CBS Sports presents 20th annual ARETE Honors on Sunday

NEW YORK -- From Lance Armstrong to Muhammad Ali to Arthur Ashe to Tiger Woods, the ARETE Honors have paid tribute to some of the world’s greatest and most inspiring athletes over its 20 years. CBS Sports will once again broadcast the one-hour special, ARETE HONORS FOR COURAGE IN SPORTS presented by the United States Marine Corps on Sunday, Nov. 15 (5-6 p.m., ET; 3-4 p.m. in late NFL markets; taped). Produced by Intersport and hosted by CBS Sports’ James Brown, the yearly event honors athletes -- both the known and unknown -- that have aspired to excellence and, in the process, overcome unbelievable obstacles.

Bringing together some of sports’ most uplifting stories, this year’s honorees include Zac Sunderland, Iran Soccer and Matt Long.

At the young age of 16, Zac Sunderland embarked on a lonely quest to sail around the world. This California kid launched his boat, Intrepid, into the Pacific Ocean last June and encountered every obstacle imaginable along the way. He was trailed by pirates, hit heavy storms, created parts for his deteriorating boat, and lost all communication with his family. Through this adventure, Zac demonstrated the ultimate courage and persevered through the toughest moments of his young life.

After four Iranian soccer players silently wore green to show solidarity in support of presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi after he lost to hard-lined president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, soccer became a sport that reached well beyond the playing field. The players wrapped green tape around their wrists during a match in South Korea to show their support of the election protests; green was the color used by Moussavi during his campaign. As a result, all four players have “retired” from playing soccer and have been banned from ever playing again by the government they protested.

Three years ago, firefighter Matt Long was expected to die after he was run down by a bus as he biked to work. After more than 40 surgeries and hundreds of hours of therapy, Long learned to walk again. Though the injuries he sustained have left a metal rod in his left leg, he now lives his life through an unstoppable training method, determined to become the athlete he once was. After participating in last year’s New York City marathon, he competed in the Lake Placid Ironman competition.

Intersport is the Chicago-based television and marketing company that is considered one of the industry’s leaders. CBS Sports’ Ryan Galvin serves as coordinating producer for the show.