They asked me if I was happy with my place. Coach White said the genesis of the '87 championship team began in 1986 in conjunction with the approval by the CIF Federated Council of the first statewide championship meet for cross country. Cookie Preferences, Generated by 10.1.2.53 from cache (2435 ttl) in 25 milliseconds. Their legs were shot by Friday, the day before State.". Boards Disney's 'McFarland' (Exclusive)", "Disney movie starring Kevin Costner filming in Camarillo", "Pixar's 'The Good Dinosaur' Pushed Back Nearly 18 Months After Losing Director", "Kevin Costner Movie 'McFarland' Moves Out Of 2014", "Kevin Costner's Sports Drama 'McFarland USA' Pushed to 2015", "Weekend Report: Moviegoers Flee From 'Fifty Shades', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McFarland,_USA&oldid=1107843665, Jim White had not been fired from numerous prior teaching jobs before starting at McFarland. The alleged offenses took place from April 2012 to February of this year, he said. I told them I was but our goal is to win as a team.". Did the boys have to get up with the sun to work in the fields only to return later in the day to train there? He flirts with all the girls and bounces from girl to girl. McFarland, USA was released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 2, 2015 by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. Cart. potential at the predominantly Latino high Now he has nothing but the highest regard for White. - Yeah. There will b She was an Orisha sent to earth to be the protector all. Retired from law enforcement. Now that I live in Lexington, I get to do my dream job of covering the people of central and eastern Kentucky. If one or two of those boys couldn't make practice at four o'clock 'cause they're just gettin' in from work, then I might practice at 6 or 7 o'clock with those boys. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. Im not like, Hey, Im Victor from the movie. I just feel a little bit better about myself because something good finally happened in my life, besides my children being born. He let us know that those were opportunities that kids and families should have an opportunity to do. Thomas is portrayed as the troubled teen in the movie and also the number one runner. As part of our series looking back at that first CIF-State Cross Country Championships in 1987, we also wanted to provide some clarity between Hollywood's version of the story, depicted in the popular McFarland USA, and the McFarland High boys cross country team coached by Jim White. A detective with the Bakersfield Police Department whose exploits as a high school cross-country athlete were highlighted in the Disney film McFarland, USA, has been indicted for allegedly accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in return for assisting a drug dealer in his methamphetamine operation. If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Diaz faces a maximum statutorypenalty of life in prison for the conspiracy, 10 years in prison for each count of bribery, 20years in prison to life for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, fiveyears in prison for each count of intentional disclosure of wiretap information, and threeyears in prison for each count of making a false income tax return. If you need Internet, this is your call to action! As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. Definitely. McFarland had four in (31 points) before Stevenson's No. They're all professionals. David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. The McFarland athletes are farm workers before they arrive . (LogOut/ He later taught woodshop and physical education. Donald trump is right lets import the hard working immigrants and keep the bad ones out! Jim White coaching photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport. 'You're actually doing things for us that our mom and dad don't do. "My parents divorced. They were requested by People Magazine. But the depiction of him in the film prompted him to make a t-shirt showing him as he actually was: "This is the real Danny Diaz.". They want to make a difference. Im not like, Hey, Im Victor from the movie. I just feel a little bit better about myself because something good finally happened in my life, besides my children being born. Sophomores Victor Puentes was 16th overall (10th) and Damacio Diaz was 22nd overall (13th). Oct. 5, 2016 7:45 AM PT A former Bakersfield Police Department detective and member of the famed McFarland High School cross-country team depicted in the Disney film "McFarland, USA" was. Based on the 1987 true story, McFarland USA movie follows the lives of athletes from McFarland, a predominately Latino community in California Central Valley as they build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner). Its not part of the movie, but the team was, obviously, grieving and impacted deeply. Yes. McFarland, USA (also known as McFarland) is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Niki Caro, produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson with music composed by Antnio Pinto. This was out of the ordinary.". Announces 2023 Boston Marathon Mens Field. The site's critical consensus reads, "Disney's inspirational sports drama formula might be old hat, but McFarland, USA proves it still works especially with a talented director and eminently likable star in the mix. Im done. We treated them just like our kids. " Earlier this year, Diaz one of the three Diaz brothers depicted in the 2015 Disney film about the Central Valley team that won the state championship admitted to lying on his tax returns and accepting bribes from a criminal informant in return for information about police during a three-year period starting in 2012, according to the U.S. attorneys office. How sad but the coach went on to do great things with the students so why put a negative on here inspirational movie .Sadly life is like that sometimes but you have just used this page to rubbish everything this movie set out to do aim high reach for the stars believe in yourself and have faith your be the best you can ever want to be. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. White finds the potential for cross-country in few students at the school. He took care of us, he fed us, he clothed us. Slowly we became better and better at it, Puentes says. Asked what part of the story of that 1987 season he wished had been included in the film, White said the impact of his wife Cheryl. Jim White moves his family after losing his last job as a football coach, and at his new school he turns seven disappointing students into one of the best cross-country teams in the region. Julie White has moved to small town McFarland with her family. I didn't do some of the things they had me doin' in there, but that's alright, that's Hollywood. When Diaz filed a joint income tax return that year, he omitted additional income of at least $97,900, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Mejia was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2021 in local reporting for her investigation with colleague Jack Dolan that exposed failures in Los Angeles Countys safety-net healthcare system. Education, law enforcement, business owners. Today, Valles coaches girls cross country coach at McFarland and travels around to speak and share his story. Three suspects in custody following fatal shooting in South L.A. Man who set five wildfires in San Diegos back-country gets 9 years in prison, Man serving life sentence for raping and killing San Bernardino 9-year-old charged with murder in second cold case. The Whites had three daughters. Coach Jim White challenged him and his peers to run. Feel free to email jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv. I realized, you know what, this could have been me had somebody not been on me. McFarland, USA (also known as McFarland) is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Niki