Houston Astros relieve LaTroy Hawkins and wife Anita talked about going to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration. Hawkins wife thought she may have an opportunity to get the tickets but wasn’t quite sure and believe it would be slim, if possible at all. Hawkins confided in a recent phone interview that he didn’t believe his wife would be able to get the tickets. “But she worked it out and got us tickets.”
So they’ll be flying from Prosper, Texas to Washington, D.C. where the couple, along with millions of other people, will attend a historic event that culminates a presidential race that captivated the nation for the past two years.
The Hawkins are proud and believe that the election of the first African-American president in United States history is significant. Hawkins believes Obama’s election holds significance as did Jackie Robinson’s ability to break the color barrier in baseball over 60 years ago.
“Jackie Robinson showed my grandfather and my uncles and my father that anything is possible,” Hawkins said. “Obama is showing my kids, who have seen their dad be successful, that you can do anything. That’s important in my house because it shows you can be a success at more than sports.”
“It took me awhile to sit down and listen to Obama. He’s down to earth and so normal,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins’ wife Anita will be participating in the entire four-day inauguration festivities, including those in Illinois and the inauguration on Tuesday. Anita started in right away, the day after the election, calling on friend Francina Norman, who had a number of tickets for the Illinois ball. Fortunately Norman still had 10 tickets at the time and was glad to provide Anita with 2.
Another of Anita’s friends, Natalie Middleton, a Maryland real estate agent, was able to get the couple tickets to the swearing-in ceremony and even a hotel room in a completely sold-out city. Anita, attending an event with her children, met Obama and felt it was a family bonding experience.
LaTroy and Anita have a son and a daughter, ages 16 and 7; both of whom will not be accompanying the couple to Washington, D.C. for the events but undoubtedly will be watching them on television.
After the inaugural festivities are over, Hawkins will undoubtedly be present and accounted for in Kissimmee, Florida for Spring Training and the games that officially begin for the Houston Astros on February 25. Later in March the Astros will take on Detroit at Joker Marchant Stadium, the Braves at Disney Stadium, the Cardinals at Osceola Stadium and the Pirates at McKechnie Field. As has been the case for the past 22 seasons, the Astros will hold Spring Training at The Astros, which was transformed last year to the tune of an $18.4 million renovation that provides the team and fans with new seating, expanded training facilities, redesigned press box, a new façade and expanded clubhouses, creating a fantastic new look.
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