The first feel-good story of the new year

The homeless man with the "golden radio voice" wanted a second chance -- and did he ever get it. 

As soon as Ted Williams, a panhandler who became an online hit after video of him begging on an Ohio roadside was posted to the Internet, appeared on a local radio show this morning the offers began pouring in -- including a dream job with the Cleveland Cavaliers and a free house.

"The Cleveland Cavaliers just offered me a full-time job and a house! A house! A house!," repeated a stunned Williams, 53, on local radio station WNCI.

A caller to the show who said she represented the Cavs offered Williams, who shot to stardom after local newspaper the Columbus Dispatch on Monday posted video of his perfectly-pitched panhandling, a full-time job doing voiceover work for the team and parent company and a free home in Cleveland.

The Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, native trained to be a radio announcer before drugs and alcohol ruined his chances at a career, and he was reduced to begging on the side of a road in Columbus, Ohio, before the newspaper found him.

Local police would refer to Williams as "Radio man," when chasing him from his usual begging spots, Williams said.

"I've been out there about a year; I just didn't know anything like this would ever happen," an overwhelmed Williams said earlier in the show. "There's so many words. I've already been characterized to [Scottish singing sensation] Susan Boyle ... I'm just so happy."

Before the Cavs made their bid, the station said a group of credit unions offered Williams a contract worth up to $10,000; a caller claiming to rep MTV expressed interest in having him guest-announce a show; and callers who said they were the voiceover actors behind plugs for "The Simpsons" and "Entertainment Tonight" said they wanted him to compete on their upcoming "America's Next Voice" -- where the prize includes a home studio.

For a man suddenly thrust from an Ohio roadside into the hearts of the world, Williams set his sights low. "Just to get back to some normalcy and responsibility -- If I can a job, whether it's a twenty-five or even $18,000, I'd be happy," he said. "At least I know God has me where he wants me."
http://www.nypost.com/

"At least I know God has me where he wants me." 

Amen, brother.

***Update - January 6, 2011***  I knew this guy's story was going to be HUGE and it was!!  He was reunited with his 92-year-old mother today and has taken a voice-over job with Kraft.  The YouTube video has come down but you can still Google it and see it on any of the national network morning shows.  I'm kinda partial to The Today Show.

True Blood

Okay, so there's this little show on HBO that's in its third season and I'm just now hearing about it. I'm just now hearing about it only because a girl I work with, Jennifer, told me about it and loaned me the first two seasons on DVD to watch and catch up.  I disconnected HBO when my beloved Sex and The City ended, I saw no reason to keep it with my favorite show gone.  

Y'all, Imma have to call Cox back.  

I LOVE True Blood!!!  I'm hooked on it already and I'm not even to Season Two yet.  It's based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries.  While I was watching the first couple of episodes, I noticed more than a few Twilight similarities but since the Southern Vampire books came out in 2001 and Twilight in 2005, who copied who?  Uh oh.

It's such a cool show!!  And it has the BEST theme song.  

When you came in the air went out.
And all those shadows there filled up with doubt.
I don’t know who you think you are,
But before the night is through,
I wanna do bad things with you.

Oh, yeah.

The Hula Girl And The President

THIS is why President Obama keeps going to Hawaii!

Absolutely scandalous!  :)

These little cuties were given to me today by my friend and coworker, Lisa (yep, we have two Lisas at the office!).  She bought them for me when she was in Hawaii last week.

They are SO presh!!!

Hee Hee