Dave Zirin, a regular contributor to The Nation Magazine and the author of A People’s History of Sports in the United States, responds to some who have said that athletes of color paved the way for Barack Obama’s victory. Mike Bianchi writing in the Orlando Sentinel said, “If you're searching for tangible reasons why it became possible for Barack Obama to make his historic run at the presidency of the United States, then look no further than the golf course, basketball court or football field.” According to Zirin that sentiment is embarrassingly wrong.