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Ballers Facts You Should Know
HBO's Ballers is sadly over, but it gave great insight into the darker side of the world of pro sports. Here are some facts about the great show.
Although short-lived and receiving mixed reviews from critics, HBO's Ballers was a fun, unique look at the sports industry. It's diverse and interesting cast of characters kept audiences entertained, and showed an interesting perspective into the world of top-level football players and the lives they live.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Rob Corddry, and John David Washington, Ballers had a solid run and fans were sad to see it go. To give it a goodbye, here are some behind-the-scenes facts that fans should know about Ballers.
Produced By Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, & Pete Berg
Along with starring in the show, Dwayne Johnson took on a producer role.
He shared the producer roles with Pain & Gain co-star Mark Wahlberg and frequent Wahlberg collaborator Pete Berg, known for directing Hancock, Lone Survivor, Patriot's Day, and Spenser Confidential. This was a production dream team.
Created By Stephen Levinson
Alongside Dwayne, Mark, and Pete, the show was originally conceived by Entourage producer, Stephen Levinson. While the similarities between the two shows are hotly debated, with Stephen Levinson & Mark Wahlberg producing both for HBO and the two shows following similar structures & themes, Ballers is a show of its own.
Prior to making Ballers, Levinson produced other TV shows, like How To Make It In America, Wahlburgers, & Boardwalk Empire, along with working on the big screen projects such as Prisoners, and several other Mark Wahlberg projects, such as Contraband, Broken City, Lone Survivor, and The Gambler.
Dwayne Johnson Was A Football Player
Not completely surprising, Dwayne Johnson has a deep-running love for the game of football. He tried his hand at going pro, playing for the University of Miami and going undrafted in the 1995 NFL Draft. He winded up playing half a season for the Calgary Stampeders before he switched to pursue professional wrestling.
The love for the game is obvious in Johnson's treatment of former pro-footballer-turned-financial advisor Spencer Strasmore, the characters around him, and for the production of the show as a whole. While not afraid to tackle professional football's dark side, the show does truly come off as a love letter to the game and to the people who make it.
... And So Was John David Washington
Series breakout star John David Washington (star of Christopher Nolan thriller, Tenet) played Ricky Jerret, a competitive wide receiver under Spencer's wing, with Spencer coming to Ricky's side whenever needed. John David Washington is the son of screen legend Denzel Washington, and much like Dwayne Johnson, John David had struggled to make a career in the NFL before making a switch in careers to follow in his father's footsteps.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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