Cheryl implores him to continue to be there for the McFarland team and their friends in the neighborhood, reminding him how much the community has embraced them. Yes. "David and Danny (Diaz) are in education. Listen Closely (Victor Puentes/McFarland USA Fanfic). - That's what. It's based on a true story, but not everything's very factual, but it's still an enjoyable movie. The movie pushes up his arrival and coaching position at McFarland to 1987, the first year his cross country team attended and won the state championship (1987 was also the very first year that California had a state championship). He later taught woodshop and physical education. [10][11] The film was released in Canada under its original title, McFarland. From left: Johnny Samaniego, David Diaz, Damacio Diaz, Jim White, Kevin Costner, Thomas Valles, Daniel Diaz and Victor Puentes will appear in McFarland, which began production this week. When Im not at work I enjoy visiting my family who still live in Powell County, going to the movies, reading books and graphic novels and playing games of all kinds. 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. I walk with my head up high. We were her sons, Puentes says. experience coaching the team. When we needed something, she tried her best to provide for us, even though we had our own families. White sees the athletic In fact, McFarland, despite winning the Division III title in 1987 with a mostly underclassman lineup, placed only fifth in 1988, second in 1989 and didn't win again until 1992. Jim White, a school football coach at odds with the system and players, takes a job as an assistant football coach at McFarland. [14] In CinemaScore polls conducted during the opening weekend, cinema audiences gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. John Ortiz as Jose Cardenas, Ramiro Rodriguez as Danny Diaz, Carlos Pratts as Thomas Valles, Sergio Avelar as Victor Puentes, Michael Aguero as Damacio Diaz, Kevin Costner as Jim White, Hector Duran as Johnny Sameniego and Rafael Martinez as David Diaz in "McFarland, USA." Juanita Diaz. Over the years, Puentes says he has remained close to his cross country teammates, many of whom, like himself, still live in McFarland. Over the years, Puentes says he has remained close to his cross country teammates, many of whom, like himself, still live in McFarland. Announces 2023 Boston Marathon Mens Field. He said no other arrests are anticipated in connection with the case. Cookie Preferences, Generated by 10.1.2.53 from cache (2435 ttl) in 25 milliseconds. Another blast is on the way. No. The family has trouble adjusting to the Hispanic neighborhood and lament being unable to afford to live in Bakersfield. Hi there! Puentes said his troubles didnt begin until after high school. Just two weeks before he was placed on leave, Diaz posed for photos on the red carpet at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. They raised three girls (not two as depicted in the movie) and recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. Excellent, no trash or language. 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. Nine boys state titles is tied with Jesuit (SJ) for the most boys team titles in state history. I dont need it, I dont want it, Puentes says. Diaz, and father and mother Paul and (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Damacio Diaz. 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. The McFarland, USA true story supports that McFarland High School won nine CIF California State Championships in cross country (including five in a row) and held a streak of attending the state championship meet 24 years in a row. But thanks to the film, hes been given a new lease on life. on their time as cross country runners The film shows White taking the team to fields for simulated hill training on mounds of raw almonds. He took us to church once in a while. It was a great honor to win that first one.". "He didn't know but I took it as if he had said no," Valles said. School. "She was crying and hugging Danny. Vanessa Paz (anchor) Biography, Age, Husband, KGW, Salary, Twitter, Tuwanda Coleman Biography, Age, Education, Wife, Career, Salary, Twitter, Wayne Covil Biography, Age, Education, Wife, Career, Twitter. Teammate updates and McFarland photos courtesy of Thomas Valles. Were part of his life, Puentes says. The indictment states the government will seize the following if its proven it was obtained through Diazs alleged criminal activities: a 2011 Toyota Sequoia SR5; about $49,000 from a Valley Republic Bank account held in Diazs name; property at 157 Famoso Hills Road in McFarland; and a sum of money equal to the total amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the alleged crimes. We knew we had the potential coming into '87. 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. I was lucky enough to get one of the best looking guyshes the best looking guy of all of them, so Im proud that he played me, Puentes says. There will b She was an Orisha sent to earth to be the protector all. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. "[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. They want to make a difference. The 16-count indictment against Damacio Diaz, 43, was unsealed Thursday. BPD detective featured in Disney film charged with bribery, drug trafficking, BY JASON KOTOWSKI jkotowski@bakersfield.com. [12], The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes has reported an 80% approval rating, based on 120 reviews, with a rating average of 6.7/10. 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? Mainly clear. U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, talks to the media Friday about the indictment for Bakersfield Police detective Damacio Diaz, while Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson and Assistant Chief Lyle Martin, listen. 