The team placed second in 1989 with Samaniego placing eighth and getting on the podium. He looked after us, he made sure that if we got out of line, he corrected us.. There will b She was an Orisha sent to earth to be the protector all. Hollywood's fictional fingers are all over how the story is framed but in the big picture, the film captures the essence of the main characters and the story quite well on the big screen. Ramiro Rodriguez had no intention of auditioning when he agreed to . It's based on a true story, but not everything's very factual, but it's still an enjoyable movie. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. "But we'd try to run in the shade in the almonds," he said. - I know, right. Puentes began experimenting with drugs and battled addiction off and on for many years. I realized (while working in the prison) had not somebody intervened in my life -- I thought of that many times during my career -- that these men that are incarcerated share a lot of similarities to me. The actor rode the pink bike, not the coach. Not exactly. ", "That bothered him for awhile," White said. " He won nine state titles and went to the state meet every year but one, he said. When you run long distance, you just lose yourself. He was there to attend the world premiere of Disneys McFarland, USA, which chronicled the 1987 McFarland High School cross-country team, on which Diaz and two of his brothers competed. 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. "That's deeply satisfying to me to - to go in and tell a story that is not only meaningful, but is true and real, and tell it with the real people." McFarland director " Niki Caro " It was a great honor to win that first one.". Plainview Herald. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. 'Everybody in the world is going to think I'm fat and I wasn't fat.' They still live in McFarland and still want to make a difference in the community.". They asked me if I was happy with my place. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. Today, Valles coaches girls cross country coach at McFarland and travels around to speak and share his story. In 1987, football coach Jim White loses his job after he loses his temper and accidentally injures a team player in the locker room. However Disney made it a good story is based on Mr. Whites accomplishment with us, with the nine state championships and everything else. Since he graduated from Californias McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. His Exact Age is Still Under Investigation we will Update when Information Is Available. Shortly after, the Diaz brothers are taken off the team by their father, who wants them to work for his team of field pickers instead. 'What's going on?' By Ellysa Harris. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Located in California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, McFarland is one of the poorest communities in California. He said no other arrests are anticipated in connection with the case. 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. to know what it feels like to be Update, February 19, 2015: I found these additional photos from my coverage of the 1986 South Area championship at Hart Park. Thomas is portrayed as the troubled teen in the movie and also the number one runner. Change). Trending. Listen Closely (Victor Puentes/McFarland USA Fanfic). was like to have a movie made about his When Coach Jim White (Costner) arrives to teach at a predominantly Latino high school, everyone has a lot to learn about each other. While at Eastern I wrote for the award winning Eastern Progress and served in the student government. Since he graduated from California's McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. Very good moviegringos better stop descriminating the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one. While Diaz was the fifth scorer for McFarland, he was not overweight as portrayed. Almost all members continue to attend the practices that Jim White held for successive school cross country teams even after graduation from college. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. - Yeah. 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. These photos, by the way, are from the California Southern Area meet held at Hart Park in Bakersfield, probably November 1987, and if I remember correctly, it is the meet before the California Interscholastic Federation section championship and the California state championship, which the team went on to win, and is a focus of the film. 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. ", "Thomas he made a big impact on our life," White said. Similarly, White took both teams to the California coast beach at. "All my teammates are still here. Now he has nothing but the highest regard for White. picking in the fields. Diaz had a life that afforded him many opportunities, including the opportunity to serve and protect his community as an officer of the law, said Phillip A. Talbert, the acting U.S. attorney for Californias eastern district. All seven have little hope for their future, specifically Valles, who has hardships with his father and nearly throws himself off a bridge before White stops him. "You saw the hills at the end of the movie.". I walk with my head up high. 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. 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. Youre just thinking about your life or whatever is going on around you at the time., Puentes former McFarland cross country teammate Danny Diaz recently told 23ABC News, He made some bad choices and hes the first to tell you, You know what? "Neither did I throw that shoe at that young man. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? PE teacher at McFarland MS. McFarland HS varsity girls basketball coach. 