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. McFarland, though unique with its amazing story, wasnt the only underdog small town cross-country team in that area to do well. Yes. Im so glad my essay from 2015 found you in 2022. The team hot to where they went because of you and others. Hes looking forward to answering questions about the movie tomorrow evening, and to talk about whats accurate and whats not. When we run, we own the earth. Jim doesnt want their spirits to sink too low and takes responsibility for the loss, saying it was on him. Cardenas, however, returned recently from the movie's premiere in Los Angeles with mixed feelings. Johnny Sameniego: Sergio Avelar . Regardless, all opinions are honest and our own. However, Centennial High School was not formed until 1993. I was proud to get to play him.. The family quickly goes home. Meanwhile, the White family builds a bond with the McFarland community. His teams won nine championships in 14 years. Im so happy to hear from you, Jose. 30,291. Two of us were absent when Disney spent two weeks on location and filmed the rest of my teammates going for a jog in the fields where we used to train. Damacio Diaz went to college, then became a police officer and a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department as a detective. McFarland, USA (2015) - Johnny Ortiz as Jose Cardenas - IMDb 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. One of these leaders was. 1 May 2023. -BakersfieldCalifornian.com Did Coach White really help the kids work in the fields? 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. 1 for 4 weeks, Jack Nicholson returns courtside to cheer beloved Lakers to playoff win. Eventually, his love for the water led to the Army. The scenes of the state race are the most prominent for Johnny Ortiz, the actor playing me. Not immigrant no more. "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 McFarland, USA (2015) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb You set out sprinting, on fire to prove something. You see I was in the same boat as I was growing up in Salinas Ca. McFarland won a state-record of nine championships with Jim White as coach. Please feel free to share with your friends by click on the share button. His wife enjoyed it more than he did, he says. "The life out there and the life in here is totally different," he says of living in Mexico. Jim White and his wife Cheryl still live in McFarland. She eventually concluded that it was good for them as long as they still worked. I too did not see your performance as a failure. You were born in a community where that was not true, but with the blessings of a great coach and other adults topoint the way to other paths, you made that your reality. Their oldest daughter, Tami, is not depicted in the film. Sign up for our daily newsletter. All Rights Reserved. Web. Still, my heart began to sink when a screening of McFarland, USA rolled around to its climax. Those were my parents. You pushed too hard; you didnt last. As one of the runners said: McFarland was a more balanced community of Latino and white residents then. You moved on, kept running, went to college and graduated, creating opportunities that didnt exist before. The land is ours. Es uno de los tres hermanos Diaz, lo ms gordito, el ancla del equipo. I loved the boys and their families. I was born ina family where everyone goes to college. On the way home, Jim stops by the beach in Cayucos and lets the runners have an afternoon of fun there because theyve never seen the ocean before. All season we had dreamed of winning Californias first high school cross-country state championship. Mr. Cardenas, chin up! They find themselves in a mostly Hispanic community, and when they go to a local Mexican restaurant, a group of young Hispanic men who sport an intimidating gangbanger look makes suggestive comments toward Jims daughter Julie. After three runners from McFarland cross the finish line, they peer back, searching for me, their usual fourth man, but I had fallen deep into the pack. Jose Cardenas became a writer for the Los Angeles Times and at the time of the films release, was serving his country in the military. McFarland cross county looks to reach heights of past McFarland, USA 2015 Stars: Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Johnny Ortiz Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport Rating: PG Runtime: 129 minutes Track coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is a newcomer to a predominantly Latino high-school in California's Central Valley. Photo by RON PHILLIPS -- From left, David Diaz (Rafael Martinez), Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts), Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar), Danny Diaz (Ramiro Rodriguez), Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz) and Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran) are featured in a scene from 'McFarland USA.'. The school is located in a poor Latino community. I think its a pretty darn big deal.. He made his way to Playas de Tijuana, where he's been living alone, along with many other deported U.S. veterans. View the profiles of people named Jose Cardenas. "People worked together in the town," Cardenas said. 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. The team really did call Jim Blanco as a nickname. Second, there was a lot of good old-fashioned hard work. Danny Diaz. Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury. They were a family. "But they've taken some liberties with the facts.". Updates? The climb upward from despair for Coach White isnt easy. We watched the movie together and they loved it. Many of us found our way to college and livelihoods away from the fields. Movies. The odds seem stacked against Jim, who is just as inexperienced at coaching cross-country as the boys are at running it. They call us pochos sometimes.". He was drafted and served in the Army's 82nd Airborne division between 1970 and 1972. