In new HBO show Ballers - basically Entourage set in the world of professional football - Dwayne Johnson stars as Spencer Strasmore, a recently retired player trying to reinvent himself as a money manager in Miami, where pro players and their wives, mistresses and hangers-on flock like preening birds.
Hired at an investment firm by a fame-obsessed jerk of a boss (Rob Corddry), Spencer is under pressure to pull all his connections and persuade top players to invest their millions with the firm. His big target is a rising Dallas Cowboys star, Vernon (Donovan Carter), who is beholden to his childhood friend and manager, Reggie (London Brown), and a large retinue of relatives and friends who've quickly spent all his rookie money.
Ballers makes clear the only change in the nearly 20 years since Cuba Gooding Jr coaxed Tom Cruise to scream "Show me the money!" in Jerry Maguire is that there is so much more money involved now - and that "bling" is still a word. Otherwise, Ballers mainly fixates on cars, yachts, houses, topless women and raunchy sex - and a nominal amount of football.
Where: Soho
When: Thursdays 9pm; Wednesdays 8pm
What: The Rock comes to TV