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. McFarland was not a desperate last resort. Wagner said during a press conference Friday that they began looking into Diazs activities as a result of information received from unrelated drug investigations earlier this year. When we needed something, she tried her best to provide for us, even though we had our own families. "He didn't know but I took it as if he had said no," Valles said. Unlike many of his former teammates, Puentes no longer runs, but he misses it. "He took care of us, he fed us, he clothed us. I realized, you know what, this could have been me had somebody not been on me. Google 'McFarland USA fact vs. fiction' and you get quite a few options that separate the true story of the upstart cross country program at the rural Central California high school and Hollywood's spin on it in the 2015 film starring Kevin Costner as coach Jim White. "McFarland's Family of Champions," are We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Teammate updates and McFarland photos courtesy of Thomas Valles. Since he graduated from California's McFarland High School in. Behold! "Danny, he passed up Jose out there somewhere," White recalled. The information captured will be shared by the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS), with all known ISP's conducting business in the State. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. Because Thomas Valles, McFarlands top runner in 1987, is the focal point of all these photos, this was most likely a profile I was assigned to shoot of him in advance of the state championship meet. That was my running family, my brothers, my teammates, Mr. Victor is a ladies man. Im a better person because of this movie and because of my wife, family, and everybody else. This race occurred two and one-half weeks after two teammates on the girls team, Silvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, were struck by a car and killed while practicing. Victor Puentes is a 1989 graduate of Mcfarland High School in Mcfarland, CA. Slowly we became better and better at it, Puentes says. 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. Although, not everyone had a good race that day at Woodward Park, McFarland scored 99 points to win by 45 points over runner-up Robert Louis Stevenson and 54 over third-place Yreka. 'You're actually doing things for us that our mom and dad don't do. I want all of my. All three girls graduated with degrees in education from Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas; Tami in 1985, Julie in 1988, and Jami in 1991. Finally a great movie, no mayhem, no killing, no swearing, no hanging boobs..this puts some of the other lollywood trash where it belongs In the trash.. Great movie, I cried, wonderful acting and the best inspiration for our young generations!!! However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. We treated them just like our kids. " Yes. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. . Its not about me, its not about the other runners. Central Valley. 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. I know bcuz Mr. Gonzalez had come 2 my office 2 bring in his work insurance, which his insurance didnt pay much. it's not all true but he's okay with that. She wrote Victor every chance she could get. "[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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. We developed a program. Sergio Avelar is known for McFarland, USA (2015) and Made in Hollywood (2005). The McFarland team continued to run races in North America, Europe, and Asia. "Jose Cardenas had had a bad race," Valles recalled recently about his teammate who was the team's seventh runner that day, finishing 148th. 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. "My parents divorced. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. That's OK. We're doing it for our kids, we'll do it for you. Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new He was there to attend the world premiere of Disney's "McFarland, USA, " which chronicled the 1987 McFarland High School cross-country team, on which Diaz and two of his brothers competed. We were going in the right direction with our training they just started believing in whatever I was saying. After Life (Victor Puentes/McFarland USA) by dbkiwi YOU ARE READING After Life (Victor Puentes/McFarland USA) Fanfiction Athena Sanders left McFarland for college, leaving everyone she knew behind. The movie made me a better person, Puentes told Runners World Newswire. 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. 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. For them to gel as coach and team members, they will have to understand the other better and fully embrace the opportunities. 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. Another blast is on the way. Is McFarland, USA Sad? He also attended the films premiere in Los Angeles with his daughters and wife earlier this month. "[17], McFarland, USA was nominated at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards in the category Choice Movie: Drama. I received a nice surprise today when my pal, longtime Bakersfield Californian photographer Felix Adamo, found these photos I shot of the 1987 McFarland boys cross country team. 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. Jim does whatever he can to get the key boys in any way he can to be the core of the needed seven member team. Because of White's rigorous training and the efforts of the entire team, McFarland upsets the other more favored schools and comes in first. The sports drama was written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson. ". He was like a second dad," Puentes says. 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). "I was standing there. Cookie Preferences, Generated by 10.1.2.53 from cache (2435 ttl) in 25 milliseconds. Included in the segment, titled McFarland had four in (31 points) before Stevenson's No. He flirts with all the girls and bounces from girl to girl. At times, Diaz purchased meth from Magallanes for personal use, the indictment states. 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