Ted Williams "The Man With The Golden Voice" Phenomenon To Enter Rehab

Most people love a happy ending, but that's not always the way things play out in real life. Take Ted Williams, the overnight media phenomenon, who rocketed to worldwide fame after being interviewed by a videographer as he was panhandling at a highway exit in Columbus, Ohio and featured on YouTube.com.

tedwilliamshead lzyL6 16105

Known as "The Man With A Golden Voice", Ted Williams used to be a radio announcer who fell on hard times after struggling with drugs and alcohol. Homeless, he was interviewed by Doral Chenoweth III who was intrigued by a sign that Williams held claiming he had "a God-given gift of voice." And what a voice he has, in spite of living on the streets for so many years. What has ensued since the video went viral has been a whirlwind of activity, first trying to track him down and then the plethora of interviews on major TV shows, and tons of offers of work. What worried many people (including psychologists) was the fact that even though he claimed he had been sober for 2 years, all this attention after years of being on the streets could send him back to drugs and the bottle if he didn't have the chance to deal with what got him addicted in the first place. And it seems they had every right to be concerned.

A stint on the Dr. Phil Show had his daughter accusing him of being still being a drunk, even though he denies it. Whether he is or not is irrelevant, what matters is that he has the potential of falling back into drugs if he doesn't get any help. What most are concerned about is how he will handle things when all this attention dies down. The good news is he has decided to enter rehab to help him find ways to cope. Unless he deals with what made him an addict in the first place, he could wind up back on the streets.

I think everyone is pulling for Ted, but ultimately, it will be up to him. I certainly wish him well, because I always love a happy ending.

Source: Dispatch.com and Columbus Dispatch