Ted (Golden Voice) Williams Back on TV's Early Show

Like most of America, I have been caught up in the Ted Williams drama. I watched Dr. Phil use all his expertise and psycho babble trying to point the "golden voiced" formerly homeless drug addict and alcoholic back on the road to a responsible life and sobriety.

When Dr. Phil provided Ted with an extended stay in rehab, we all hoped Ted would take advantage of his second chance. But sadly it was not to be. Before you could say "Past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior," Ted left rehab after only two weeks.

We wondered where Ted was. Where did he go? Was he OK? Did he get his teeth fixed and would we ever hear from him again? Lucky for us, this morning he surfaced on the EarlyShow.

It must have been fate. My old little TV in the kitchen gets only one channel, thanks to some cable business last year, and I click it on in the morning when I make breakfast. I am no fan of the EarlyShow since I prefer Today, but in my kitchen it's the Early Show or nothing.

Imagine my surprise, when I saw our boy Ted Williams, happily being exclusively interviewed by some ditsy reporters, whose names I don't know. I grabbed my pen and took notes.

Looking real nice with a new suit, good haircut and gorgeous new teeth, Ted Williams was back on the Early Show to reassure us once again, that he is just fine and working his way back to sobriety and employment.

In his polite soft spoken way, Ted filled us in on just what he has been up to since escaping from rehab and Dr. Phil two weeks ago. Seems Ted couldn't take those pesky, broadcasted phone-ins to Dr. Phil that he was required to make.

This time, he says, he wants his healing done in private. His emotional and physical health are really his top priorities. He didn't mention his girlfriend.

He graciously thanked Dr. Phil for his help and advice but said, that "it was all too much too soon." Things are fine now with his kids and relatives, and he is able to slip them a few bucks, once in awhile.

Job opportunities have dwindled down since Ted left rehab, as potential employers adopt a wait and see attitude on Ted's reliability, but he has found some work. Ted is living in Los Angeles and working on a few voice-over jobs. He stays in a Living Clean Rehab facility, where he receives out-patient care for his alcoholism.

Ted announced he had wonderful news to share. He has hired a manager-advisor; Al Battle, an old friend in Ohio who was his AA sponsor in the 1970's. Mr. Battle presently is a Columbus-based talent promoter. He recently drove Ted around Columbus in a large black SUV, handing out cash to the homeless.

Like Ted, Al Battle has a checkered past. He served 5 years in jail for drug offenses and robbery. Since leaving jail in 2007, he has managed Battle Plan Promotions, a company devoted to the development of undiscovered talent and the arts. Mr. Battle has stayed out of trouble during this time.

"What better role model could I have?" Williams said happily, "Mr. Battle was at a low point in his life but he transformed himself into the person God wanted him to be. He was given a second chance and so have I."

Williams and Battle are so excited about working together, that they have established the Second ChanceFoundation to help others battling addiction. All donations are accepted.

The Early Show also treated us to video make-over of Ted's long neglected teeth by a dentist in Columbus, Ohio.The results were awesome.

Mr. Battle is helping Williams negotiate a book deal, a movie and a reality show. Battle says Ted is receiving offers of work from countries as a far away as Germany and Japan.

We can only wish him well.

Sources:

The Early Show

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2011/02/04/fuss-ver-golden-voic...