CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers and Quicken Loans were so taken with the story of Ted Williams, the homeless man from Columbus with the golden voice, that they have offered him an unspecified job with the team and assistance with housing.

"When you know something's right, you just have to launch,'' said Tracy Marek, senior vice president of marketing for the Cavaliers. "One of the big things that we talk about here with our organization is how important urgency is, and when you see something that feels good and seems right, the important thing that we wanted to do is to let Ted know that we have something here for him that we wanted to talk to him about because he's getting so flooded by offers.

"Our main priority is just to say, 'We're here. Look at us -- Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans -- and let's see what we can do.' ''

Williams became an overnight Internet sensation after the Columbus Dispatch posted a video of him and his amazing voice on Monday, when he was discovered panhandling. (Watch the Columbus Dispatch video of Ted Williams)

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Williams said he'd trained to be a radio announcer before drugs and alcohol took over his life. He says now that he's been sober for two years.

Williams has become a media celebrity since the story broke. The Cavs invited him to Wednesday's game against Toronto, but it is not known at this time what his schedule is.

Ted's talkin'

Kevin Joy of the Columbus Dispatch writes about Williams.

Phil Helsel of the New York Post writes about Williams, a Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn native.

An ESPN.com story on Williams, with information from the Associated Press.



The Associated Press Wednesday afternoon story on Williams

