Its been an emotional roller coaster, but they put together a very good movie for a general audience, Cardenas says. "We were competitive, but the world of cross-country running is such an insular, quiet community that the runners were more friendly.". Joe Vaughn is best known for leading the Buena High, California girl's basketball team to 500 plus victories. Coach White took care of the young runners - sometimes getting them shoes or letting people stay with his family, as did the community. Hey, and I would love to show the film to a certain Donald T. so he could learn from Mexican American Power and warmth and character, tenacity and team spirit. Im sure there is some embellishing going on in the movie, but it truly is an amazing story.. Not immigrant no more. Upon his release, he returned to college to continue his education and landed a quality job on a ranch. In a public statement, Damacio said that he regrets the decisions hes made and the lapse of judgment that led to the crimes, and that this was not the person he really was. McFarland USA poem by Cardenas - YouTube McFarland, USA (2015) - Plot Summary - IMDb You won as a team and you played such an important role in this team. It drew national attention because for him, the final race portrayed in the movie was one of the most painful memories of his life his mistake of starting out too fast put enormous pressure on his team to make up the points. The film depicts the McFarland team forming and winning the state championship in the same year (1987). Le explica a White que comenz trabajar en los campos a los 10 aos. He does a great job. The land is ours. And by that measure, maybe I can let go for good the sour memory of the state race. Team God bless you , I really enjoyed your article Mrs. Laura Diamond, and I am watching McFarland as I write. White loses his cool and throws a cleat at a locker. Theres make-it or break-it drama in his recruiting efforts, drama of the kind that reveals the characters of the young men and White. The Cougars finished sixth last week at the CIF Central Section Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno. Have a team. Ten years later, I was a reporter at this newspaper when a movie company purchased the rights to an article about McFarland, a small, poor and predominantly Mexican American town in the farming heartland, going for an unprecedented sixth straight state championship. Disgraced former Bakersfield Police Department detective Damacio Diaz, one of the real-life heroes of the movie "McFarland USA," was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Fresno to five . Maria Marisol: [reading Jose Cardenas's paper] We fly like blackbirds through the orange groves, floating on a warm wind. In response to his essay, Laura Nicole Diamond wrote an open letter to Jose to encourage him and let him know how an inspiring example he was to people. After high school, Cardenas went to a junior college "half-an-hour up Highway 99 and continued running, but on paper. Jim is so distraught by this incident that he begins to seriously consider leaving McFarland and accept the job offer at the wealthy school. Jose Cardenas has made peace with seeing his life splashed across the silver screen. Cardenas was a member of the California state championship cross-country team whose story is portrayed in the new movie "McFarland, USA," which was released by Disney in February. You moved on, kept running, went to college and graduated, creating opportunities that didnt exist before. Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France Geographic Information, Fontenay-sous-Bois, the le-de-France, France, Saint-Michel-sur-Orge, le-de-France, France, Fleury-les-Aubrais, Centre-Val de Loire, France, Saint-Genis-Laval, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France. Jims wife Cheryl makes friends with Javis girlfriend (Martha Higareda). After graduating high school in 1990, Johnny went to College of the Sequoias and competed as a runner from 1990-1992. His wife Cheryl, who tirelessly supported her husband and his coaching, described the runners this way: These kids are like our own kids and grandkids. His group painted a section of the border fence in Tijuana red, white and blue with the names of deported veterans. We speak to the gods. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if . I hope you continue writing even as you pursue your career in the Army. The two teams were close and a terrible tragedy that killed two girls on the cross-country team (Sylvia Diaz, 16, and Herlinda Gonzalez, 14, were struck and killed by a car during cross-country practice) earlier that school year, A journalist who covered the 1987 race remembers this moving moment when Thomas Valles, who is a prominent character in the film, ponders the deaths of Sylvia and Herlinda before the championship race: Here was the star runner, just a kid, bringing his hands to his face in prayer and keeping them there for what seemed an eternity before the start of his race The loss of Sylvia and Herlinda followed their teammates into 1987, the year of the boys first state cross-country victory., One of the runners, David Diaz, said this to the same journalist about the tragedys effect: The tragedy that happened to McFarland cross-country