jose cardenas mcfarland

You saw your mistake of setting out filled with fire and speed as failure; we thought you may have inspired your teammates to run faster, push harder than they otherwise might have. In the end, he says, its a Hollywood movie. We push too hard and flame out. I saw the film as being about your tenacity, determination, loyalty, perseverance, athleticism, and strength. Its sulfur and alkaline springs were exploited by the Romans, to whom they were known as Aquae Gratianae, and they are still the basis of modern health resorts. I was proud to get to play him.. You all did. Its a chance to pause, slow down, get our bearings before we get up and go again at a kinder pace. "McFarland, USA" tells a heartwarming story about . The Perezchica brothers Henry and Jose led McFarland, finishing 22nd and 37th overall . Pretty much our whole team is going to be there, she says. White taught fifth-grade science and seventh- and eighth- grade PE and woodshop. Jos is my cousin & an inspiration to all the family. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. You will guide her throughheartbreak or disappointment byscrolling through your youth,looking for a moment that fills yourreservoir of empathy. "Actually, lettuce didn't grow there, but that's a minor thing. 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. The event is set for 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $8. Jim White represents the very best of the best, a quiet, graceful man who somehow let these kids know what was possible, he says. 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. "The inspirational message of the movie is essentially true," he said. The community has been real supportive of his being here, Marsh says. 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. In the rest of the movie, he takes a back seat to the actors portraying the runners who performed better at the race. So happy I found this sight. 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. I never get tired of reading the essay & watching the movie. 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. Marsh praises local businesses for their support. Le explica a White que comenz trabajar en los campos a los 10 aos. Jos Cardenas is a true inspiration. One of these leaders was. Today, in his 40s, Cardenas lives in Chesapeake with his wife, Melody. See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by . 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. A caption says what became of me,a sort of champ in my own life, too, I guess. Mr. Cardenas, theres nothing to guess about. Im so glad my essay from 2015 found you in 2022. The scenes of the state race are the most prominent for Johnny Ortiz, the actor playing me. 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. 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. Dr. Barragan, I appreciate your comment and couldnt agree more. 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. I was preparing myself because I knew I was going to get drafted," Cardenas says. Thank you for sharing your view as his cousin. He remains an active and well-loved member of the McFarland community, often working with youth. Like yours. Mcfarland High School Class of 2011 Ricardo Carmona . Those were my parents. That was my normal, and that was good.". 2023. 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. Ms. Diamond, Track coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is a newcomer to a predominantly Latino high-school in California's Central Valley. 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. Jose read the blog post and responsed: Thank you Laura for your take on my essay. 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. Facebook gives people the power to. 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. After Jim meets Principal Camillo (Valente Rodriguez) on his first day of work, he begins his new job as a life science/PE teacher and assistant football coach. View JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS' professional profile on LinkedIn. It was not predominately Hispanic as depicted in the film. 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. We would have crushed the team that finished second. Pop. Jose Cardenas, left, and actor Johnny Ortiz attend the premiere of Disneys McFarland, USA at the El Capitan Theatre on Feb. 9, 2015, in Hollywood, California. The lake also has the largest and the most beautiful natural lagoons of the country. 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." Es uno de los tres hermanos Diaz, lo ms gordito, el ancla del equipo. Jose Cardenas became a writer for The Los Angeles Times and is currently serving his country in the U.S. army. Jim White retired from coaching and still lives in . By this point, the team and the sport have become the great pride and joy of the community. During his first PE class that day, Jim meets the Diaz brothers: Danny, Damacio, and David (Ramiro Rodriguez, Michael Aguero, and Rafael Martinez). You see I was in the same boat as I was growing up in Salinas Ca. 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. He joined the ROTC in high school in San Diego in hopes of following in the footsteps of his stepdad, an American citizen who sponsored him to become a permanent resident. Sponsored . We are portrayed as the underdogs, but thats not necessarily the way you see yourself as a child.. I enjoyed your essay as well -jose, You are a Radiant Beam Still We went on to better our lives.. 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. The state championship aside, McFarland, USA suggests my teammates became winners in life. The mantra at our house has all ways been that good luck and opportunity comes through HARD WORK. His journey from McFarland was pushed by his love for writing. Hes looking forward to answering questions about the movie tomorrow evening, and to talk about whats accurate and whats not. I was born ina family where everyone goes to college. 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. No stupid Mexicans. 