I wish it had told a little more about the truth of Blanco and who he was and why he was there. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego I dont know if it changed everybody else, but it changed me.. McFarland, USA. 21 vital ADU tips from people whove built them in L.A. A new California housing law has done little to encourage building, report says, Parts of California in for a quick shot of rain before drier weather arrives, Everyones worst nightmare: What we know about the California massacre that killed 6, So much rain and snow may boost hydropower good news for Californias grid, Crusading vet treats some of L.A.s most cherished residents: The pets of skid row. He acknowledged that not everything in the film was factual, but that "it's still an enjoyable movie it turned out fine." Change). Heres a timeline. 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). . Wagner said he doesnt believe anyone was physically harmed by Diazs actions, but what he did put lives at risk. [10][11] The film was released in Canada under its original title, McFarland. The sports drama was written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson. Jim White, a school football coach at odds with the system and players, takes a job as an assistant football coach at McFarland. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect The McFarland athletes are farm workers before they arrive . Feel free to email jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv. But then it was nervous time. 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." 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. It's not a good one. 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. Was enlisted in the armed services. That experience, White said, changed Danny's perception of the impact his Hollywood character had in inspiring others. Video games, board games, collectible card games and sports all occupy my time. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we'd actually won it. That was pretty amazing. It made me rethink the choices that Ive made in the past, because I had a bad past. Located in California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, McFarland is one of the poorest communities in California. "All my teammates are still here. 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. Without Mrs. White, I dont think any of this would have happened. I think the school shouldve paid because it was during school practice. He also allegedly stole drugs that were supposed to be booked into evidence. inspired to strive for something beyond I realized, you know what, this could have been me had somebody not been on me. Yes, the nickname the boys gave him, as depicted in the film, was real. Enterprise. 1. While Diaz was the fifth scorer for McFarland, he was not overweight as portrayed. those boys were heroes to many. "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 " They came back. White also makes amends with Julie by throwing her a quinceaera with help from the neighbors, though it goes wrong when Julie is taken out on "parade" around the town and the group is attacked by street punks. All of a sudden I saw these headlights and it was Mr. White in his '59 Chevy." 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. She was the real (team) mother hugging their sweaty bodies when they came in.". 5, was not in the picture. "[17], McFarland, USA was nominated at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards in the category Choice Movie: Drama. He got into the truck and began to talk with Coach White about his difficulties at home. "As soon as Mr. White left," Valles said, that he's heard from Samaniego, "they started playing basketball. He took care of us, he fed us, he clothed us. 'That's not even my life story. The fall of Afghanistan and the situation within the pacific has the United States begun to loosen After Life (Victor Puentes/McFarland USA). This survey is intended to capture information from citizens on their desire to secure a high-speed Broadband (Internet) plan from an Internet Service Provider (ISP), to their respective home. They said we won! 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). "I was standing there. Suggest an edit or add missing content . 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. The answers are in chronological order. Jeffrey Parenti, jeffrey.parenti@flosports.tv, Contact Us Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. "We did what we could to help him. 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. They want to make a difference. Im not cocky. 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I wish I had the time to start, Puentes says. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. 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. Obviously this is a difficult, disappointing day in the history of the Bakersfield Police Department, Williamson said. He and his family relocate to his new job at McFarland High School in McFarland, California, which is predominantly Latino. I want all of my. Didn't you get into this fight? You think that's funny, Mitchell? Wagner said he doesnt believe anyone was physically harmed by Diazs actions, but what he did put lives at risk. "He took care of us, he fed us, he clothed us. After a few regional competitions, the team wins its first race. But Diaz believes Puentes has the tools to turn his life around. David, however, graduated the year before McFarland's first state title win. The film was co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures. I grew up with domestic violence and that's what I knew. And he considers Coach Whites wife, Cheryl, to be an unsung heroine of the story. . [6] Principal photography took place in Camarillo, California, and many of McFarland's residents were extras in the movie. For the past several months, Puentes work on a 220-acre ranch, where he helps maintain an almond crop, has kept him busy. He also attended the films premiere in Los Angeles with his daughters and wife earlier this month. "I started hanging around the wrong kids," Valles said. Puentes has been doing visits to local schools and speaking with the media in conjunction with the release of the film. Was there hardship that required help from Coach White and his wife Cheryl? "He just had high expectations of us. 