Graham Bensinger

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Graham Bensinger

Graham Bensinger
Born August 17, 1986 (1986-08-17) (age 21)
, St. Louis, Missouri
Occupation ESPN Reporter

Graham Bensinger (born August 17, 1986) is an American television personality. He is an ESPN Reporter and host of "The Graham Bensinger Show" on ESPN Radio and a student of broadcast journalism at Syracuse University. Despite being one of the youngest sports journalists in the world, he has interviewed some very high profile sports figures. He is a high school graduate of Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, a well known college preparatory school in St. Louis, Missouri, also the alma mater of famous broadcaster Joe Buck.

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[edit] "The Graham Bensinger Show"

Bensinger launched his own internet-based sports talk radio show in 2001 while he was still in 8th grade. In 2003 the show was picked up by Sports News Radio, and received a weekly syndication contract with ESPN Radio in 2004. Additionally, he hosts a SIRIUS Satellite Radio Show.

His interviews range from broadcasting icons such as Mike Wallace and Bob Costas... to legends like Muhammad Ali, Stan Musial, Jim Brown, Dan Marino, and Pete Sampras... to news makers like Barry Bonds, the Williams’ sisters, Danica Patrick, LaDainian Tomlinson, Nick Lachey, Adam Sandler, Mark Wahlberg, and Jesse Jackson.

Graham Bensinger with Jerome Bettis & Nick Lachey at the ESPY Awards
Graham Bensinger with Jerome Bettis & Nick Lachey at the ESPY Awards

[edit] Notable interviews

Bensinger's interviews have aired on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, ESPNU, and FOX Sports. The programs include: SportsCenter, Outside The Lines, Sunday NFL Countdown, NFL Primetime, NFL Live, and The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

  • On February, 2004 and July, 2005, he interviewed OJ Simpson. Bensinger asked Simpson how the search was going for the real killer. Bensinger is one of the few journalists with Simpson's direct phone number.
  • On November 3, 2005, he interviewed Terrell Owens regarding his relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles. Owens was not at all reserved in blasting the Eagles for their lack of respect for his play, coach Andy Reid's coaching methodology, and quarterback Donovan McNabb's proficiency as a player. Owens's comments in the hour long interview led to his suspension and season long benching by the Philadelphia Eagles (as upheld by arbitrator Richard Bloch). In Owens' autobiography, "T.O," he authored an entire chapter on Bensinger. Owens referred to Bensinger as his "friend" and said, "None of this was Graham's fault. I'm not mad at him; he asked the questions a good journalist would ask."
  • He also interviewed Pete Sampras in August, 2007.

[edit] Guest appearances

He was very funny in appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. On Leno, he talked about one of his first interviews with Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt that went bad. On Conan, he even made a sexual joke which had fellow guests Rachel Weisz and Paul Bettany laughing hysterically.

He is also a regular guest on ABC's Good Morning America, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, Court TV, and Inside Edition.

Heard on radio programs including The Dan Patrick Show, Mike & Mike in the Morning, The James Brown Show, JT The Brick, The Mike Gallagher Show, and Howard Stern.

[edit] Other work

  • Regular Contributor to ESPN.com
  • Sideline Reporter for ESPNU
  • Conducts "The Weekly Conversation," an Interview of the Week for ESPN
  • Contributor to FOX Sports' The Best Damn Sports Show Period in 2006
  • Written for Maxim and FHM magazines
  • Super Bowl Correspondent 2003 - 2007
  • ESPY Awards Correspondent 2003 - 2007
  • Broadcast and play-by-play duties in Summer 2004 and 2005 for the Spokane Indians Minor League Baseball team alongside local legend Bob Robertson

[edit] Additional notoriety

[edit] Quotes about Bensinger

  • "Looks like Doogie Howser, acts like Morley Safer," - Steve Rushin, Sports Illustrated
  • "Loves men more than me," - Neil Patrick Harris, "How I met your mother"
  • "Asks well-articulated questions," - Michael Smerconish, Philadelphia Daily News
  • "There’s a decent chance he could end up ruling the world someday. Don’t say I didn’t warn you." Bill Simmons, ESPN

[edit] Travels

During Summer '07, Bensinger traveled extensively throughout Asia & Africa. Some visits included Tiananmen Square, Terracotta Warriors, The Great Wall, Kibera Slums, going down in Great White Shark Cages, and off the world’s highest bungee jump.

Graham Bensinger going off the World's Highest Bungee Jump in George, South Africa
Graham Bensinger going off the World's Highest Bungee Jump in George, South Africa

[edit] External links