The cornerstone facts are true, but the story itself is not necessarily very accurate. Jose, you are a success & a hero. In real life, I consoled myself by reasoning that even though my place had not counted in the state championship, I had been the fourth man on a team that had won a dozen or so invitational races that year, some harder than the state meet. I think its really inspirational for people, and we did come from humble beginnings, he says. I think its a pretty darn big deal.. Coach Jim White, whom the team called "Blanco," persuaded Cardenas to switch from football to cross-country. Cardenas says he was deported to somewhere near the U.S.-Texas border, far from his birthplace in southern Mexico town of Tecomn in the state of Colima. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. It gives me great pleasure to hear from you, and that you found something you needed in my letter to Jose Cardenas. Their oldest daughter, Tami, is not depicted in the film. You set out sprinting, on fire to prove something. Its good to hear from you. The movie was about much more than a state championship race, it was about the people you became. This may be in the form of affiliate post, sponsored giveaways, sponsored post and other forms of advertising. He is in excellent physical shape and he continues to exercise even though he no longer competes. Some of the runners who were on the 1987 team were not depicted in the movie. Sometimes a setback like that brings people and teams closer and more intimate with each other, and we found ourselves running for McFarland, Mr. White, and most importantly, for each other., During the eighties, McFarland had a larger white population. He started coaching the high school cross-country teams in 1980, not 1987. He now lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his wife and daughter, where he is a staff sergeant in the Army. No stupid Mexicans. At a cross-country race almost 30 years ago, the gun sounds and the seven boys from McFarland High burst across the starting line amid a stampede of runners from around the state. We went on to better our lives.. Meanwhile, the White family builds a bond with the McFarland community. Its a chance to pause, slow down, get our bearings before we get up and go again at a kinder pace. When we run, our spirits fly. And Rita Peebles, a cook in the cafeteria, slipped five bucks into my pocket before every away meet so I wouldnt go hungry when the bus stopped at McDonalds. The mantra at our house has all ways been that good luck and opportunity comes through HARD WORK. A part of the region of Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes situated in the eastern France, the town of Aix-les-Bains is a part of the Savoie department and is a small community established on an amazing natural setting, in the highlands of the Alps. Jose wrote an essay for the Los Angeles Times in March 2015 describing his experience with the McFarland team. "People forget that the Army has boats, too, and this has fulfilled my greatest chances to sail all over the world - the Caribbean and now off Dubai.". Well said! Coach White and his new students find that they have much to learn about one another, but things begin to change when White rea. Subsequently, McFarland High School missed qualifying for the 2014 State Meet for the first time in 24 years; many feel the school is being punished for its success. 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." But like any movie based or inspired by a true story, not everything in McFarland, USA is literally true. In the movie and reality McFarland did barely win state when our usual sixth man, Danny Diaz, whose place in races had not counted all season, moved up to fifth, the last runner whose place counts. The album has been published and can. Well, my story is very long with happiness, sadness, accomplishment, rewards, and many more. David Diaz: Hector Duran . And White wasnt the only adult who looked after the kids. Besides Mr. White, other good-hearted adults looked after the towns needy youth.. Maria Marisol: [reading Jose Cardenas's paper] We fly like blackbirds Jim White recalls an incident where his cross-country runners were shot breaking up a fight, and one of the boys was killed. Then you spent afternoons running miles upon miles upon miles. You have permission to edit this article. We speak the birds' language. Jim White and his wife Cheryl still live in McFarland. 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. Thomas Valles . I google searched Jose Cardenas after watching McFarland, USA out of curiosity, because as you may see, my last name is also Cardenas. 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. 2. The Three Diaz Brothers: Danny, David, and Damacio After high school graduation, Danny Diaz attended Bakersfield Junior College and Fresno State, then became a teacher and counselor at McFarland High School. It took one of our usually slower runners to sprint mightily down the stretch. The film depicts the McFarland team forming and winning the state championship in the same year (1987). Please use Latlong.net at your own risk. (LogOut/ He states that the movie has changed his life and helped him become a better person. Check out the latest entertainment and arts news, then plan your weekend with a look ahead at what's happening around Hampton Roads. Perhaps that is why stories like Mr. Cardenas and his teammates resonates so strongly, as reminders that what may seem impossible isnt. Sign up for our daily newsletter. McFarland, USA tells a heartwarming story about underdogs who, to the surprise of everyone, including themselves, establish a sports dynasty. He served four years in the Coast Guard and did maritime law enforcement. "The main crop was almonds. We were a poor community, but we were not underdogs in the athletic sense.. 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