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Despite the setback, the boys stick with Jim and continue training. Jim sees this and knows that Jose has put too much into the start of the race and will likely fall back at the end. The director, Niki Caro, chose to do this because she wanted to feature more family in the story. Please use Latlong.net at your own risk. Football coach White, after being too tough on his team at a previous high school in a far more prosperous place than McFarland, accepts a teaching position and assistant coaching job at McFarland High School. After work each day, he routinely goes straight to cross-country practice to work with the kids on the McFarland Youth Track club. But like any movie based or inspired by a true story, not everything in McFarland, USA is literally true. Jim begs the father to change his mind and even spends a day working in the fields helping them to convince the father to let the brothers stay on the team. Kevin Costner stars as White, an embittered man whos struggling to support his wife and two daughters. Besides Mr. White, other good-hearted adults looked after the towns needy youth.. The town and running are synonymous. We speak the birds' language. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. You deserve the accolades and life you have been given due to your hard work! "He thinks hes out there still, so someone needs to be there to kind of calm him down and stuff. 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. In reality, White had been coaching the cross country team for seven years (since 1980). The International Womens Media Foundation supported Erika Aguilar'sreporting from Tijuana, Mexico as part of the Adelante Latin America Reporting Initiative. 'McFarland, USA' film revives long-buried memory for runner Give others a chance to shine. Sending love & good vibes your way, always. The state championship aside, McFarland, USA suggests my teammates became winners in life. 1987 was a tragic year in many ways for McFarland, which made the teams cross-country title even more meaningful for a community struck by grief. Then computers.". Appreciate your different philosophical way to look at things. Learning from the film McFarland USA: As a leader, make a difference in During that year when the team won the title, all three daughters were actually in college in Texas. 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. "Usually, I'd finish fourth. McFarland, USA runs an inspirational race. Jose read the blog post and responsed: Thank you Laura for your take on my essay. Thanks for your comment! A day later, I read inyour essay in the L.A. Times that your State Championship race was one of the biggest disappointments in my youth. Your long-held regret stirred the nurturer in me, and although you are a grown man, a journalist, husband, father, and Army sergeant, in my mind you are still that high school kid, and I cant help my motherly instinct to tell you how I see what you did that day, and what lessons you have taught me and my children. Another accident killed McFarlands football coach and several beloved students from the school. Get our L.A. Mcfarland High School Class of 1988 Jose Carmona. Flying with the birds through the groves Samaniego currently holds CSUBs 18th best time in the 1,500-meter race. And that hurts me because I cant do that.". Now, we take our kids out of state for runs, three to four times a year. I thank you and your fellow team mates for a real life example for ALL the young folks. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? We had the right principles and the right attitude. Jose Cardenas became a writer for The Los Angeles Times and is currently serving his country in the U.S. army. Visit MrsKathyKing's profile on Pinterest. 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. But Cardenas isn't just sitting around and hoping. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. I never get tired of reading the essay & watching the movie. 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. He can be reached at mal.vincent12@gmail.com. "The main crop was almonds. "They have to add up the average.". A few notches down from what the Whites are accustomed to, but the troublemaking Coach White, or at least hes perceived to be a troublemaker, has no other options left. Now, 28 years later, Cardenas has had to relive that vexing memory because his performance is a focal part of "McFarland, USA," a film occupying theaters nationwide. Thanks Laura for this wonderful and insightful letter to MR JOSE CARDENAS. You will guide her throughheartbreak or disappointment byscrolling through your youth,looking for a moment that fills yourreservoir of empathy. "McFarland, USA" tells a heartwarming story about . He had always wanted to be in law enforcement eventually pursued that career, starting in the 1990s. And by that measure, maybe I can let go for good the sour memory of the state race. We wish you nothing but luck & happiness for all your years to come. Johnny helps to recruit other students: Victor, the three Diaz brothers, Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz), and Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts). Pretty much our whole team is going to be there, she says. His journey from McFarland was pushed by his love for writing. Jose, you are a success & a hero. Cardenas says one of his grandsons just joined the military, too. and it