HBO’s latest show “Ballers” seems to have an interesting infatuation with Penn State judging by the series’ premiere episode.
The show is something of a sports version of the hit series “Entourage,” features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the main lead. Trailers for the program show Johnson acting as something of a sports agent, promising to help grow athletes’ money, fame and overall stature.
But eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed something that hits close to home. In a brief frame of what is supposed to be a generic large football stadium lies something much more familiar. Beaver Stadium, edited of course to remove any indication that Penn State actually plays inside the venue. The endzone is clear of any wording and the scoreboards are left blank. Aside from the stadium itself clearly being Beaver Stadium, only the student S-Zone gives any clue about where the video was shot.
Using Beaver Stadium, for a quick glimpse of a “generic stadium” makes sense. It is one of the largest in the world and looks like it too.
Penn State isn’t the focus of the show and no actual filming was done at Beaver Stadium so presumably that’s the last anyone would hear or see of the Nittany Lions home.
And yet just seven minutes and 48 seconds into the show’s premiere, something else popped up on the screen.
What appears to be a shot from Joe Paterno’s funeral procession on East College Avenue.
Only shown for a few fleeting moments, the footage was shown on a TV inside an office, supposedly depicting the death of a fictional Miami Dolphin.
HBO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ballers is also using NFL logos and as the Business Insider points out, the show can legally use those logos without the league’s permission.
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