Is Ted Williams the Ex-Addict with a Gift of Voice a Hero?

Ted Williams appeared on, Dr. Phil's television show on January 11, 2011, the first part of a two day interview. Ted Williams faced bare tough questions about his past life on the streets from Dr. Phil. Ted Williams is an African-American man who was in the midst of drug and alcohol addiction and also homelessness after leaving a remarkable job as a New York City radio DJ. He does have a remarkable gift of voice, but more importantly he left his wife and children to fend for themselves while he lived on the streets for 23 years, lately living in Ohio. Dr. Phil is a television psychologist with a show running on CBS.

Ted Williams was noticed by a news reporter from, Columbus Dispatch, on the streets of Ohio. He searched for him and taped a video of Ted's voice which rapidly went, "You Tube," viral when put up, and started a whirlwind of fantastic voice announcer offers. Ted was seen holding a sign declaring his remarkable gift of voice as he begged for money, offering people sample tidbits of his voice. He was brought to New York and the flood of offers began. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and the Cleveland Cavaliers offered him job positions as a voice spokesman for commercials and a sports announcer, among others still flooding in. The story of Ted Williams, a reported recovering addict has blown up in the public with media outlets literally fighting to get a piece of him. It seems like a miracle, a gift, a God given gift as Ted Williams stated, with all the years of drug usage not damaging his gift of voice. Ted reports his faith in God saved him and helps him maintain sobriety, reportedly over the past two years.

Ted Williams said he used his gifted voice to also deter people so he could steal money or items, and served time for petty robbery. Dr. Phil asked Ted pertinent questions about his life on the street, asked if he was truly sober and clean, and also questioned him about his feelings on leaving his wife and children. Dr. Phil also asked Ted Williams how he plans to maintain sobriety and face responsibilities to his ex-wife and children. His children are now adults. Ted Williams ex-wife, a woman partly blind raised their children alone and it has been reported that she also raised a child born out of her husband's infidelity. Ted has nine children.

Ted Williams has met with his mother after ten years, the first time being face to face on camera after an interview he did for NBC. His mother is a woman of faith and wants to see her son finally get his life straight. Ted has also met some of his adult children, again first on camera. The news media has really been involved fighting to arrange Ted Williams new life and activities.

Ted Williams is being made into some kind of hero by the media and the public, which I don't totally agree with. I don't believe enough time has passed to prove he's any kind of hero. Ted Williams is an addict, one who is being given a second chance to prove himself and have his family finally be proud of him, but he certainly hasn't proved himself. Ted has a long road to travel with many obstacles and challenges to maintain sobriety and not let this fifteen minute of fame and stressors shove him back into the life of addiction.

Ted Williams has to make decisions about the direction he'll use his gifted voice, and decide what people he'll surround himself with. I don't know how he'll ever manage to prove himself to his family for leaving them and his responsibilities the past twenty-three years. Hopefully positive behavior, sobriety and love can make a difference in Ted Williams life, and more importantly in his children's lives. Financial gain and fifteen minutes of fame with a golden gifted voice won't prove Ted Williams is a responsible recovered addict. Right now he seems overwhelmed, and isn't in control of his own life.

Ted Williams will be on Dr. Phil's television show tomorrow for the second part of the one on one interview, along with his ex-wife and children to face more questions.

On January 11, 2011 it was reported Ted Williams was detained by the LAPD for a reported disturbance at a hotel. You can read about this latest story via this link below.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41020648

You can see further information about Dr.Phil's television show and Ted Williams interview via the link below.

http://www.drphil.com/