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. BPD detective featured in Disney film charged with bribery, drug trafficking, BY JASON KOTOWSKI jkotowski@bakersfield.com. He was the one who introduced us to bowling, to miniature golfing, to going to the beach for the first time. 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. We spoke with the team's top runner that year, Thomas Valles, as well as the program's legendary coach, to help us better understand McFarland, Fact vs. Fiction. Both Valles and White said the movie producers preferred the idea of three Diaz brothers on the team rather than just two. 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. White said there are hills around orange groves about six miles outside of town where the team goes for true hill training. A series of texts shows that under White's guidance, the team becomes outstandingly successful, winning nine state titles over fourteen years. White. Thomas Valles went on to become a prison guard (LA Times). 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. IMDb's Most Anticipated New TV Series of 2023. This finally gave me the strength to say, You know what? Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the department, was arrested at BPD headquarters Friday morning. There was alcohol or drug abuse in their homes. The film opened in North America on February 20, 2015 and earned $11 million in its opening weekend, finishing 4th at the box office. 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. Included in the segment, titled His Exact Measurements are Still Under Investigation We Will Soon Update. No, the real Coach Jim White actually started coaching cross country at McFarland High School in 1980. There will b She was an Orisha sent to earth to be the protector all. For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film McFarland, USA, life has not exactly followed a Hollywood storyline. Facts about McFarland USA 1: General Information This amazing movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Picture based on the true story of 1987 cross country team from majority Latino high school in McFarland, California. He was, however, the seventh person on the team and still instrumental to its 1987 state title win. But when Coach discovers the boys' exceptional . Kevin Costner stars in Disney's McFarland, USA, a moving film based on an inspirational true story of underdogs triumphing over tremendous obstacles. 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. Im from McFarland and Im proud to be from McFarland.". But, no, that title did not immediately begin the school's run of state championships. Thomas is portrayed as the troubled teen in the movie and also the number one runner. Thank you for reading! 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.". Its changed my confidence. And hes optimistic that the film will be the catalyst that helps him stay away from drugs for good. Puentes said his troubles didnt begin until after high school. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. He, his wife Cheryl White, and their daughters, mid-teen Julie White and preteen Jamie White, have only lived in largely white homogeneous environments, so when Jim accepts the only job he can get as life sciences and phys ed teacher and assistant football coach at McFarland High School in Central California, they are somewhat ill-prepared mentally for the relatively poor conditions and the largely homogeneous Hispanic population in the town, most of their neighbors Mexican immigrants who work as pickers in the surrounding agricultural fields. A week later, Diaz booked only one pound of methamphetamine from the car into evidence. She knew that some of us needed a little bit more. Athena Sanders left McFarland for college, leaving everyone she knew behind. Cookie Preferences, Generated by 10.1.2.53 from cache (2435 ttl) in 25 milliseconds. After sentencing, Diaz spoke with reporters outside the federal courthouse in Fresno. 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. Ask TBC: What's the latest on this indicted BPD officer? The daughter, White said, had low self-esteem, but wanted to meet Danny, inspired by the chubby boy in the movie succeeding in spite of his physical appearance. 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. He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. McFarland tragedy gave boys heart to win. "You try to offer them the same thing we offered our girls," White said. Puentes has been doing visits to local schools and speaking with the media in conjunction with the release of the film. Announces 2023 Boston Marathon Mens Field. As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. But he did say there was a "low-rider" bike with his nickname "Blanco" on it. 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. While the school's football team is as bad as most that he has coached, the one thing he does notice is that out of necessity many of the boys have the stamina to run long distances quickly. Him stay away from drugs for good McFarland, California, and of. To earth to be an unsung heroine of the story, but what he did put lives at.... 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