that year (1986), I believe, catapulted many of us to run with more heart in the following years. He also coaches the McFarland Youth Track Club as an assistant to Thomas Valles, who is the head coach. I loved the boys and their families. The odds seem stacked against Jim, who is just as inexperienced at coaching cross-country as the boys are at running it. Costner gives Whites lessons learned late genuine weight. I havent been through McFarland in at least 15 years. I wish you great strength, grit and joyful moments. He took my place, and McFarland miraculously still won. 4. On the day he met Kevin Costner during the film shoot, Costner shook his hand and said, Youre better looking than the actor whos playing you! Danny was never overweight as portrayed in the film but rather, quite the opposite. At a cross-country race almost 30 years ago, the gun sounds and the seven boys from McFarland High burst across the starting line amid a stampede of runners from around the state. The film only depicts two. Victor Puentes served a sentence at the penitentiary, but continued his education and got a good job. And though people in McFarland did have jobs in the farms, they weren't picking lettuce, as shown in the film. Damacio Diaz went to college, then became a police officer and a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department as a detective. Jim has to talk him off. That race is going to healyour daughtersheart some day. Aix-les-Bains | History, Geography, & Points of Interest Still, Cardenas says, he knows how a story can change once it hits the screen. McFarland, USA - The 1987 McFarland Cross Country Team Dr. Barragan, I appreciate your comment and couldnt agree more. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The mother of the three Diaz boys really did forbid them to run cross-country at one point. (1999) 25,732; (2014 est.) Movies. You set out sprinting, on fire to prove something. Jose, who was one of the top four runners for the team and a key scorer, really did start the race too fast, a very unusual move for a runner who had just recently ran the same course perfectly. JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS - McFarland, California, United - LinkedIn "He thinks hes out there still, so someone needs to be there to kind of calm him down and stuff. Try to see differently. I never get tired of reading the essay & watching the movie. However, Centennial High School was not formed until 1993. 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. Cardenas and his wife, Melody who has family in Rowan County attended the movies premiere, and got to meet the actor who portrayed him, as well as Costner. You deserve the accolades and life you have been given due to your hard work! It was a real eye-opener for our kids, because the kids in the movie picked in the fields before and after school.. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Mal Vincent has been a longtime culture writer for The Virginian-Pilot. When I got deported I didnt even know where I was," Cardenas says. The team and his family learn about this new job possibility and become upset. McFarland, USA Quotes It is also true that most of the runners had never seen the ocean before. We went on to better our lives.. (Spoiler alert for movie fans who arent aware that Disney movies havehappy and dramatic endings). Movie Spoiler for the film - MCFARLAND USA Yours sincerely, Bettina, Johnny, Alexis and Natalia from Paraguay. He's rallied, marched and met with California politicians as part of a group of deported veterans lobbying the government to allow them to return to the U.S. based on their military service. I havent ran another race since middle school because of it. This movie is based on the remarkable McFarland High School Cross-Country Team which, until it was recently forced to compete against much larger schools, dominated its division in the sport state-wide for more than 20 years. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys Hispanic & Latino Voices STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. The community has been real supportive of his being here, Marsh says. Mcfarland High School Class of 1988 Jose Carmona. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. 'McFarland, USA' film revives long-buried memory for runner Visit MrsKathyKing's profile on Pinterest. Es uno de los tres hermanos Diaz, lo ms gordito, el ancla del equipo. Web. In addition, McFarlands mysterious cluster of cancers, which rapidly claimed the lives of several children, happened around the same time and gained national media attention. Cardenas, however, returned recently from the movie's premiere in Los Angeles with mixed feelings. Another accident killed McFarlands football coach and several beloved students from the school. 1987 was the first year that the state cross-country championship race was offered to schools. McFARLAND, USA - Teach with Movies "They do kind of make fun of us because we dont speak the language. He made his way to Playas de Tijuana, where he's been living alone, along with many other deported U.S. veterans. 