“COCAINE QUARTERBACK” – LOST IN THE ILLUSION OF TWO WORLDS

“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does” – Venus Williams

In the legendary rosters of USC football, Owen Hanson‘s name might not be a household one. Hanson was a walk-on player of the fabled 2006 National Championship team. He played alongside college greats such as Matt Leinart, LenDale White and Reggie Bush. If you know college football, this group was nearly unstoppable.

After graduation, many of the team went to the NFL to make millions on their talents. Hanson took a very different route for his money.

How did a California kid become one of the most infamous drug-runners of the modern era?

“Cocaine Quarterback: Signal-Caller for the Cartel“ is a three part documentary of Hanson’s rise and fall from grace. The series is produced by Mark Wahlberg’s Unrealistic Ideas team. It debuts September 25th on Prime Video.

Nerd Initiative was granted an early look at the series & here is our series review. *** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

“It was all a dream”…..

In episode 1 entitled “Dr. O. Dog” (Grade: 9/10), viewers get welcomed into a very humble beginning. Hanson’s family is blue collar and hard working. It is very evident where he gets his work ethic from. The relationship with his father appears strained in certain aspects. This time period gives way as Hanson starts his athletic career in college. Once here, the decent into a dark world begins.

It becomes apparent quickly Hanson is out of his element. Knowing there is no turning back, Hanson takes drastic measures to get stronger. This falls back on his ethics to achieve his goals. Ends justify means. This includes crossing into the world of illegal steroids. The result steers him away from the volleyball nets and onto the gridiron.

This comes across like a Hollywood story. Everyone who’s into sports know the level of athletes playing on Pete Carroll’s team. Walking onto USC at this time is unheard of. Factor in Hanson has never played football before & it makes this even wilder to see.

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This opportunity also exposes him to the bright lights and fast life the team was haunted by. Connections come quick. Coming from a life where grass is always greener, Hanson becomes enamored into the lifestyle. One element the series never shies away from is Hanson’s thirst for wealth & status. Once he had a taste, there was no going back. This desire moves him into becoming a product pusher. This is the birth of “Dr. O Dog”.

After the team wins the National Championship, everything changes. Hanson’s friends are moving on with their sports careers. What is a walk-on pusher that isn’t a star player going to do now? Slip further into a chameleon skin.

Hanson’s connections move him into a darker path. From illegal products to sports betting, Hanson is caught up and not looking to leave. This episode never shies away from the fast life taking hold. Hanson’s story is one that is a tragic fall forthcoming.

Viewers easily see how seductive this new “O Dog” life becomes. It also catches more attention for dangerous & shady people. The pace is set as it heads into its’ more polarizing episode.

“The more money we come across..The more problems we see” – C. Wallace

Episode 2 entitled “Junior DeLuca” (Grade: 7/10) is where the dream falls apart. It is easily the series most polarizing episode. Hanson falls deep into the criminal world. Money laundering Millions for the Cartel is now his prime occupation. Moving that kind of money is not exactly “easy”. Hanson makes a crucial error of judgment & brings in someone who’s impact is problematic to put it mildly.

Hanson finds “Robin Hood 702” as a possible asset in moving the money. “702” is a known gambler who’s message is using his winnings like Sherwood Forrest’s favorite resident. Like any relationship, their is a brief honeymoon phase. Money is moving & everyone wins. It doesn’t take long for events to turn south. Gambling is called that for a reason. You either win or lose. In this case, you bet big, you lose even bigger.

When “702” loses a massive amount of Hanson’s flipped money, everything goes up in flames. Viewers hear all sides of each story. 702 comes across as over-confident in the persona he created. The same can be said for Hanson. The naive and childish actions show how he was truly out of his element in this world. There is a tremendous amount of he said-he said. It leaves viewers forging their own sides. Neither come off endearing their case of who was right. The following actions only escalate their egos more than solving the problem at hand.

As this episode proceeds, it only becomes more unhinged as both charismatic personas fade away. There are many moments that become questionable as the episode moves into the finale. It becomes a challenge to think how anyone is going to dig themselves out of the hole created.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up” — V. Lombardi

“Mr. Don Corleone” (Grade: 8/10) shows Hanson’s true fall from grace. Viewers can sense the desperation on Hanson’s demeanor as he desperately tries getting of his debt. It also showcases his drive to beat the odds. The manner in how he escapes this burden is very surprising. The moment also shows an underlying theme of Hanson’s personality. As much as signs are there, he can’t escape his desire for excess and money.

This moment becomes a defining one for Hanson. His choices lead into a new level of criminal activity. Viewers can get a true sense of how tight the hold of this lifestyle had on the young man. In this moment, he has achieved all he want. Hanson voices the overwhelming desire to make it better than his friends. It hearkens back to his USC days. This success also came with a heavy price.

With his newfound status, Hanson loses focus on the prize. Viewers see how sloppy he becomes in handling the very dangerous line of work he is in. This leads to mistakes made. In this line of work, there is no room for error. The result is a tragic, but predictable finish.

The series wraps up with Hanson left at a cross roads. Viewers are left to form their opinions on where he is now at in life. There are scenes which lean both ways on where his destiny will take him now. It is a fitting chapter end of a roller coaster life thus far. Rest assured, Owen Hanson’s story is far from over.

OVERALL GRADE: 8.4

Have far would you go for a life you never thought you could have? That is the question haunting Owen Hanson as he transforms from college athlete into drug kingpin. The series unveils the highs and deep lows of a naive mans choices. It exposes viewers into a world where one bad move becomes a spiraling domino effect with dire ramifications. In the end, it also shows the possibilities of how far personal drive and aspiration can lead. Buckle in for a ride that’s anything but ordinary.

Let me know your thoughts on “Cocaine Quarterback: Signal-Caller for the Cartel“ in the comments below. Special thanks to Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video for the early access. Thank for reading! CLICK HERE FOR MORE CONTENT FROM KEN