HBO New Show: Ballers

[MikeO]

That HBO show "BALLERS" aired last night. It's set in Miami and the Dolphins are the "main" team its centered on although its mainly about players who play for various team and their lifestyles away from the game and when they retire.

Best clip was Don Shula and Larry Csonka are on a boat and this kid shows up 1 minute late for a meeting with the "current" fictional Dolphins coach who is also on the boat and Shula calls him an asshole.  It was funny as hell.

Not sure if this show will be on long. In the first 5 min you saw the fictional ex player popping pain pills at least twice maybe 3 times. I'm sure the NFL doesn't love that depiction of their athletes. Show was pretty much "ENTOURAGE" for black athletes. It was ok, I will give it another week before I decide to keep watching or bail on it

[Phishfan]

I didn't watch but heard the NFL was not happy with the unauthorized use of logos, team names, etc.

[MikeO]

I didn't watch but heard the NFL was not happy with the unauthorized use of logos, team names, etc.

HBO legal department said they had the legal rights to use it in the show and its a non-issue. Wondering if the NFL tries to stop it down the road though, will be interesting to see. That is such a small part of the show though, you see the Fins logo a couple times. You saw the Packers logo once. That was about it.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Wasn't there a "NFL" type themed football show on (I think ESPN) a few years back that many of us watched, that got cancelled because of pressure from the NFL? I can't remember the name of it but I am pretty sure Brian, myself and a few others were pissed when it was forced off the network by the NFL!!!!! I would not  be surprised if this happened to Ballers as well.  I watched it and I thought it was ok. I will stay tuned in for a few more weeks to see how it plays out. HBO has a history of very good series!!!!!

[Dave Gray]

^ The show was called Playmakers.

It was on ESPN and they had game rights.  I think a lot more was at stake for ESPN. 

ESPN can't afford to lose football.  HBO could lose Hard Knocks and it wouldn't be a huge deal.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Yes that was it..... I understand why they had to let it go it just sucked because I liked the show.

[MikeO]

http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/how-ballers-can-use-nfl-team-logos-without-league-permission.html

Here is how HBO can use the NFL logos and not get in trouble. Explained perfectly in that article

[CF DolFan]

Seems like the show was rushed to me but maybe it was just the mood I was in. Even the scene where Shula called him an asshole for being late seemed rushed. I didn't feel the scene developed and was forced to happen.

[MikeO]

Seems like the show was rushed to me but maybe it was just the mood I was in. Even the scene where Shula called him an asshole for being late seemed rushed. I didn't feel the scene developed and was forced to happen.

I agree with that. Only a 30 min show, probably should be an hour honestly.  I am guessing they split the shows into 30 minutes to get more weeks out of the show but for a better show they should have had each episode been an hour.

[Brian Fein]

I expected to like the show more than I actually did.  I'm glad its on HBO, though - seems more real.  Thought the Shula/Csonka cameo was nice, but totally unnecessary. There were a lot of other current NFL players in it as well.

[MikeO]

Mike Pouncey yesterday in an interview said the show is pretty accurate portrayal of how NFL players live off the field.

I'm sure the league loves that! lol

[Rich]

Mike Pouncey yesterday in an interview said the show is pretty accurate portrayal of how NFL players live off the field.

I'm sure the league loves that! lol

So he is confirming that football players spend their time snorting coke off hookers' tits.

[MikeO]

So he is confirming that football players spend their time snorting coke off hookers' tits.

I'm gonna make a safe assumption that he was talking more about the wild parties on yachts and such, parties at the strip clubs, and things like the "Fun House". 

[Phishfan]

^^^ Aren't those all places where they snort coke off them?

[Rich]

I'm gonna make a safe assumption that he was talking more about the wild parties on yachts and such, parties at the strip clubs, and things like the "Fun House". 

When will Ballers have an episode on Sheldon Richardson?