Cleveland Cavaliers Offer Man On Hard Times Job and House

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Brooklyn, Cleveland, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, New York, NFL Films, Quicken Loans Arena, Ted Williams, The Columbus Dispatch

AP Story
By TOM WITHERS
CLEVELAND — A homeless man in Ohio with a deep, gifted voice, has been offered a job by the Cleveland Cavaliers and is being sought by NFL Films for possible work, as well.

Ted Williams, whose rich baritone and plight have made him an online video sensation, was first contacted Wednesday by the Cavaliers. Team spokesman Tad Carper said details are still being worked out on a possible position for Williams.

Carper said any job could include working in Quicken Loans Arena, the NBA team’s downtown arena. It is not yet known if Williams has accepted the team’s offer.

Williams’ compelling tale has also drawn interest from NFL Films, which has chronicled pro football for nearly 50 years and wants to contact Williams.

“It’s that voice,” said Kevin McLoughlin, director of post-production films for the NFL told The Associated Press. “When I heard him tell his story, I said, ‘That’s what we do. This guy can tell a story.’ Somehow, some way, I need to get a demo with him.”

Williams was spotted by The Columbus Dispatch standing near an exit ramp off Interstate 71. In a video interview, Williams — holding a cardboard sign that asks motorists for help and says, “I’m an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times” — explains in his smooth, bottomless voice that he grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y.. and that he was drawn to radio at the age of 14.

Williams described in the video that he went to school for his voice, but that his life was later affected by alcohol and drugs. Williams claims to have been sober for two years.

“The man deserves a second chance,” said McLoughlin, who has not yet been able to contact Williams.

Other offers could soon be rolling in for Williams.

In Cleveland, any publicity is good publicity, perhaps, for the Cavaliers, who are 8-26 and in last place in the Central Division. They play Toronto tonight at home.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

R.I.P. Lorenzen Wright

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Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Curtis Wright, Deborah Marion, Herb Wright, Lorenzen Wright, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Police Department, Michael Heisley, Penny Hardaway, Sacramento Kings, Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore, The Associated Press, University of Memphis

Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Relatives and friends of Lorenzen Wright gathered Wednesday and grieved for the former NBA player who has been missing for 10 days, as police investigated the discovery of a man’s body outside of Memphis.

Wright’s uncle, Curtis Wright, told The Associated Press that police called the player’s father, Herb Wright, on Wednesday afternoon with the news he had died.

Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore of the Memphis Police Department wrote in an e-mail to the AP that police were investigating the death of an unidentified man beside a wooded area about 15 miles south of downtown Memphis. Asked if the man was Wright, she wrote they could not confirm the victim’s identity Wednesday night.

The family issued a statement through a cousin of Lorenzen Wright, Camella Logan: “Lorenzen’s family has come together to mourn his loss and honor his legacy. We appreciate your thoughts, prayers and condolences as they are comforting at this very difficult time. Additionally, we ask that you please respect our privacy as we try to cope with his sudden loss.”