Kneeling during the anthem at NFL games and the underbelly of college recruiting were central themes last night for Episode 7 in Season 4 of HBO’s “BALLERS.” The show’s free agent WR character, Ricky Jerrett, played by JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON, is at a neighborhood party where a discussion about PRESIDENT TRUMP comes up. The conversation eventually turns to kneeling at NFL games, to which Jerrett says to another party attendee, “You got a problem with athletes speaking their mind or something?” The attendee responds, “No. Not if they do it on their own time. Just don’t drag the flag into it.” Jerrett: “Ya’ll made it about the flag.” Jerrett is then asked if would kneel if he unretired, to which he says, “You’re damn right I’d kneel, mother*****r. I’d kneel every Sunday. F**k Trump. F**ck that racist-a** bi***.” Jerrett leaves the party and gets chastised by his girlfriend and father. His father, a former NFLer, tells him he is going to “end up like (KAEPERNICK).” Jerrett: “Well that man led a movement.” Jerrett then goes on Twitter and tweets, “F**k Trump and F**K THE WHITES #ImWithKaep.”
BUCKEYE FOR AN EYE: The storyline about college media rights also continued last night. Spencer Strasmore, played by DWAYNE JOHNSON, was forced to make a trip to Columbus, Ohio, after the high school QB prospect he is trying to guide to USC -- the school whose media rights Strasmore is trying to land -- confessed to verbally committing to Ohio State during a visit at the school alongside LEBRON JAMES. Strasmore meets with a fictional OSU athletic department official, who makes a reference to football coach URBAN MEYER, to tell him that the prized high-schooler will not be attending OSU. But then, when Strasmore is driving to the airport, he is pulled over and jailed by Ohio state troopers. Strasmore is met in jail by a big OSU booster, who threatens Strasmore about the high-schooler keeping his commitment to OSU. The booster alludes to involving the NCAA and going after Strasmore personally.
NOTES:
• More members of the skateboarding group Illegal Civilization made cameos in Episode 7. Several members of the group took a meeting at Strasmore’s SportsX agency with Nike reps, but members of the group proceeded to ingest syrup of ipecac and vomit all over the conference room meeting table and Nike execs, ending the meeting.
