In this sentimental and high-stakes edition of Empty the Bench: Small Market Edition, host Callan McClurg takes us back twenty years to the legendary summer of 2006. Long before he was a voice for San Diego sports, Callan was a twelve-year-old utility man for the San Diego Buccaneers, a travel ball powerhouse that traded the perpetual sunshine of Southern California for the humid, hallowed grounds of Cooperstown All-Star Village in New York. This episode, titled Fantastic Voyage, serves as a time capsule for a band of twelve-year-old juggernauts who became legends in the rain, proving that some stories are too big for the small markets they start in.

Callan reflects on the "Buccaneer Juggernaut," a roster stacked with future pros and high-level athletes like Corey Oswalt, Kevin Ginkel, Ian Clarkin, and the indomitable Alexis Curtiss. We follow the crew through the gauntlet of a single-elimination bracket, from a gut-instinct intentional walk against the "Demon Dogs" to a semi-final masterclass in defensive shifts. The journey culminates in a soaking wet, extra-inning championship rematch against the South Jersey Sand Sharks that features a nearly two-hour rain delay and a players-only meeting in a cramped bunkhouse that changed everything.

The finale of this fantastic voyage is the stuff of cinema, featuring a thousand-person crowd chanting in the New York night and a first-pitch curveball that met the barrel of Corey Oswalt’s bat for a walk-off three-run home run. Twenty years later, Callan looks at the legacy of that 8-5 victory, from the six-foot trophy that earned its own seat on a private plane to the professional successes of his teammates in the MLB and beyond. It is a story about the name on the front of the jersey, the power of a shared dream, and the realization that while you can hang up the cleats, you never truly walk away from the game.

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Join Callan McClurg for Episode 8 of Empty the Bench: Small Market Edition as he delves into the heartbreaking and chaotic relocations that defined a dark period in NHL history. This week, we explore the dual tragedies of the Hartford Whalers becoming the Carolina Hurricanes and the Quebec Nordiques transforming into the Colorado Avalanche.

What forces truly drove these beloved franchises out of their passionate small markets? Was it simple economics, lack of support, or something more calculated? Callan strips away the myths to examine the financial pressures, arena demands, and the broader shift in the NHL landscape that saw the "Great North Exodus" move these teams south.

We take a deep dive into the financial drama surrounding the Nordiques' move and the post-relocation crisis when the New York Rangers tried to snatch franchise player Joe Sakic with a massive offer sheet. The incredible "poison pill" contract Sakic signed forced the Avalanche's cash-strapped ownership to match, a desperate move that nearly bankrupted the franchise right after they left Quebec. It's a tale of nostalgia, corporate maneuvering, and the small markets that got left behind.

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For nearly a decade, Sacramento lived under the shadow of losing the one thing that truly belonged to them: the Kings. Long before the Beam lit up the skyline or potential new franchise superstars brought new energy to California’s capital, the franchise stood on the brink of disappearing forever. And in 2013, that looming threat reached its boiling point.

For The Throne tells the sweeping, emotional, and deeply human story of how the Sacramento Kings — once a perennial underdog in the NBA’s smallest market — were saved through a powerful combination of civic pride, political chess, and unbreakable fan devotion.

Host Callan McClurg takes listeners inside the tense, dramatic, and often chaotic fight to keep the team in Sacramento. It’s a tale that spans decades: from the Kings’ arrival in 1985 and the early years of underdog charm, through the unforgettable cowbell-fueled golden era of Webber, Bibby, and Divac, and into the slow unraveling of trust as ownership faltered and relocation rumors swirled. Cities lined up to take what Sacramento loved most — Anaheim, Seattle, even Virginia Beach. Hope was slipping.

Then came a surprising figure who would change the city’s trajectory: former NBA All-Star turned mayor Kevin Johnson. Armed with relentless determination, political savvy, and an unwavering belief that Sacramento deserved its seat at the NBA’s table, Johnson launched a full-scale campaign to save the franchise. He built coalitions, challenged billionaires, confronted the league, and inspired a grassroots movement — “Here We Stay” — that transformed everyday fans into a powerful force of civic resistance.

McClurg dives deep into backroom dealings, messy politics, ownership drama, and the emotional toll the battle took on the people who refused to let their city be erased. He recounts the tense meetings, the eleventh-hour proposals, and the historic NBA vote that stunned the sports world: 22–8 in favor of Sacramento. A decision that didn’t just keep a franchise alive — it redefined what small markets are capable of when they fight with everything they have.

But For The Throne doesn’t end with victory. This episode also grapples with the complicated legacy that followed. Arena deals sparked debate, political careers rose and fell, and the city was forced to confront the cost — not just the triumph — of its salvation. Through it all, Sacramento emerged with something no relocation threat could ever take away: identity.

This is the story of a franchise saved not by money or market size, but by willpower, heart, and a belief that communities like Sacramento deserve their place in the sports world. It’s a story about defying the odds, rewriting narratives, and proving that sometimes, the smallest markets make the loudest noise.

For The Throne is a powerful reminder that sports are more than scores or standings — they’re the soul of a city. And in Sacramento, that soul refused to be sold.

⚠️ Note on Partnerships: This podcast was previously sponsored and powered by the Novig Sports Prediction Market. Please be advised that the partnership with Novig has expired due to the company ceasing operations in California and New York.

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