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? Heres a timeline. All seven Diaz children went to college and all seven returned to McFarland where they live today. 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(LogOut/ inspired to strive for something beyond In actuality, Thomas was the number one runner for the 1987 State Championship Cross Country team for McFarland. 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. Jose Cardenas became a writer for The Los Angeles Times and is currently serving his country in the U.S. army. He also allegedly filed false federal tax returns. No. Police Chief Greg Williamsonsaid Diaz was placed on paid administrative leave when the investigation began in February. Yes, the McFarland High boys did win a team title at the first CIF-State Cross Country Championships held in 1987. 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. Not exactly. Did he ride a pink girls 'Barbie' bike, or was it only Costner? Local photojournalist John Harte, who followed the team at the time, says that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck. Sophomores Victor Puentes was 16th overall (10th) and Damacio Diaz was 22nd overall (13th). He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. "I started hanging around the wrong kids," Valles said. The movie made me a better person, Puentes told Runners World Newswire. He took us to church once in a while. They still live in McFarland and still want to make a difference in the community.". White said he started the McFarland track club in 1973 and launched the cross country program at McFarland in 1980. She was the real (team) mother hugging their sweaty bodies when they came in.". Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. He said no other arrests are anticipated in connection with the case. 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. 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. There were times while doing that job that he said he thought about what might have been had it not been for Jim White and cross country. All the members of the first team become the first in their families to go to college or into military careers. He remains on paid leave. 'What's going on?' A week later, Diaz booked only one pound of methamphetamine from the car into evidence. However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. This finally gave me the strength to say, You know what? The. McFarland was not a desperate last resort. "Thomas didn't have anger management and Danny wasn't fat," White said when asked about inaccuracies in the film. Its not part of the movie, but the team was, obviously, grieving and impacted deeply. Dozens of Coach Jim White's runners ended up going to college or into the armed forces. Eventually, the McFarland team competes in and qualifies for the State Tournament, and White takes them to the beach to celebrate. ', "But as people started asking me about the movie and telling me 'Hey, Thomas, but didn't this happen? Puentes is proud to be recognized for his role in the teams accomplishments nearly 28 years later, and that the film has put his hometown on the map. Now he has nothing but the highest regard for White. Until he runs into Athena. The film was co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures. 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. We were undefeated in '86 and now we had the opportunity to have a state championship team. He was, however, the seventh person on the team and still instrumental to its 1987 state title win. Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. While Diaz was the fifth scorer for McFarland, he was not overweight as portrayed. Now that I live in Lexington, I get to do my dream job of covering the people of central and eastern Kentucky. It's all Hollywood. Update, February 19, 2015: I found these additional photos from my coverage of the 1986 South Area championship at Hart Park. Sign up on Classmates for free to reconnect with Victor Puentes and other high school alumni. I grew up with domestic violence and that's what I knew. At times, Diaz purchased meth from Magallanes for personal use, the indictment states. A U.S. district judge ordered Diaz to begin serving his sentence on Dec. 5. Without Mrs. White, I dont think any of this would have happened. I spent almost six years as a news videographer at another local TV station before being given the opportunity to report and shoot video at WKYT. 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. They worked hard. 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. Puentes said his troubles didnt begin until after high school. Victor Puente Is An American News Ancho Born in Germany to Army parents, He has spent most of his life living in Kentucky. 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? 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 answers are in chronological order. Athena and Victor go through life at McFarland High together. He remains on paid leave. Central Valley. 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. "He just had high expectations of us. Despite the group's insistence that Julie was protected, Jim questions his family's safety in McFarland and interviews for a full-time position at Palo Alto that he was previously offered, upsetting Julie and Thomas. Both Valles and White said the movie producers preferred the idea of three Diaz brothers on the team rather than just two. I just dont need it anymore. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. In seventh grade, Valles said his PE teacher (White) introduced himself and said he coached cross country and track. McFarland was that 'small' then and is still today. The sports drama was written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson. ", "Some of the boys had never been to the ocean," White said. 1987: First CIF-State Cross Country Championships, Remembering 1987: CA's First State XC Meet - Series Hub, Remembering 1987: Arroyo Boys Are Nearly Perfect, Remembering 1987: Drossin, Agoura Overcome Uncertainty, Remembering 1987: First CIF-State XC Championships. Im a better person because of this movie and because of my wife, family, and everybody else. Desperate for work, he moves his wife (Maria Bello) and daughters (Morgan Saylor and Elsie Fisher) from Idaho to McFarland, CA, a rural town that's predominately Latino and the only place willing to give him a teaching job. He later taught woodshop and physical education. So I'd have two practices." On occasion, he said, the boys would have to work in the fields on a Saturday morning before going off to a meet that afternoon. Diaz, Damacio Diaz, David Diaz, Diego 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. Overall, McFarland, USA is a PG-rated movie with an uplifting, inspirational message. "He took care of us, he fed us, he clothed us. 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. White. Diaz, a 17-year veteran of the department, was arrested at BPD headquarters Friday morning. Over the years, Puentes says he has remained close to his cross country teammates, many of whom, like himself, still live in McFarland. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. The real McFarland Cougars who won the 1987 cross-country state championship in California are shown from left: Thomas Valles, Victor Puentes, Damacio Diaz, Johnny Samaniego, Jose Cardenas,. Your email address will not be published. Yes, McFarland is an inspirational story. Plainview Herald. "I abruptly stopped the interview and took off," he said about joining his teammates. " The best McFarland, USA quotes from a movie about the true story of the 1987 McFarland High School cross country team. For the past several months, Puentes work on a 220-acre ranch, where he helps maintain an almond crop, has kept him busy. He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. That day at Woodward Park, McFarland's top four were dominant. Similarly, White took both teams to the California coast beach at. The team would go on to launch a dynasty by winning the first of nine state championships. Girls XC coach at McFarland. 