golden voice” threw it all away to begin experimenting with crack cocaine. According to the Smoking Gun it was during this time that he starting racking up a pretty lengthy wrap-sheet for theft, robbery, forgery, and drug possession among other crimes. Not to mention, that he is the father of nine children whom he has neglected in exchange for a life on the streets. After all that, he is being rewarded with a promising voice-over career while others who have worked much harder are overlooked for a drug-addled bum who happened to be at the right place at the right time?
It’s not that I begrudge anyone a second chance, but there’s a huge difference between looking for redemption and being given a hand out. Worst of all, this is just the latest symptom in an epidemic that is sweeping the country-people who become famous just for being famous. Think Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, or the chief offenders, the cast of the Jersey Shore. The United States used to be a country of proud hard-working people who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, but now Americans want all the success with none of the, dare I say it- work. What has happened to the American Dream? What has become of the world where Horatio Alger made us believe that through hard work and dedication you can achieve anything. No longer is that the American way, the new American Dream is: have fun, shun responsibility, and if people like you, you can get whatever you want…spoon-fed to you on a sliver platter.
A recent news report showed that teenage girls would rather try and get pregnant so they can end up on an MTV reality show than try and get a scholarship and apply themselves in school. If that’s the lesson kids get from “16 and Pregnant” can you imagine the lesson they get from “the homeless man with the golden voice?” Quit your job, do drugs, keep your hand out and eventually you’ll end up announcing the Today Show.
Worst of all, as the media always does, there will not be a follow-up story. Everyone knows how this story ends because everyone knows that a tiger doesn’t change its stripes, and a hobo doesn’t leave the streets. When the inevitable happens, when this golden-voiced homeless man returns to his drug habit, when he loses his dream job and throws away his second chance, there will be no one around to tell that story. Saddest of all, Ted Williams won’t even make it through his full fifteen minutes. But that’s ok, you can bet the next flash in the pan, feel good, You-tube moment is only a click away.
And you joined today to post this crap.
IBTZ
He’s a friggin’ con man. And from one description, his girl sounds like a hooker which might make him her ......
Welcome to Free Republic. Congrats on a very well written post. Try to ignore some of the initiation posts people might want to put you through just because you are new here.
We’re a friendly bunch once you get to know us.
It’s not that I don’t believe people deserve a chance to purge their demons...it’s that I believe that truly changing and purging your demons involves more than a stroke of luck. You have to work to change...you have to want to change. This guy didn’t work for anything. However, lots of other hard-working people without drug habits and 9 kids got overlooked for jobs so this guy could get them. My concern isn’t about him...it’s about them. Plus, you watch he’ll be back on the drugs sooner than later.
The Elder Brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son probably sounded a lot like you.
(But the cynic in me agrees: there’s a good chance Mr Williams will screw up again)
What about hard work? I don’t understand what happened to our value system! Hard work, not being a bum, not becoming a drug addict and bailing on your family. Continue to ride the feel-good hippie dippie Ted Williams love train, but as a believer in virtues and values I will always stand up for the hard-working people of this country who strive to get to the place in their career that this guy has been handed.
Did you see the program after Rush’s Haney Project show on the golf channel with the homeless golfer?
Does seem to be a trend in the formula of fame lately
You have some good points.I know lots of people in this field out of work.But you have to admit everyone loves a feel good story.People tune in and ratings go up.
As the undertaker says “remains to be seen”. Meanwhile, I’m happy to give him the benefit of doubt, and hope he is successful.
Why prejudge?
Let a little sunshine into your life and believe that people can change.
The only downside will be that if he goes back on drugs, you'll lose that wonderful "I told you so!" moment.
But really that moment is dreary too.
I think they already called the cops on him and his daughter for a loud fight.
Believe in fairy tales! This is one of them. Sure, what about the rest of us, struggling, unemployed, without the notoriety that Ted earned by some miracle (the reporter sat on the video for 5 weeks), what about us?
From what I have seen, with all his problems and criminal records, Ted Williams is a better man than I am, than most people I know. Maybe I’m wrong, but I wish him all the best. He deserves his chance, maybe I’ll get mine someday.
Your first post is to drag down Ted wile promoting your blog.
Thanks for the kind words...I am new to Free Republic, but I was hoping to find a place with like-minded conservatives who really believe in virtues and values like I do. I am excited to be a part of Free Republic and hope to contribute more in the future!
Twenty years ago I was a homeless alcoholic. Bankrupt in every aspect of my life. Today I'm a sober, employed, married, mortgage paying member of society.
You used to dance with "Up With People!", didn't you?
Seriously, people can redeem themselves. Check out Father Corapi's website and biography sometime.
Christ changes people and he does have talent. Perhaps he is real and has been saved? I agree w/much of what you say but he got his chance and see if he can make it. Perhaps he can do God’s work?
Pray for America
There is an Oprah-fication of our society which is damaging to people- this is part of it. He does have a tremendous voice. He gives me the creeps though. While I am a recovering drunk and pothead, crack is a special thing... I hope he makes it. It is unfair too that he gets jobs because he is/was a pitiful black man- that’s a lot of what it’s about. I sincerely doubt if he were white he would have received the same attention. Sort of like how black “outsider” artists get a special treatment since they are so “authentic” or something.
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