MARIA SERRAO SPORTS.COM
Maria Serrao
BIOGRAPHY
Maria is a groundbreaker. In 1986, she was the first woman in a wheelchair to compete in a Miss California beauty pageant from her wheelchair. Years later, Maria produced and starred in her own cable fitness show called, "Everyone Can Exercise". In addition, she created a line of fitness video's for the retail market entitled, "Real Life Fitness", Maria was also the national spokesperson for CYBEX fitness equipment. During this time she traveled throughout the United States and Canada promoting sports and fitness. Maria apeared in such programs as "Good Morning America" and "Entertainment Tonight".
From there Maria was approached by a local news channel who had seen her work in fitness and sports and invited her to audition to be their sports anchor/reporter. COX-TV hired her to work in Los Angeles and San Diego covering the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and several NASCAR/INDY car races. Maria also created, produced and co-hosted a live one hour sports show with former Los Angeles Raider, Jerry Robinson.
Maria is the first woman in a wheelchair to work as a sports anchor/reporter. When people first meet Maria, they are suprised to learn she was the victim of an automobile accident at the age of five, because she has never allowed having a disability stop her from attaing her goals. Over the past ten years, Maria has been fortunate to compete in the number two market in the country. Maria is currently working for CH 33 in Palos Verdes, CA. where she is again hosting her own sports show called "Playing The Field". This show takes her out into the field covering a wide array of professional sports from the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Dodgers not only at home but across the country. NASCAR/CART/INDY races in the West and covering the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys both at games and in training camp. Top athletes she has interviewed include MLB Luis Gonzales, Auto Racing Legend Mario Andretti, Oakland Raider WR Randy Moss and Dallas Cowboys' WR Terrell Owens and former RB Emmitt Smith just to name afew. On a regular basis she spends time in the locker room with Clippers forward Elton Brand, Kings center Mike Cammalleri and Dodger first baseman Nomar Garciaparra.
Maria's love of sports began growing up in the small town of Thousand Oaks, CA. This was also the home of the Dallas Cowboys training camp. At the age of eight she started attending daily camp and fell in love with football. By the age of ten Maria could tell you the starting line up of the team. Her love of sports only grew and having three older brothers probably had something to do with that. Funny thing is now her brothers hate to admit that she knows more about sports than they do.
Maria's goal is to work in sports in a full time capacity.