30,291. Omissions? The album has been published and can. The McFarland, USA true story confirms that at first, the mother of the Diaz brothers -- David, Damacio and Danny -- forbid them from competing. The land is ours. He Served in the U.S. Military, But That Didn't Stop His Deportation Los personajes de McFarland sin limites Flashcards | Quizlet The father agrees. His work will appear occasionally in The Pilot and on HamptonRoads.com. Sponsored . Although White isnt a track coach, he sees great potential for a cross-country team at McFarland High. Johnny Ortiz, an actor who held roles in the Kevin Costner-led film "McFarland USA," and "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie," has been charged with attempted murder, Fox News has confirmed. Aix-les-Bains, city and Alpine spa, Savoie dpartement, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes rgion, southeastern France, southwest of Geneva. The movie was about much more than a state championship race, it was about the people you became. Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is located at France country in the Towns place category with the gps coordinates of 45 41' 18.5964'' N and 5 54' 55.0800'' E. Coordinates of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is given above in both decimal degrees and Ligue de voile Auvergne Rhne Alpes | Aix-les-Bains - Facebook Running 8-12 miles a day, and going to school, AND working in the fields as much as time allowed. The 67-year-old Cardenas was born in Mexico but moved to the United States when he was seven years old. Again, thanks for your article, and thanks to Mr. Cardenas for your inspiration. I can understand your disappointment at your personal performance and I cannot take away those feelings but I what I can share is how I felt and that was a profound sense of pride and admiration toward fellow Mexican-American. Those were my parents. "People worked together in the town," Cardenas said. Our kids are so excited about his appearance.. McFarland was a more balanced community of Latino and white residents then. Thanks Laura for this wonderful and insightful letter to MR JOSE CARDENAS. The school is notable for its succession of twenty-four CIF Central Section championships in cross country between 1987 and 2013. Meanwhile, Jim settles into his neighborhood and learns about the troubled life of one of his other students, Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar), whose uncle just got out of prison and whose father is still in prison. Thank you laura for your take on my essay. Eventually, his love for the water led to the Army. June 7, 2016. After a difficult first half, a disrespectful player talks back to White in the locker room during the coachs half-time talk. He sees McFarland students running all over the community, including the produce fields. Get our L.A. The home theyve bought is old and run-down, and the family experiences culture shock. I will look for more pieces by you, as well. 2. You pushed too hard; you didnt last. The inspirational movie, which opened last week, is building word-of-mouth momentum as a minor hit in the shadow of the current box office titan, "Fifty Shades of Grey.". But "I broke out too early and faded about half way through the 3-mile course," Cardenas said. "Usually, I'd finish fourth. Powered by - Designed with theHueman theme, (Visited 2,021 times, 2 visits today, 1,283,698 total visits overall), describing his experience with the McFarland team. Jose Cardenas, left, and actor Johnny Ortiz attend the premiere of Disney's "McFarland, USA" at the El Capitan Theatre on Feb. 9, 2015, in Hollywood, California. Jim works overtime to train them harder, but he begins to experience more challenges: his home life is strained when he forgets his daughters birthday cake and misses her celebration, and later he finds the depressed Thomas on a bridge about to jump off. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The emotional trip-to-the-ocean scene in the film really did happen, though not in 1987. You inspired me Jose Cardenas!!! Its taken me awhile to warm up to it., Jim White, portrayed by Kevin Costner, was the team coach. and it was also nice of Mr Cardenas to reply your letter this only shows how honorable man he is. Also, around 500 McFarland residents (4%) are the average age for high school seniors (18-19). We speak the birds' language. "I did not run a good race that day," he said, explaining that he was so far back that he earned no points for the team. Track coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is a newcomer to a predominantly Latino high-school in California's Central Valley. "They have to add up the average.". "They wanted the farm kids in the movie," Cardenas said. We had the right principles and the right attitude. 10 McFarland USA Fun Facts That Will inspire You #McFarland Im in the Army, he says, so I have to stay in shape.. Jos is my cousin & an inspiration to all the family. If I had run as well as I did the previous week on the same course when we won the regional championship, the state race would not have been a nail-biter. You are a father. I was born ina family where everyone goes to college. He was drafted and served in the Army's 82nd Airborne division between 1970 and 1972. High School Alumni in McFarland, California (CA) - Class Finders Disney Pictures can thank me, I guess, for creating some true drama. But lets talk about that race. Thanks for your comment! I took it for granted that I would go. Hes looking forward to answering questions about the movie tomorrow evening, and to talk about whats accurate and whats not. They call us pochos sometimes.". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. McFarland was not a desperate last resort. The 2015 film "McFarland, USA" tells the true story of California high school cross-country coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) and his underdog team of Latino runners who had never competed in the sport before and who, when they weren't training, had to help their parents pick crops in the fields. He says Tijuana is almost like living in the United States because there are many Americans there, but there's one big difference: Cardenas can't see his family, who lives just across the border in San Diego, his home of more than 50 years. We wish you nothing but luck & happiness for all your years to come. The incident costs White his job, and, with no other employment choices, he moves out of town with his wife Cheryl (Maria Bello) and two daughters, Julie (Morgan Saylor) and Jamie (Elsie Fisher). His alumni now coach the cross-country programs for the elementary, junior high, high school, as well as McFarlands Parks and Rec teams. I ran track in the spring of my freshman and sophomore years but played football in the fall. Thomas Valles . We were good Christian kids, and we put our abilities to good use. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Despite winning their first race against local powerhouse Clovis, the father of the Diaz brothers pulls them from the team to pick in the fields. McFarland, USA runs an inspirational race. The player, Johnny, is also kicked off the team. Coach Jim White, whom the team called "Blanco," persuaded Cardenas to switch from football to cross-country. Jose, you are a success & a hero. He joined the ROTC in high school in San Diego in hopes of following in the footsteps of his stepdad, an American citizen who sponsored him to become a permanent resident. Check out the latest entertainment and arts news, then plan your weekend with a look ahead at what's happening around Hampton Roads. A versatile and innovative financial manager with 30 years of management and leadership experience seeking to utilize skills in adult education and fiduciary oversight of multi-billion dollar . Victor Puentes: Michael Aguero . Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France P.S. Jos Cardenas is a true inspiration. Damacio eventually returned to McFarland and was active in the McFarland community, was loved by many, and excelled at his job as a police officer. What happened to Jose Cardenas McFarland? 3. David Diaz also went to college and is now the North Kern State Prison Supervisor of Academic Instruction. Aix-les-Bains, city and Alpine spa, Savoie dpartement, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes rgion, southeastern France, southwest of Geneva. I knew a movie involving one of the biggest disappointments in my youth might be made someday. The state championships arrive, and the entire town of McFarland comes to support the team. . God Bless. Victor Puentes served a sentence at the penitentiary, but continued his education and got a good job. I came across this letter of yours, and I must say I am touched and inspired by your words. It was awkward doing the red carpet, he says, but it was a lot of fun.. Cardenas was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1970, served seven years in the U.S. military and was deported in 2009 after a drug conviction. Mcfarland High School Class of 2011 Ricardo Carmona . The McFarland team continued to run races in North America, Europe, and Asia. The shoe bounces off the locker, hits the player in the face, and cuts his cheek. Jose Cardenas. Cardenas, a staff sergeant in the Army, lives in Virginia Beach, Va., with his wife and daughter. The team hot to where they went because of you and others. Published 12:00 am Friday, March 27, 2015. We were a poor community, but we were not underdogs in the athletic sense.. An hour of discussions and plans and ideas followed and they all said: you gave it a try, you had so much heart and wanted to give victory to your team mates. All other trade-marks and graphic not owned by www.MrsKathyKing.com that appears on this post are the property of their respective owners, who may or may not be affiliated with, connected to, or a sponsored of www.MrsKathyKing.com. Perhaps that is why stories like Mr. Cardenas and his teammates resonates so strongly, as reminders that what may seem impossible isnt. The runners begin their training with doubt about their white coach, whom they nickname Blanco. Cardenas, a staff sergeant in the Army stationed at Fort Eustis, was part of that team from a poverty-ridden California town that "comes from behind" to win its first state title. Lupe has Javi fix Cheryls car after it breaks down and gives Cheryl a free manicure in her salon while she waits. And Cardenas still runs, but not competitively. "Jose Cardenas had had a bad race," Valles recalled recently about his teammate who was the team's seventh runner that day, finishing 148th. "People like Rita Peebles, a cook in the cafeteria who slipped five bucks into my