A "New" Sister Sports Talk Show Team, The Sport Maverickstm Challenge Parents to Be the "First Line of Defense for Student-Athletes" and "Stop" the Low Graduation Rates, Steroid and Substance Abuse, Illegal Hazing, Sexual Harassment and Gender Violence in College Sports

On Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at 8:00p.m. EST (www.voiceamerica.com), "Sport Mavericks" Host Ida Muorie will hold court with Elleanor Starks, Co-Host and guest Barbara Page both parents of athletes. Elleanor and Barbara will speak out about the 2004 sport controversies, and asked the pivotal question: Are parents the first line of defense in maintaining integrity in sports and academics?

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) December 7, 2004 -- Elleanor Starks has been a student-athlete advocate for over 10 years, and she has seen her son Max play both basketball and football in high school, excel in college football and drafted in 2004 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Barbara son Craig, is a baseball pitcher that was a member of Florida's 2003 state champion's Lakewood Ranch High School, and is presently a Freshmen at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Elleanor will discuss the need to reconnect college sports with higher education through developing parent associations at the college and university levels. Elleanor will share how the Gator Parent Association became an integral part of the University of Florida's tradition, and a viable voice for parents of student-athletes. Barbara will talk about her son's experience in high school baseball, and Craig's decision to attend a Junior college and not a Division I school. Elleanor and Barbara will also talk about the college recruitment dilemma, and the lack of expertise available.

Host/Creator, Ida R. Muorie,is an experienced public speaker, seminar leader, published author, sport advocate, and former Chaplain and Education Director of the University of Florida (Gator Parents Association-GPA). She is a Life Skill Speaker that conduct workshops for parents and student-athletes through the Pro-Ready Impact Programs. Muorie also is the creator and principle writer of "Sport Mavericks."

Co-Host, Elleanor Starks is the mother of Max Starks is the mother of Max Starks (2004 Pittsburgh Steeler Rookie and former Florida Gator) and former president of the Gator Parent Association. Under Stark's leadership, muorie and Starks revamped the GPA as a viable force for parents of athletes. She also consulted parents under the GPA standard at the University of Michigan and Wake Forest University. Ms Starks has a long history of leadership as a teacher, business owner, and the founder of the One Hundred Black Women of Funeral Services (HBWFS recently celebrates its eleventh year of scholarship.

# # #