was also nice of Mr Cardenas to reply your letter this only shows how honorable man he is. . JamesEdition can help you find the home that match all the preferences for your dream home. A summer and winter resort with a beach on Bourget Lake (Frances largest lake) and an aerial cableway up fir-covered Mount Revard (5,125 feet [1,562 metres]), it is a fashionable Alpine spa maintaining the sedate luxury of the Victorian era. In truth, David Diaz had graduated the year before the team won the state championship. The latitude of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is 45.688499 , and the longitude is 5.915300 . In the end, he says, its a Hollywood movie. Photo by RON PHILLIPS -- From left, Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran), Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar), Damacio Diaz (Michael Aguero), Danny Diaz (Ramiro Rodriguez), Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz), Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts) and David Diaz (Rafael Martinez) share a scene in 'McFarland, USA.' Do you have any thoughts about those experiences youd like to share? Samaniego ran for the track and field team at CSUB because they didnt have a cross-country team. And though people in McFarland did have jobs in the farms, they weren't picking lettuce, as shown in the film. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. And Cardenas still runs, but not competitively. That race is going to healyour daughtersheart some day. He would often buy shoes and food for his runners. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 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. So happy they all turned out to be heroes. That final championship race. Im a german journalist, living in Paraguay with my adopted son and two other paraguayan foster children. 'McFarland, USA' runs an inspirational race - theadvocate.com The land is ours. Disgraced cop of 'McFarland USA' fame gets five years in prison (1999) 25,732; (2014 est.) Currently, he is a correctional officer at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, Speak to recruitment advertising specialist, More than $15M in residential damage caused by EF-3 tornado in Virginia Beach, city officials say, Paradise Ocean Club unlikely to reopen this summer, owner says, citing slow progress on lease discussion, Former Virginia Beach sailor sentenced to 15 years for killing estranged wifes lover, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. The running scenes in the orchards were filmed on-location in McFarland, in the same place where the real team trained. We push too hard and flame out. I too thought he was much too hard on himself in that article. While Jim and his daughter Jamie watches the boys in his PE classes run laps around the track, Jamie makes a comment about Victor and Johnny being incredibly fast runners; Jim agrees, and has an epiphany: to start a cross-country team. Coach White and his new students find that they have much to learn about one another, but things begin to change when White rea. 2023. 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. He competed in the 1,500-meter and 800-meter races and was a part of the team that won the conference in 1994. We still enjoy the whole running thing. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. After graduating high school in 1990, Johnny went to College of the Sequoias and competed as a runner from 1990-1992. Its taken me awhile to warm up to it., Jim White, portrayed by Kevin Costner, was the team coach. Courtyard by Marriott has donated a room, and Cheerwine has donated bottled water for Saturday. Your contribution is so appreciated. Sports. He then transferred to Cal State University of Bakersfield (CSUB) from 1993-1995. He also did find Thomas Valles on a freeway overpass and help him deal with his family problems. Coach Jim White, whom the team called "Blanco," persuaded Cardenas to switch from football to cross-country. DMS (degrees, minutes and seconds) format. He returned home to take care of his mother and during that time, he began to experiment with drugs. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if . Danny Diaz (Ramiro Rodriguez), Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz), Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts) and David Diaz . If you read some of the stories, some of them are pretty crazy. The company also supplied soft drinks for a gift basket for the speaker, which also includes goodies from Catawba College and the Y. As far as Cardenas is concerned, it is a day that will live in infamy, even though the team won, and it's a great finish for a movie. At the qualifier, a coach slips an offer to Jim to leave McFarland for a full-time job at a large, wealthy school. We just went to Cross Country Nationals in South Carolina. In an interview for the film, David also mentioned that he is a person of faith and that faith was a big part of the team. Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. . He also occasionally travels as a motivational speaker and in the course of doing these promotional appearances, he has seen the movie eight times. 79 were here. Damacio Diaz recalled fondly in an interview for the film that he would often jog with his dad, Paul Diaz, who worked hard for his family. The McFarland team continued to run races in North America, Europe, and Asia. Facebook gives people the power to. You have permission to edit this article. View JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS' professional profile on LinkedIn. McFarland was a more balanced community of Latino and white residents then. Every word was right on. P.S. 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.