23RD ANNUAL “COURAGE IN SPORTS” TO AIR SUNDAY ON CBS

[Nov. 7, 2012] CHICAGO – The 23rd annual “Courage in Sports,” a one-hour special recognizing individuals who have overcome monumental challenges to achieve greatness in the world of sports, will air on CBS Sunday.  Check local listings for broadcast times in your area.  For more than two decades, “Courage in Sports” has honored sports legends such as Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron, Arthur Ashe, Kerri Strug, Walter Payton and Cal Ripken, Jr.  

Click here for the 2012 “Courage in Sports” trailer

The 2012 Courage in Sports honorees include: 

§   Sara McMann: The first woman in U.S. Olympic history to win a silver medal in the sport of wrestling is now an undefeated Mixed Martial Artist.  While her road to success has been littered with personal loss, it is her past that gives her the strength to keep on fighting.

§   Kurt Becker: Deeply affected by the loss of his onetime teammate Dave Duerson, this former offensive lineman for the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears has returned to his alma mater of East Aurora High School to take on the issue of concussions and head trauma at the youth football level. 

§   Jerry Cahill: Fifty-six year old Jerry Cahill was told that he would be lucky to reach his 16th birthday. Born with the fatal genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis, Cahill has teamed up with four-time Pro Bowl pick Boomer Esiason to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis.

§   Josh Blue: Just as he once did with soccer, this former Paralympian turned stand-up comedian uses the spotlight to put his life-long disability of cerebral palsy in front of an audience and help others in similar situations feel comfortable in their own skin. 

§   Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation believes that athletics have the power to change the world.  This foundation, which provides opportunities to more than one hundred projects worldwide that promote social change through organized athletics, is supported by 46 of the world’s most recognizable athletes, including Edwin Moses, Tony Hawk and Marcus Allen. 

In addition to the five feature stories, the winner of the second-annual America’s Choice Honoree for Courage in Sports (https://www.facebook.com/CourageInSports) will be highlighted in the show.  The America’s Choice Honoree for Courage in Sports winner was determined through a four-week Facebook voting competition that tallied more than 22,000 votes.  The finalists for the America’s Choice Honoree are Jack Jablonski, a 16-year-old who was paralyzed during a high school hockey game, and Ben Cohen, a World Champion Rugby player who started the StandUp Foundation to remove bullying and homophobia from sports.

Also, the second-annual USAA Athletic Inspiration Award winner will be announced. The USAA Athletic Inspiration Award was voted on by fans (www.facebook.com/USAA) and recognizes individuals with military ties who have overcome monumental challenges to achieve greatness in the world of sports. The nominees include: Ivan Castro, who was blinded in Iraq and has since completed more than 24 marathons; Lisa Hallett, who started “wear blue: run to remember” after her husband was killed in Afghanistan; Daniel Rodriguez, who realized his dream of playing college football after returning from two tours overseas; and Melissa Stockwell, who lost her leg in Iraq and is now a two-time world champion in the paratriathlon. 

For more information, visit 
http://www.facebook.com/CourageInSports

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