On the morning of the Inter-Regional Rumble, members of the Oberlin women’s cross country team prepared by putting on glitter and writing words of encouragement on each other with colorful pens. Coaches, friends, Oberlin alumni, and family were on the sidelines cheering for their teams as athletes lined up at the starting line, a sea of multicultural uniforms. When the gun went off, the sound of pounding feet filled the air as hundreds of cross country athletes raced around the 6- and 8-kilomet...

Dave Zirin, political sportswriter and editor for The Nation, spoke at my high school five or six years ago. Since his visit, I’ve found myself reflecting on his words from time to time, especially as I have grown older and begun to pursue sportswriting myself. It is only now, years after seeing him onstage in my high school auditorium, that I’ve come to understand why I found him so memorable. For one thing, I’ll never forget how Zirin had the courage to visit a Chicago high school and explain to its student body why the Chicago Blackhawks are a prime example of racism in sports. He debunked a few myths, such as the idea that the Blackhawks were named after a native tribe when, in fact, they were nam...