Caro, produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson with music composed by Antnio Pinto. This finally gave me the strength to say, You know what? (He had a) poor relationship with dad. Idk if people were aware that MHS, did not want 2 pay 4 Herlinda Gonzalez & Silvia Diaz hospital bills. Our family has watched it three nights in a row. Victor Puentes is a 1989 graduate of Mcfarland High School in Mcfarland, CA. It was tough growing up in McFarland.". Obviously this is a difficult, disappointing day in the history of the Bakersfield Police Department, Williamson said. Within this situation, many of those in the next generation have little chance of getting out of this life, many turning to crime as a means to survive. What you don't see in the film is sixth runner Luis Partida, who was replaced on the team in McFarland USA by David Diaz, who had actually graduated in 1986. Host Keetin Marchi interviews Victor Puentes at the McFarland, USA premiere.Subscribe to Popcorn Talk Network's YouTube Channel @ http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetworkCheck out all the shows' playlists here: https://www.youtube.com/user/popcorntalknetwork/playlistsVisit our website: http://popcorntalknetwork.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepopcorntalkCheck out http://schmoesknow.com for all your movie news!Shopping on Amazon? U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner said his office as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the IRS participated in the investigation. They raised three girls (not two as depicted in the movie) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. Your email address will not be published. Another blast is on the way. White said training would be scheduled to avoid the extreme heat, as well as obligations the boys had to work in the field, and Wednesday church. The answers are in chronological order. I know bcuz Mr. Gonzalez had come 2 my office 2 bring in his work insurance, which his insurance didnt pay much. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. Thomas Valles went on to become a prison guard (LA Times). Its changed my confidence. An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and drug charges. The message is so clear, never give up, even when the odds are against you. Suggest an edit or add missing content . Jose. That experience, White said, changed Danny's perception of the impact his Hollywood character had in inspiring others. He takes full responsibility for that now. GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! Without Mrs. White, I dont think any of this would have happened. cross country coach talks about what it Grab your friends and family and run to see McFarland USA!! And hes optimistic that the film will be the catalyst that helps him stay away from drugs for good. The family feel like they don't fit into their new community, but White has an epiphany one day when he sees his students running from their early-morning farming jobs to school: Why not channel their talents into running cross-country track? All the members of the first team become the first in their families to go to college or into military careers. Its not about me, its not about the other runners. You dont feel your feet hitting the [ground] anymore, you dont feel that youre out of breath. "(That) fixed it where I could never see my parents on Thanksgiving," White said. White is first put as assistant football coach, but ultimately loses his coaching status when he pulls an injured player, Johnny Sameniego, out of a game, causing the crass Head Coach Jenks to ask him to step down. It keeps me busy, keeps me focused, and it keeps me out of trouble, says Puentes, who took time out from driving a tractor to speak with Newswire. During the 1987 season, White took his McFarland team south to compete at Mt. While a course at Griffith Park has been used for meets in the past -- meets White said that included McFarland -- it was never used for the CIF-State Meet. No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. After high school I went to Eastern Kentucky University where I sampled a variety of majors including English teaching, police administration, and journalism before finally discovering broadcast news. I didn't do that until I met the Whites. The principal shook his head. Thank you for reading! However, I believe the Diaz family did go 2 court & the school paid them an undisclosed amount. A former Bakersfield Police Department detective and member of the famed McFarland High School cross-country team depicted in the Disney film McFarland, USA was sentenced this week to five years in prison. Very good moviegringos better stop descriminating the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one. children ran for Jim White and all seven He said no other arrests are anticipated in connection with the case. For the past several months, Puentes work on a 220-acre ranch, where he helps maintain an almond crop, has kept him busy. Read about and view photos of McFarland USAs forgotten inspiration, team members Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, who died in a practice accident in 1986. The family has trouble adjusting to the Hispanic neighborhood and lament being unable to afford to live in Bakersfield. He was the one who introduced us to bowling, to miniature golfing, to going to the beach for the first time. Since he graduated from Californias McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. White and his team overcome poverty and personal turmoil, and get to the pinnacle of success. Excellent movie. They still live in McFarland and still want to make a difference in the community.". ', "After awhile, I realized there is some hints of my true story.". (LogOut/ "[15] James Rocchi of TheWrap wrote "A feel-good movie that earns all those good feelings, McFarland USA might be running on a predetermined track, but the heart it shows along the journey is what makes it a winner. It reminds me of another good one, Glory Road. For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia. "[13] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating, the film has a score of 60 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Diaz was arrested in November following a 17-year career with the Bakersfield Police Department. Many of the citizens of McFarland were extras in the movie. Additionally, Diaz admitted to stealing nine pounds of methamphetamine, which he and his former partner, Patrick Mara, then sold for personal gain, prosecutors said. Likely not. He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most . Change). Located in California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, McFarland is one of the poorest communities in California. champions. "David and Danny (Diaz) are in education. But thanks to the film, hes been given a new lease on life. Valles, a senior, placed seventh overall and second among scorers. For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film McFarland, USA, life has not exactly followed a Hollywood storyline. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. He was like a second dad, Puentes says. Victor Puentes, member of the 1987 McFarland cross country team, has battled drug addiction. It made me rethink the choices that Ive made in the past, because I had a bad past. But, no, that title did not immediately begin the school's run of state championships. Thus began the relationship that was depicted -- sometimes painfully -- in the film. "I was getting interviewed by the Bakersfield Californian (newspaper). Puentes joined the McFarland cross country team as a freshman, after Coach Jim White showed up at his house and asked if he was interested in joining the team. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 2, 2015 by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
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