BenchMarks is an audio-first documentary series from the Empty the Bench Network, where the biggest moments in sports aren’t just remembered — they’re re-examined.
Hosted by Callan McClurg and joined by voices from across the Empty the Bench Network, BenchMarks lives at the intersection of E60, 30 for 30, and Real Sports. Each episode digs deep into the controversial moments, polarizing figures, and defining games and plays that refuse to fade with time. These are the stories that sparked debate, shaped careers, altered leagues, and still echo through locker rooms, broadcasts, and barroom arguments years — sometimes decades — later.
Through immersive storytelling, original reporting, archival sound, and thoughtful conversation, BenchMarks revisits the moments that history never settled. Not to sensationalize them, but to understand them — the context, the consequences, and why they continue to matter. This is sports history told with humanity, curiosity, and a willingness to ask the uncomfortable questions.
If you believe the best sports stories don’t end at the final whistle, subscribe to BenchMarks wherever you get your podcasts and join us as we revisit the moments that defined the game — and the people inside it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
BenchMarks is an audio-first documentary series from the Empty the Bench Network, where the biggest moments in sports aren’t just remembered — they’re re-examined.
Hosted by Callan McClurg and joined by voices from across the Empty the Bench Network, BenchMarks lives at the intersection of E60, 30 for 30, and Real Sports. Each episode digs deep into the controversial moments, polarizing figures, and defining games and plays that refuse to fade with time. These are the stories that sparked debate, shaped careers, altered leagues, and still echo through locker rooms, broadcasts, and barroom arguments years — sometimes decades — later.
Through immersive storytelling, original reporting, archival sound, and thoughtful conversation, BenchMarks revisits the moments that history never settled. Not to sensationalize them, but to understand them — the context, the consequences, and why they continue to matter. This is sports history told with humanity, curiosity, and a willingness to ask the uncomfortable questions.
If you believe the best sports stories don’t end at the final whistle, subscribe to BenchMarks wherever you get your podcasts and join us as we revisit the moments that defined the game — and the people inside it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On November 7, 1991, the world of basketball—and the world at large—ground to a halt. In a stunning press conference from The Forum, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the transcendent superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the most famous people on the planet, announced he was retiring from the NBA after testing positive for HIV.
On this episode of BenchMarks, the Empty the Bench Network's E60 audio form podcast, we take you back to that pivotal moment. Narrator Callan McClurg guides us through the immediate aftermath, featuring the indelible audio from Magic's emotional announcement. We explore the seismic reaction from across the NBA landscape, the specific impact felt within the legendary Lakers locker room, and how the news forever changed the conversation around health, celebrity, and AIDS awareness.
Finally, we trace Magic's incredible journey from his initial retirement to his improbable return to the court, and how his unwavering influence has evolved into successful ownership endeavors across multiple sports, solidifying his legacy far beyond the hardwood.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.