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. Im from McFarland and Im proud to be from McFarland.. McFarland USA Interview - Victor Puentes (2015) Interview with Victor Puentes (Real Life Character) for McFarland USA. They're men of color. Located in California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, McFarland is one of the poorest communities in California. He was like a second dad," Puentes says. As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. "We were a very good team in 86," White said. ", "That was Hollywood," Valles said. Jim White, a high school teacher and football coach, has been fired from one job after another, as the desired end of getting people to do the right thing in his mind has not always justified his sometimes impetuous and spontaneous actions as the means. But Diaz believes Puentes has the tools to turn his life around. I think the school shouldve paid because it was during school practice. Mara pleaded guilty to related charges in June and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17. Yes. He said the high school had 4,000 students and he "felt like a number." . Added Cheryl: "With him being a pitcher, he would have been straight on.". [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. 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. 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 .css-1hr08dr{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#59E7ED;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1hr08dr:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}told 23ABC News, He made some bad choices and hes the first to tell you, You know what? Its also a testament to parents, dont lower the bar for your kids, always aim higb. Create an account. "We did what we could to help him. "[17], McFarland, USA was nominated at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards in the category Choice Movie: Drama. He flirts with all the girls and bounces from girl to girl. It took all of us to make thisevery runner who won a state championship from McFarland made this happen, not just myself or the seven runners. 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. White and his team overcome poverty and personal turmoil, and get to the pinnacle of success. They asked me if I was happy with my place. ", 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. On one occasion, Mrs. Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia. I didn't want to go home," says Thomas. ", "It was a great accomplishment," White said. picking in the fields. 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. Included in the segment, titled This page was last edited on 1 September 2022, at 05:39. [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. Unlike many of his former teammates, Puentes no longer runs, but he misses it. - I know, right. "I grew up in a broken home," Valles said. This is part of a series of articles looking back at the 1987 CIF-State Cross Country Championships, the first in California. That streak ended while the movie was in production, after the small school was elevated to Division I status, a byproduct of their success. Damacio Diaz, whose story was told in a Disney movie about a high school cross-country team, admitted to accepting bribes and drug offenses, federal prosecutors said. Mainly clear. Since he graduated from California's McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. Though Puentes doesnt see much of himself in the films portrayal, he says thats not whats important. Host Keetin Marchi interviews Victor Puentes at the McFarland, USA premiere. 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. Its changed my confidence. Victor Puentes (Anchor) Arrest 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. Police Chief Greg Williamsonsaid Diaz was placed on paid administrative leave when the investigation began in February. Victor Puentes served a sentence at the penitentiary, but continued his education and got a good job. We knew we had the potential coming into '87. 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). "We didn't really train like that.". "I didn't ride the Barbie bike," White said. The alleged offenses took place from April 2012 to February of this year, he said. PrepCalTrack.com conducted this Jim White those boys were heroes to many. There was alcohol or drug abuse in their homes. went on to college. Its not about me, its not about the other runners. 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. Enterprise. Some, like David Diaz, became teachers themselves. The family has trouble adjusting to the Hispanic neighborhood and lament being unable to afford to live in Bakersfield. Wagner said he doesnt believe anyone was physically harmed by Diazs actions, but what he did put lives at risk. Another blast is on the way. - Yeah. Its about McFarland. After a few regional competitions, the team wins its first race. Regardless, the Whites decide to live in McFarland instead of Jim making the commute from nearby Bakersfield, where most of the school's Caucasian teachers live. I dont need it, I dont want it, Puentes says. Im done. Julie and Jami are depicted in the McFarland, USA movie. The real Coach Jim White took both the boys and girls cross country teams to the California central coast beach at Cayucos during the 1985 season (not the 1987 season). I dont need it, I dont want it, Puentes says. 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. Im done. White has lived in McFarland ever since. Menu. "We couldn't go out there and run those things," White said. Danny Diaz was not overweight, but he was the seventh runner on the team. For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film McFarland, USA, life has not exactly followed a Hollywood storyline. Those kids were good students. Likely not. 'Everybody in the world is going to think I'm fat and I wasn't fat.' E-7Sergeant First Class - United States Army. The movie made me a better person, Puentes told Runners World Newswire. 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. Video games, board games, collectible card games and sports all occupy my time. To see additional photos of the McFarland boys and girls teams competing in the 1986 Kern Invitational five days after the tragic accident that took the lives of their teammates, please visit the post McFarlands never-ending heartache.. Education, law enforcement, business owners. 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. Though the film portrays Puentes as a ladies man, he says he was actually the shyest person on the team. 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. Juanita Diaz. No, sir. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Terms of Use Yes. ". Not all runners from the 1987 team are featured in the film. You dont feel your feet hitting the [ground] anymore, you dont feel that youre out of breath. 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. Out of all the 1987 team, Victor was definitely the smartest of all of us, Diaz told 23ABC News. We'd love to share your memories of that meet and that experience. 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