Sports are a central research topic for Ríos as a cultural anthropologist. “In Oaxaca and Los Angeles, I use basketball as a research tool to investigate issues of culture, identity, migration, trans-nationalism, religion, politics, economics, and other various research interests,” Ríos said. For example, there are Oaxacan youth in Los Angeles who have the name of a town on the front of their jersey that their family roots are from. Although they might have never been to Oaxaca or speak Spanish, they know how much basketball means to their family and community. “That name provides them with a place of being, or an identity within the larger Latin@ society whether its Oaxaqueño, Zapoteco, or Mixteco,” Ríos explained.

Another example of the power of the sport is in its social aspect. There are non-Oaxaqueños that play in Oaxacan tournaments in Los Angeles, and those who participate continue to provide positive examples for the larger Latin@ community. As one non-Oaxacan player interviewed by Ríos said, “[the Oaxaqueños] are just a positive influence on communities, and I wish more communities would participate in these kinds of events.” Ríos’ research also provides different insights on immigrant communities in metropolitan areas and how communities and individuals are coping with new government policies on immigration. With his research, Ríos also aims to promote the positive actions of Latin@s and indigenous people, and raise awareness about the public service they provide to their community and society.

While the results and goals of Ríos’s research are slowly shaping up, he explains that the path has not been free of obstacles. ”While I am grateful for receiving opportunities that many Latin@s do not get, I am also grateful for the support of colleagues and professors who helped me deal with the increasing difficulty of moving up the academic ladder,” Ríos said. He encourages undergraduates and those starting graduate programs to make their presence felt in the classroom, with colleagues, in their department, in their college, and in society. “Voice your opinions and concerns because they are valid perceptions of society, for your experiences as a Latin@ in this country or another native land are imperative to the growth of academics here at The Ohio State University,” he concluded. 