pocket before every away meet so I wouldn't go hungry when the bus stopped at a McDonald's.". McFarland, USA (2015) - Vanessa Martinez as Maria Marisol - IMDb We are real close. Costners coach, a man wholl do what he thinks is right despite the consequences, is quickly relieved of his assistant football coaching duties at McFarland. Tambin es pizcador en las maanas. Well said! The latitude of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is 45.688499, I was preparing myself because I knew I was going to get drafted," Cardenas says. And White wasnt the only adult who looked after the kids. It took one of our usually slower runners to sprint mightily down the stretch. Cardenas turned an internship at the Los Angeles Times into a full-time job on various beats. Jose Cardenas - Fixed Asset Accountant & Receiving - LinkedIn But his school had a long tradition of success in cross country, which is not how its portrayed in the movie. Besides Mr. White, other good-hearted adults looked after the towns needy youth.. As the race begins, something goes wrong right away. Veterans who leave active military duty with an honorable discharge are eligible for a burial spot in a Veterans Administration national cemetery. He served four years in the Coast Guard and did maritime law enforcement. Its good to hear from you. Jim White and his wife Cheryl still live in McFarland. (LogOut/ Corrections? In fact quite the opposite it was an inspiring, a wonderful example of perseverance and what it means to work as a team. Then you spent afternoons running miles upon miles upon miles. Cardenas is now a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Eustis, Va. A Y member has a sister who works with Cardenas wife, thus the invitation to come to Salisbury. The lake also has the largest and the most beautiful natural lagoons of the country. Cardenas admits hes had mixed reactions about the movie. The school is located in a poor Latino community. DMS (degrees, minutes and seconds) format. Besides the tragic death of the two girls on the cross-country team, there were many other tragedies in the same year: on Valentines Day, a car crash claimed the lives of six teenagers, four of whom were from McFarland. For me, the story of the championship year and a path to a better life started in middle school. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The 2015 film McFarland, USA tells the true story of California high school cross-country coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) and his underdog team of Latino runners who had never competed in the sport before and who, when they werent training, had to help their parents pick crops in the fields. After high school, Cardenas went to a junior college "half-an-hour up Highway 99 and continued running, but on paper. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? I told you we would win with or without you, our coach, Jim White, told me on the bus ride home from Fresno. His arrest was a big shock to the community because he had been so well-loved and respected. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. As everyone is celebrating and hugging, Jim goes to the Palo Alto coaches who had offered him the job and turns it down with one word: McFarland., Clearly Coach White is a big reason why they had so much success. Please note: On the Scene with Mrs. Kathy King receives compensation of one or more of the products and banners that you will see on this post and or site. Do you have any thoughts about those experiences youd like to share? He has a wife and a daughter. Even that teaches everyone who sees your story to see these truths: 1. Second, there was a lot of good old-fashioned hard work. They were a family. The rest of the film was shot around Los Angeles and in Camarillo, California. Then. Jim White and his wife Cheryl have three daughters. White wonders if he made a mistake. Its a beautiful story of perseverance, teamwork and community! We were state champs, and we did come from a poor farming town. The International Womens Media Foundation supported Erika Aguilar'sreporting from Tijuana, Mexico as part of the Adelante Latin America Reporting Initiative. He remains an active and well-loved member of the McFarland community, often working with youth. In a dramatic instance of culture shock, White, his wife, Cheryl (Maria Bello in a one-dimensional role as supportive spouse and mother), their disapproving teen daughter, Julie (Morgan Saylor), and the familys youngest child, little sister Jamie (Elsie Fisher), move from a predominantly white, middle-class neighborhood to a poor Mexican-American community. He was never sent into combat, but after his two years were up, he joined the Army Reserves and then the National Guard for a total of seven years of military service. Thomas Valles attended and ran for the College of the Sequoias after he graduated from high school. As one of the runners said: McFarland was a more balanced community of Latino and white residents then. "It's a great lesson to us, McFarland, that if we give our children, our young men, our young women goals, we let them see what's possible, they can exceed beyond their own wildest expectations." ~ Kevin Costner 8) Some Experience
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