'That's not even my life story. McFarland was not rivals with Palo Alto High School (the schools are 4 hours apart) nor did the schools ever race each other. - I know, right. Change). ", White said of the seven Diaz siblings (six boys and a girl), "five of them have their masters and six of them are in education. White retired in 2002 but returned to coach the 2003 team. Since he graduated from California's McFarland High School in. After a few regional competitions, the team wins its first race. He also said he didn't have a relationship with his baseball coach and questioned why there couldn't have been a better relationship. "Jose Cardenas had had a bad race," Valles recalled recently about his teammate who was the team's seventh runner that day, finishing 148th. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. This page was last edited on 1 September 2022, at 05:39. A struggling coach and teacher who has had to move around for different incidents in his career finally comes to one of the poorest cities in America: McFarland, California. "We couldn't go out there and run those things," White said. He and his wife Cheryl met at Magic Valley Christian College in Idaho. Wagner said he doesnt believe anyone was physically harmed by Diazs actions, but what he did put lives at risk. This finally gave me the strength to say, You know what? Based on the true story of a 1987 cross country team from a mainly Latino high school in McFarland, California, the film stars Kevin Costner as Jim White, the school's coach, who leads the team to win a state championship. At the time of the crimes, he was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force and the Southern Tri-County Task Force of the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. 'McFarland' Movie Helps One of Original Runners Get Back On Track, For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film. Their legs were shot by Friday, the day before State.". 1 of 27. When asked about the measure of fame Diaz received due to the film, and his reputation as a hero in McFarland, Williamson responded that sometimes people arent what they seem. I know bcuz Mr. Gonzalez had come 2 my office 2 bring in his work insurance, which his insurance didnt pay much. The indictment states Diazprovided the drug dealer with information on law enforcement practices and activities, disclosed the names and identities of police informants and tipped the dealer off to police investigations, including information on a wiretap probe. The Whites had three daughters. The McFarland girls cross-country team ran in the California Interscholastic Federation South . inspired to strive for something beyond When asked about the measure of fame Diaz received due to the film, and his reputation as a hero in McFarland, Williamson responded that sometimes people arent what they seem. Coach Jim White Interview & the Diaz Family Looks Back, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Victor is a ladies man. 'You're actually doing things for us that our mom and dad don't do. The indictment states the government will seize the following if its proven it was obtained through Diazs alleged criminal activities: a 2011 Toyota Sequoia SR5; about $49,000 from a Valley Republic Bank account held in Diazs name; property at 157 Famoso Hills Road in McFarland; and a sum of money equal to the total amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the alleged crimes. This was the best of the best. "We're going to go out and try to win the state title.". By Ellysa Harris. Grab your friends and family and run to see McFarland USA!! There is much excitement and anticipation in McFarland about the film, which stars Kevin Costner as coach Jim White, and as I mentioned in my previous posts that dealt with the enormous heartache this town endured in the 1980s Show the world what has happened to my son, Prom night, a crash and six teens lost and McFarlands never-ending heartache this close-knit town deserves some good will and national love. Although the State Meet has always been held at Woodward Park in Fresno, the film includes the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles in the background of what was portrayed as the State Meet course. Eventually, the McFarland team competes in and qualifies for the State Tournament, and White takes them to the beach to celebrate. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. 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. 'Everybody in the world is going to think I'm fat and I wasn't fat.' David, however, graduated the year before McFarland's first state title win. Puentes began experimenting with drugs and battled addiction off and on for many years. 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. I just dont need it anymore. Yes, the McFarland High boys did win a team title at the first CIF-State Cross Country Championships held in 1987. The judge sentenced me to a time period that we believe is fair.. I thought that was normal. No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. He also attended the films premiere in Los Angeles with his daughters and wife earlier this month. All of a sudden I saw these headlights and it was Mr. White in his '59 Chevy." (LogOut/ Diaz disclosed the names of criminal informants to Magallanes so the dealer would not conduct business with them and become a target of law enforcement. Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the department, was arrested at BPD headquarters Friday morning. Yeah, that happened. The film opened in North America on February 20, 2015 and earned $11 million in its opening weekend, finishing 4th at the box office. 