Rod Benson

Staff Writer

Rod was a former Cal basketball player from 2002 to 2006 and a professional player in the NBA D-League and in international competition from 2006 to 2018. He is also a recently published author with his book, Different Dude. Rod has done blogs and podcasts with Bear Insider since 2023.

The Rodcast: Cal-Stanford Breakdown

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 3 days ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal's loss at home to Stanford last week

The Rodcast: Two Hours With Mendoza

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 11 days ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about his conversation with Cal QB Fernando Mendoza about looking at and doing things in a different way at Cal

The Rodcast: I'm Not Mad at It

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 15 days ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal's 98-93 loss to Missouri

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The Rodcast: The Greatest Drive Ever?

Cal Bears Football ⋅ 27 days ago by Rod Benson

In today's quick podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal's exciting 24-21 Big Game win over Stanford this afternoon and QB Fernando Mendoza's big 98-yard game-clinching TD drive

The Rodcast - Cal vs USC Breakdown

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 1 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal's 71-66 win over USC in LA on Sunday

The Rodcast: It Looked Unfair

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 1 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal's 2-0 start and riffs on the level of competition and Cal's talent advantage

The Benson Blog - I Miss That Energy

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 1 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's Benson Blog, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about bringing the energy back to Cal sports with tonight's season opener at Haas Pavilion

The Rodcast: Top Six

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 1 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal hoops predicted finish, promoting the Cal brand and more

20 years later and we still can't kick

2 mo ago by Rod Benson

The Rodcast: Meet the Bears

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 2 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson gives a little Rod-style intro for some of the newest Cal hoops players.

The Rodcast: We Beat The Brakes Off Auburn

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 3 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal football's big win on the road over Auburn

The Rodcast: Welcome Week

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 3 mo ago by Rod Benson

As students return to campus for classes and football season kicks off this weekend, Rod talks about the dynamics of that first week at Cal each year

The Rodcast: Cal Hoops in Summer League

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 4 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about former Bears Jaylon Tyson and Fardaws Aimaq in the NBA Summer League

The Rodcast: Jaylen Brown MVP

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 6 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about former Cal Bear Jaylen Brown's NBA Championship series MVP performance in the Boston Celtic's 4-1 series victory over former Bear Jason Kidd's Dallas Mavericks.

The Rodcast: NCAA Rule Changes

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 7 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about the implications of the new NCAA rules change allowing players to be paid by the university

The Rodcast: Cal Portal

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 7 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about the world of portal recruiting and how it can impact the program

The Benson Blog: Season Wrap

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 9 mo ago by Rod Benson

Rod assesses the season and plans going forward in today's blog entry

The Rodcast: Next Steps

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 9 mo ago by Rod Benson

Former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal’s loss to Stanford in the Pac-12 tourney and Cal’s path forward in the NIL era

The Rodcast: I Cant Stand(furd)

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 9 mo ago by Rod Benson

Former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about Cal’s loss and upcoming game with Stanford and the ongoing rivalry

The Rodcast: Cal-Oregon Breakdown

Cal Bears Basketball ⋅ 9 mo ago by Rod Benson

In today's podcast, former Cal and pro center Rod Benson breaks down Cal's win over 3rd place Oregon