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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Perhaps that is why stories like Mr. Cardenas and his teammates resonates so strongly, as reminders that what may seem impossible isnt. Cardenas was a member of the California state championship cross-country team whose story is portrayed in the new movie McFarland, USA, which was released by Disney in February. It was a dismal day for me at Woodward Park, Nov. 28, 1987. Which is why, when Mr. White was trying to persuade me to switch to cross-country for my junior year, he jokingly told me that they would win the inaugural state championship with or without you.. Yes.after i watched the movie im curious about what happen to JOSE CARDENASso truethere are times that we would like to give our best but then somehow it was still not enoughbut you know MR JOSE CARDENASyou played a very big role from the beginning ..the first MCFARLAND had won until the state championshipyou are an inspiration to us allyour hardwork in how to balance your life and do rigorous trainings , so did the rest of the team and the dedication of the coach were so amazing. The inspirational message of the movie is essentially true. McFarland, USA - Wikipedia When we run, our spirits fly. 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. I will look for more pieces by you, as well. The McFarland team continued to run races in North America, Europe, and Asia. You moved on, kept running, went to college and graduated, creating opportunities that didnt exist before. In truth, David Diaz had graduated the year before the team won the state championship. Their first night in McFarland is difficult. Upon his release, he returned to college to continue his education and landed a quality job on a ranch. I told you we would win with or without you, our coach, Jim White, told me on the bus ride home from Fresno. The emotional trip-to-the-ocean scene in the film really did happen, though not in 1987. This movie has been an awesome inspiration to me, cause it takes back to my childhood years, and how tough it was at times, but I had the type of parents, and Im so happy to say, that were always pushing us to be better. On The Scene With Kathy King. Sports can be a great teacher, in the losses as much as the wins. Just across that border are great grandkids he's never met, his two daughters and a son who also served in the U.S. military in Kosovo and Iraq, he says. Jos Cardenas is a true inspiration. 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. A caption says what became of me, a sort of champ in my own life too, I guess. Population stats are from the United States Census Bureau. All he had to do was run as he had all season - not necessarily finish first, just well enough to earn points for a team victory. But Cardenas isn't just sitting around and hoping. 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. No stupid Mexicans. Thank you laura for your take on my essay. Johnny Sameniego: Sergio Avelar . In fact I was getting ready to post about the article Mr. Cardenas wrote during the movie about running through the groves. Kevin Costner stars as White, an embittered man whos struggling to support his wife and two daughters. Sometimes we are overcome by adrenaline and ambition. Your contribution is so appreciated. First:; I want to say that I loved the poem Jose wrote. I took it for granted that I would go. Jos is my cousin & an inspiration to all the family. Marsh praises local businesses for their support. His wife Cheryl, who tirelessly supported her husband and his coaching, described the runners this way: These kids are like our own kids and grandkids. 5 Captivating Reason to See McFarland USA #McFarland, Ceo of Solartiara & Editor of Mrs. Kathy King.com. View the profiles of people named Jose Cardenas. View JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS' professional profile on LinkedIn. He remains an active and well-loved member of the McFarland community, often working with youth. Its good to hear from you. Corrections? Ester Marsh, the Ys fitness director and active with the Ys Warriors track team, is thrilled about Cardenas appearance. Sending love & good vibes your way, always. Disney Pictures can thank me, I guess, for creating some true drama. and it was also nice of Mr Cardenas to reply your letter this only shows how honorable man he is. He took my place, and McFarland miraculously still won. You and your friends worked in the mornings before school and on the weekends in the fields picking vegetables and fruit, just about the hardest (and most important) work anyone can imagine. While he was in the military, Cardenas applied for U.S. citizenship, but he says his application was never processed. Then. We were good Christian kids, and we put our abilities to good use. Remembering 1987: McFarland Fact vs. Fiction - California MileSplit McFarland USA will choke up undemanding viewers, but there isn't enough in it to be remembered as a great sports film. McFarland, USA (2015) Full Cast & Crew. You pushed too hard; you didnt last. 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 Served in the U.S. Military, But That Didn't Stop His Deportation White taught fifth-grade science and seventh- and eighth- grade PE and woodshop. He made his way to Playas de Tijuana, where he's been living alone, along with many other deported U.S. veterans. The rest of the film was shot around Los Angeles and in Camarillo, California. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. Movie Spoiler for the film - MCFARLAND USA Short Poem but very powerful to all the people that have suffered coming to this great nation to give there love ones a better life. The success of the team is documented in the 2015 Walt Disney Pictures film McFarland, USA starring Kevin Costner as James White, a . The family quickly goes home. Cardenas is now a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Eustis, Va. A Y member has a sister who works with Cardenas wife, thus the invitation to come to Salisbury. Cardenas, a staff sergeant in the Army, lives in Virginia Beach, Va., with his wife and daughter. Its been an emotional roller coaster, but they put together a very good movie for a general audience, Cardenas says. At the qualifier, a coach slips an offer to Jim to leave McFarland for a full-time job at a large, wealthy school. 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. I ran track in the spring of my freshman and sophomore years but played football in the fall. Your still a god as you run..any race. We had the right principles and the right attitude. Jose Cardenas, 67, stands at U.S.-Mexico border fence in Tijuana that has been painted with the names of deported U.S. veterans. Their oldest daughter, Tami, is not depicted in the film. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. He started coaching the high school cross-country teams in 1980, not 1987. Jose Cardenas - Fixed Asset Accountant & Receiving - LinkedIn Jim works overtime to train them harder, but he begins to experience more challenges: his home life is strained when he forgets his daughters birthday cake and misses her celebration, and later he finds the depressed Thomas on a bridge about to jump off. Jose Cardenas Carlos Pratts. In reality, White had been coaching the cross country team for seven years (since 1980). Im in the Army, he says, so I have to stay in shape.. Thats want counts as much as a victory itself. Los personajes de McFarland sin limites Flashcards | Quizlet Tragically, in November 2015 he was arrested for bribery and drug charges, including assisting a drug dealer. Johnny Sameniego and the six other runners were all close friends and in an interview for the movie, he mentioned that they all grew up living within a quarter mile of each other and did everything together. Aix-les-Bains, city and Alpine spa, Savoie dpartement, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes rgion, southeastern France, southwest of Geneva. True. David has a Facebook page, but there hasnt been any updates posted since 2014. Jim doesnt want their spirits to sink too low and takes responsibility for the loss, saying it was on him. You will guide her throughheartbreak or disappointment byscrolling through your youth,looking for a moment that fills yourreservoir of empathy. He states that the movie has changed his life and helped him become a better person. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Do you have any thoughts about those experiences youd like to share? Please feel free to share with your friends by click on the share button. "All you can do is just hope that everything goes okay and thats it.. The inspirational movie, which opened last week, is building word-of-mouth momentum as a minor hit in the shadow of the current box office titan, "Fifty Shades of Grey.". We are portrayed as the underdogs, but thats not necessarily the way you see yourself as a child.. John Ortiz as Jose Cardenas in "McFarland, USA." McFarland, USA 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." Sponsored . 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. Pace yourself. Veteran actor Costner, much like his performance in the recent Black or White, plays another character who must adjust to changing circumstances, reinvent himself to survive. Fortunately, the sympathetic Principal Camillo (Valente Rodriguez) lets him keep his teaching job. McFarland, USA (2015) Vanessa Martinez: Maria Marisol. "I went into a depression," he says. All Rights Reserved. Despite the setback, the boys stick with Jim and continue training. (LogOut/ Jose Cardenas became a writer for The Los Angeles Times and is currently serving his country in the U.S. army. 4. Im so happy to hear from you, Jose. The state championship aside, McFarland, USA suggests my teammates became winners in life. It was awkward doing the red carpet, he says, but it was a lot of fun.. Running 8-12 miles a day, and going to school, AND working in the fields as much as time allowed. I havent been through McFarland in at least 15 years. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), First Minority Business Trade Show helps spread word for entrepreneurs, Salisbury City Council to discuss new fire station on Mahaley Avenue at Tuesdays meeting, License plate reader cameras assist area law enforcement. Please note: On the Scene with Mrs. Kathy King receives compensation of one or more of the products and banners that you will see on this post and or site. Every word was right on. "They do kind of make fun of us because we dont speak the language. White loses his cool and throws a cleat at a locker. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Cardenas grew up in a Hispanic community, and his team mostly competed against white teams. "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 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. Jose wrote an essay for the Los Angeles Times in March 2015 describing his experience with the McFarland team. KGET TV-17, an NBC affiliate in Bakersfield, California, created this Emmy-nominated segment that tells the story of McFarland High Schools legendary cross country program and the family, and coach, that helped mold a town. The film only depicts two. 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.'. You are a father. The player, Johnny, is also kicked off the team. Many other shots of the town and high school were also filmed on-location. During that year when the team won the title, all three daughters were actually in college in Texas. "But they've taken some liberties with the facts.". You see I was in the same boat as I was growing up in Salinas Ca. The incident costs White his job, and, with no other employment choices, he moves out of town with his wife Cheryl (Maria Bello) and two daughters, Julie (Morgan Saylor) and Jamie (Elsie Fisher). I began to lose track of my teammates and my town. He says McFarland, a small town south of Fresno, in California's San Joaquin Valley, was more urban and less ethnically polarized than is pictured in the movie. Victor Puentes. So happy I found this sight. You close your essay with this glimpse of forgiveness: McFarland, USA suggests my teammates became winners in life. 'McFarland USA' runner to speak in Salisbury on Saturday This movie is based on the remarkable McFarland High School Cross-Country Team which, until it was recently forced to compete against much larger schools, dominated its division in the sport state-wide for more than 20 years. Just like in this movie Coach White kept pushing the boys forward, and where he got them. The town is a known resort and a destination for tourist since it is situated on the shores of a large natural lake, the Lac du Bourget, which is a home to a few SPA resorts and excellent places to relax. We were state champs, and we did come from a poor farming town. . It isnt an important hobby of mine, but what you had to say about it is very applicable to my life right now, so Id like to simply say thank you, Dear Gabriella, The film follows their rise from obscurity in the tiny agricultural town of McFarland, California to become a legend in the sport of cross-country. We would have crushed the team that finished second. You all did. 1 May 2023. I wish you and your family all the best. David Diaz and Valles are still running buddies, and Diaz recently completed the 5K Fog Run in Bakersfield. 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. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Movies. For me, the story of the championship year and a path to a better life started in middle school. Mal Vincent has been a longtime culture writer for The Virginian-Pilot. Some of the runners who were on the 1987 team were not depicted in the movie. His work will appear occasionally in The Pilot and on HamptonRoads.com. as part of a group of deported veterans lobbying the government to allow them to return to the U.S. Adelante Latin America Reporting Initiative. It drew national attention because for him, the final race portrayed in the movie was one of the most painful memories of his life his mistake of starting out too fast put enormous pressure on his team to make up the points. 6. After a difficult first half, a disrespectful player talks back to White in the locker room during the coachs half-time talk. P.S. Today, in his 40s, Cardenas lives in Chesapeake with his wife, Melody. Your child will strive, and will sometimes fail. The home theyve bought is old and run-down, and the family experiences culture shock. We wish you nothing but luck & happiness for all your years to come. The International Womens Media Foundation supported Erika Aguilar'sreporting from Tijuana, Mexico as part of the Adelante Latin America Reporting Initiative. Currently, he is a correctional officer at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California. The actor playing me takes off too fast and begins to fade halfway through the three-mile course. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys Hispanic & Latino Voices STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events Pop. 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. God Bless. You have permission to edit this article. As his addiction became worse in the 90s, he got in trouble with the law and served time in a penitentiary. McFarland, USA (2015) - Johnny Ortiz as Jose Cardenas - IMDb Although White isnt a track coach, he sees great potential for a cross-country team at McFarland High. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS discover inside . Joe Vaughn is best known for leading the Buena High, California girl's basketball team to 500 plus victories. Its a beautiful story of perseverance, teamwork and community! (1999) 25,732; (2014 est.) We are real close. Nearly three decades later, Jose Cardenas is still bothered by that one race. Maria Marisol: [reading Jose Cardenas's paper] We fly like blackbirds through the orange groves, floating on a warm wind. It was not predominately Hispanic as depicted in the film. 2. Johnny Ortiz, 'McFarland USA' actor, charged with attempted murder Later, Jim shows that he genuinely cares about the students when he prevents the ambitious football teams head coach from putting an injured player, Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran), back into the game despite Johnnys importance to the team. (LogOut/ You won as a team and you played such an important role in this team. The students spend long hours with their parents picking cotton, sugar beets, almonds, citrus and grapes in the areas vast produce fields. You were and are a team player. I loved the boys and their families. The film depicts McFarlands opponents as snobby, rich, and rude to the poor McFarland team. Thomas Valles . Jose Cardenas has made peace with seeing his life splashed across the silver screen. For now, Cardenas says there is one other way deported veterans like him can eventually get back to the United States. Mcfarland High School Class of 1988 Jose Carmona. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Showing all 2 items Jump to: . Im sure there is some embellishing going on in the movie, but it truly is an amazing story.. His arrest was a big shock to the community because he had been so well-loved and respected. Le explica a White que comenz trabajar en los campos a los 10 aos. And when Jose lost his steam and fell behind in the end of the race, the other runners really did pull off the unexpected, and they made up the difference, which included Dannys dramatic come-from-behind performance as we see in the film. I think its really inspirational for people, and we did come from humble beginnings, he says. After high school, Cardenas went to a junior college "half-an-hour up Highway 99 and continued running, but on paper. Luxury Homes for Sale in Aix Les Bains, Auvergne Rhne - JamesEdition On the day he met Kevin Costner during the film shoot, Costner shook his hand and said, Youre better looking than the actor whos playing you! Danny was never overweight as portrayed in the film but rather, quite the opposite. I think its a pretty darn big deal.. The land is ours. The ethnicity of Whites athletes surprises their competitors but, once the efficiently paced story starts rolling, there are no big surprises in McFarland, USA. Its a feel-good movie, plain and simple. Road map of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France shows where the location is placed. When I got deported I didnt even know where I was," Cardenas says. High School Alumni in McFarland, California (CA) - Class Finders The film opens with Jim White coaching a high school football game in Boise, Idaho. Then you spent afternoons running miles upon miles upon miles. If you listen to how the runners speak about him (including current runners), you can tell he made a lasting impact on their lives. Jose Cardenas: Rafael Martinez . He can be reached at mal.vincent12@gmail.com. I google searched Jose Cardenas after watching McFarland, USA out of curiosity, because as you may see, my last name is also Cardenas. He says Tijuana is almost like living in the United States because there are many Americans there, but there's one big difference: Cardenas can't see his family, who lives just across the border in San Diego, his home of more than 50 years. He is in excellent physical shape and he continues to exercise even though he no longer competes. Team God bless you , I really enjoyed your article Mrs. Laura Diamond, and I am watching McFarland as I write. Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is located at France country in the Towns place category with the gps coordinates of 45 41' 18.5964'' N and 5 54' 55.0800'' E. Coordinates of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is given above in both decimal degrees and Cardenas and his wife, Melody who has family in Rowan County attended the movies premiere, and got to meet the actor who portrayed him, as well as Costner. The running scenes in the orchards were filmed on-location in McFarland, in the same place where the real team trained. I was proud to get to play him.. The scenes of the state race are the most prominent for Johnny Ortiz, the actor playing me. His teams won nine championships in 14 years. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Because his citizenship application never went through, Cardenas was deported to Mexico after serving 10 years in federal prison. "The inspirational message of the movie is essentially true," he said. I love the film as an example for human strengths and will power yours as well. McFarland didnt have low riders in 1987, as depicted in the film. Victor Puentes served a sentence at the penitentiary, but continued his education and got a good job. I saw the film as being about your tenacity, determination, loyalty, perseverance, athleticism, and strength. He transferred to Humboldt State University, in Arcata, Calif., and earned a journalism degree. Johnny helps to recruit other students: Victor, the three Diaz brothers, Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz), and Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts). Warmly, Laura. Im still active and I still run, said David in a recent interview. But by going out so fast, I had endangered our dream. Marsh says she also appreciated the scene where Cardenas took off too fast in a race and hit the wall. Updates? Ten years later, I was a reporter at this newspaper when a movie company purchased the rights to an article about McFarland, a small, poor and predominantly Mexican American town in the farming heartland, going for an unprecedented sixth straight state championship.