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. school and decides to put together a cross Diaz was arrested in November following a 17-year career with the Bakersfield Police Department. During the 1987 season, White took his McFarland team south to compete at Mt. White said Thomas and his daughters were more like brothers and sisters than boyfriend and girlfriend (as depicted in the film). But when Coach discovers the boys' exceptional . Their oldest daughter, Tami, does not appear in the film. We treated them just like our kids. " He rebuilt both the boys' and girls' cross-country teams, despite only the boys' team being featured in the film. Girls XC coach at McFarland. I actually realized what true love was. Public speaker. "However Disney made it a good story is based on Mr. Whites accomplishment with us, with the nine state championships and everything else. The message is so clear, never give up, even when the odds are against you. And, man, I just started crying, started crying tears of joy. Jeffrey Parenti, jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv, Contact Us The alleged offenses took place from April 2012 to February of this year, he said. He showed Valles how . "I started hanging around the wrong kids," Valles said. However Disney made it a good story is based on Mr. Whites accomplishment with us, with the nine state championships and everything else. "I was standing there. McFarland, USA. The principal shook his head. Those kids were good students. MileSplit California Editor: What did Coach White throw at the football player inside the "Thomas didn't have anger management and Danny wasn't fat," White said when asked about inaccuracies in the film. Coach White called Thomas over. In response, White joins them in the fields and convinces them to come to meets and races at earlier and later times of the day, to which they finally address him as "coach". "You try to offer them the same thing we offered our girls," White said. - Yeah. Create an account. For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film McFarland, USA, life has not exactly followed a Hollywood storyline. Puentes began experimenting with drugs and battled addiction off and on for many years. McFarland, USA (2015) Starring Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Carlos Pratts, Hector Duran It's not a documentary. Terms of Use Unlike many of his former teammates, Puentes no longer runs, but he misses it. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. 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? "I didn't ride the Barbie bike," White said. Immediately after the race, Valles said he was taken with a group of top finishers for awards and media but didn't know if the team had actually won. "As soon as Mr. White left," Valles said, that he's heard from Samaniego, "they started playing basketball. (LogOut/ Julie and Jami are also portrayed relatively younger than their real ages at the time of McFarland's first state title win in 1987 (all three were in college during that time). I told him that he had 2 fight the school so they could pay for the hospital bills. Danny Diaz, daughter Delia Diaz, Gabriel Following in father's footsteps working in the agricultural business. "We did have hills," White said. under Coach Jim White at McFarland High The chief said Diaz and the drug trafficker, Guillermo Magallanes, had known each other for quite some time and that Magallanes had been working as a BPD informant. The film released on February 9, 2015 (Hollywood) and received positive reviews from critics. Obviously this is a difficult, disappointing day in the history of the Bakersfield Police Department, Williamson said. David Diaz remains actively involved in the program, Valles said.). Since he graduated from Californias McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. Julie White has moved to small town McFarland with her family. To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them by helping them pick in the fields. Didn't you get into this fight? Below we tell the story of White, Valles and the 1987 championship team and point out areas of Hollywood fiction. Video games, board games, collectible card games and sports all occupy my time. 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. He was, however, the seventh person on the team and still instrumental to its 1987 state title win. Many of White's former runners credit him with inspiring them to achieve personal and career goals they would have otherwise deemed impossible (People.com). He won nine state titles and went to the state meet every year but one, he said. He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. It made me rethink the choices that Ive made in the past, because I had a bad past. He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the department, was arrested at BPD headquarters Friday morning. What about this one? "(That) fixed it where I could never see my parents on Thanksgiving," White said. However, similar to the film, Jim White had never been a runner himself and used the bike to follow the team during their workouts. 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.". "Danny, he passed up Jose out there somewhere," White recalled. That was pretty amazing. According to the indictment, Magallanes paid Diaz to tip him off to law enforcement investigations and in general to protect him from arrest and prosecution. He started teaching in the McFarland school district after graduating from, White did not establish the cross-country team at the school, but instead restarted it after it had been dropped for a year. "(It is) things like that that have touched our lives," White said. "The best part wasn't winning a state championship or winning medals," Valles said, "it's what we did afterward, our education, our careers, my family. While on duty on Sept. 20, 2012, Diaz stopped a vehicle operated by two people from Yakima, Wash., and used a police dog handler and police dog to search the car. 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