He took us to church once in a while. However, it happened a little differently than in the movie. 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. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we'd actually won it. But when Coach discovers the boys' exceptional . "As soon as Mr. White left," Valles said, that he's heard from Samaniego, "they started playing basketball. 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. From left: McFarland's Victor Puentes, Thomas Valles and Damacio Diaz at the 1987 California Southern Area championship in Bakersfield. Though Puentes doesnt see much of himself in the films portrayal, he says thats not whats important. 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. We were her sons, Puentes says. White would take his teams to train in Yosemite at elevation. And hes optimistic that the film will be the catalyst that helps him stay away from drugs for good. He started teaching in the McFarland school district after graduating from, White did not establish the cross-country team at the school, but instead restarted it after it had been dropped for a year. His Exact Age is Still Under Investigation we will Update when Information Is Available. Yes, McFarland is an inspirational story. An ex-detective who was on the championship 1987 track team depicted in the movie "McFarland USA" has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and drug charges. The movies about Mr. White. - That's what. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. I do not own "McFarland USA" or any of the characters. Now he has nothing but the highest regard for White. After that, the Cougars were the easy favorites to win the first small schools division (D-III) State Meet title. By Ellysa Harris. 'You're actually doing things for us that our mom and dad don't do. "He was our second dad. Girls XC coach at McFarland. It reminds me of another good one, Glory Road. "He just had high expectations of us. Police Chief Greg Williamsonsaid Diaz was placed on paid administrative leave when the investigation began in February. [6] Principal photography took place in Camarillo, California, and many of McFarland's residents were extras in the movie. It's all Hollywood. -23ABC News. Education, law enforcement, business owners. ', "But as people started asking me about the movie and telling me 'Hey, Thomas, but didn't this happen? "We didn't really train like that.". Grab your friends and family and run to see McFarland USA!! [7][8], In an interview, Jim White noted that while the film was based on a true story, it was not a documentary. The two met at secret locations, including the upper level of the Valley Plaza mall parking garage, to discuss drug business, according to the indictment. He took us to church once in a while. Mainly clear. What we are reminded of is that McFarland USA is based on a true story but it is not a documentary. He gets interested in building up a cross-country team, but has to adjust his ways to suit the system. Over the years, Puentes says he has remained close to his cross country teammates, many of whom, like himself, still live in McFarland. To save the earth and its humanity. 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. Brittny Mejia is a Metro reporter who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2014. Ask TBC: What's the latest on this indicted BPD officer? White and his team overcome poverty and personal turmoil, and get to the pinnacle of success. "We couldn't go out there and run those things," White said. 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. -John Harte, Yes, and at times the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets. Did Coach White ride his bike as the boys ran? Retired as a correctional officer. All right, guys. MileSplit California Editor: Public speaker. Now he has nothing but the highest regard for White. I think the school shouldve paid because it was during school practice. Excellent, no trash or language. 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. 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? You think that's funny, Mitchell? Since he graduated from Californias McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. PE teacher at McFarland MS. McFarland HS varsity girls basketball coach. It was a great honor to win that first one.". They still live in McFarland and still want to make a difference in the community.". The reality is much less dramatic: he started teaching in the McFarland school district in 1964 -and only middle school- after graduating from Pepperdine University. White continued teaching and coaching in McFarland until his retirement in 2003 and after that he continued living in McFarland. For the past several months, Puentes work on a 220-acre ranch, where he helps maintain an almond crop, has kept him busy. The day of the state championships comes and almost the whole McFarland community accompanies the team to the race. Hey! The fall of Afghanistan and the situation within the pacific has the United States begun to loosen After Life (Victor Puentes/McFarland USA). This was the best of the best. Director Niki Caro chose to omit Luis Partida, who in the movie is replaced with David Diaz. was like to have a movie made about his We knew we had the potential coming into '87. interview. His Exact Measurements are Still Under Investigation We Will Soon Update. I dont know if it changed everybody else, but it changed me.. 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. ", 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. 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. Change). "[13] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating, the film has a score of 60 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". went on to college. McFarland, USA was released on February 20, 2015, received positive reviews from critics, and grossed over $45 million. Valles said he asked the McFarland principal if the team had won. Members of McFarland's Diaz family reflect E-7Sergeant First Class - United States Army. Unlike many of his former teammates, Puentes no longer runs, but he misses it. picking in the fields. Seneca School, Sure, Ill help as best I can. Im from McFarland and Im proud to be from McFarland.. 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. U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner talks about the indictment of Bakersfield Police Detective, Damacio Diaz, while Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson, right, listens, during a press conference Friday downtown in the BPD headquarters. BPD detective featured in Disney film charged with bribery, drug trafficking, BY JASON KOTOWSKI jkotowski@bakersfield.com. McFarland, USA grossed $44.5 million in North America and $1.2 million in other territories for a total gross of $45.7 million. He started off as a junior varsity runner but made the varsity squad as a freshman, working his way up from being the teams number four runner to being the number two runner by the time he graduated. "Some had never had a sit-down dinner with forks.". Slowly we became better and better at it, Puentes says. The movie made me a better person, Puentes told Runners World Newswire. 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. They grew up in broken homes. 1 of 27. I love it so muchthese are people we need the HARD WORKING MEXICANS in this country! "All my teammates are still here. "Niki Caro wanted to show more family in the movie so they chose me," says the real David Diaz, who actually graduated during the school year before the first state title win. This is the team featured in the movie McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20. After the race, Jim turns down the Palo Alto position and embraces his family and the team. He looked after us, he made sure that if we got out of line, he corrected us.. 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). Its also a testament to parents, dont lower the bar for your kids, always aim higb. 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. "I didn't really know what those sports were," Valles said. PE teacher in McFarland, an economically As stated above, the real Jim White started teaching in the McFarland School District straight out of college in 1964. This is part of a series of articles looking back at the 1987 CIF-State Cross Country Championships, the first in California. Slowly we became better and better at it, Puentes says. We all have opportunities to inspire every person we meet every day. 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. 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!!! -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. 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. She's the one girl that changes his mind and he wants to date her. For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film McFarland, USA, life has not exactly followed a Hollywood storyline. SAC where it dominated. "You try to offer them the same thing we offered our girls," White said. The film released on February 9, 2015 (Hollywood) and received positive reviews from critics. When we needed something, she tried her best to provide for us, even though we had our own families. The site's critical consensus reads, "Disney's inspirational sports drama formula might be old hat, but McFarland, USA proves it still works especially with a talented director and eminently likable star in the mix. However, he did rebuild the boys and girls cross country programs from the ground up. If you need Internet, this is your call to action! 'What's going on?' This California farm kingdom holds a key, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles, New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater, Storm sets new L.A. rain records. "I looked over at the reporter and I said 'We won. Well, yeah, that happened. Video games, board games, collectible card games and sports all occupy my time. The movie made about his we knew we had our own families general release on February 20, 2015 Hollywood. Commenting using your Twitter account the easy favorites to win that first one ``... With him not performing that day, if we 'd actually won it made me better! Kids, always aim higb Los Angeles Times in 2014 and many of McFarland 's Diaz family E-7Sergeant. But did n't really know what those sports were, '' Valles said, that he continued in... $ 45 million the reporter and I said 'We won doesnt see of! 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