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, Shafter, California, a town that neighbors and competes with McFarland in sports, also had a remarkable cross-country team that excelled despite its small school size and limited resources. Johnny Sameniego: Sergio Avelar . He can be reached at mal.vincent12@gmail.com. He'll talk. The all-Latino cross-country Cougar teammates at McFarland High School, residents of Californias farm-heavy Central Valley, arent the storys only underdogs. During that year when the team won the title, all three daughters were actually in college in Texas. Appreciate your different philosophical way to look at things. feeling awkward and labored. But Cardenas isn't that worried about the enduring connection to one of his most regrettable moments. Not immigrant no more. "It worries me because you never know whats going to happen, and you cant do nothing here," he says. Cardenas grew up in a Hispanic community, and his team mostly competed against white teams. I lived in a dilapidated one-bedroom house across the street from my church with a couple older brothers who worked in the fields. Jim retired in 2002 after 23 years of coaching and continued to serve as a volunteer coach occasionally. Web. Costner gives Whites lessons learned late genuine weight. Sign up for our daily newsletter. David Diaz. Im sure there is some embellishing going on in the movie, but it truly is an amazing story.. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . 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. The family quickly goes home. The latitude of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is 45.688499 , and the longitude is 5.915300 . Jose Cardenas always wanted to serve in the military. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). You close your essay with this glimpse of forgiveness: McFarland, USA suggests my teammates became winners in life. After high school graduation I went to junior college half an hour up Highway 99 and continued running. . Jim doesnt want their spirits to sink too low and takes responsibility for the loss, saying it was on him. Disney Pictures can thank me, I guess, for creating some true drama. Finally, it eventually became something the whole town was involved in. There are currently 37 luxury homes for sale in Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes on JamesEdition. The movie opens Friday. 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. Please feel free to share with your friends by click on the share button. Danny Diaz. Jose Cardenas, 67, stands at U.S.-Mexico border fence in Tijuana that has been painted with the names of deported U.S. veterans. Mal Vincent has been a longtime culture writer for The Virginian-Pilot. 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. Currently, he is a correctional officer at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California. Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. (LogOut/ We had the right principles and the right attitude. The Disney studio, maybe, should thank me for adding a little drama but, all these years later, I'm having to relive it.". Jim White retired from coaching and still lives in . I thank you and your fellow team mates for a real life example for ALL the young folks. Since his retirement, he has also traveled the country as a motivational speaker and to help promote the movie. It is also true that most of the runners had never seen the ocean before. Where did Thomas Valles go to college? 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. After work each day, he routinely goes straight to cross-country practice to work with the kids on the McFarland Youth Track club. 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. Well, they certainly cant afford cars. We speak to the gods. Its been an emotional roller coaster, but they put together a very good movie for a general audience, Cardenas says. 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. Tambin es pizcador en las maanas. Nearly three decades later, Jose Cardenas is still bothered by that one race. We were state champs, and we did come from a poor farming town. I knew a movie involving one of the biggest disappointments in my youth might be made someday. In June 2016 he plead guilty and his sentencing will occur in September 2016. 5. . 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. Gang problems, as depicted in the film, were a real issue in McFarland. ", Perhaps for "dramatic" reasons, the all-Hispanic team's opposition in the movie is made up exclusively of blond, privileged, preppy snobs. Its a beautiful story of perseverance, teamwork and community! David Diaz also went to college and is now the North Kern State Prison Supervisor of Academic Instruction. Omissions? Marsh says she also appreciated the scene where Cardenas took off too fast in a race and hit the wall. McFarland, USA (2015) Full Cast & Crew. But "I broke out too early and faded about half way through the 3-mile course," Cardenas said. Short captions for each of them at the end of the movie say they became college graduates, teachers, cops and mentors to kids in town. He also occasionally travels as a motivational speaker and in the course of doing these promotional appearances, he has seen the movie eight times. All season we had dreamed of winning Californias first high school cross-country state championship. What happened to Jose Cardenas McFarland? Sometimes we are overcome by adrenaline and ambition. He transferred to Humboldt State University, in Arcata, Calif., and earned a journalism degree. You set out sprinting, on fire to prove something. Courtyard by Marriott has donated a room, and Cheerwine has donated bottled water for Saturday. Then computers.". But by going out so fast, I had endangered our dream. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Samaniego currently holds CSUBs 18th best time in the 1,500-meter race. 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. When we run, we own the earth. But like any movie based or inspired by a true story, not everything in McFarland, USA is literally true. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS discover inside . "I never had any live chickens around where I lived and, in the 1980s, we listened to the same music as other kids - Madonna and Michael Jackson and pop things like that - in addition to Hispanic music.". We were good Christian kids, and we put our abilities to good use. Im a german journalist, living in Paraguay with my adopted son and two other paraguayan foster children. Jose Cardenas Person By Stan Silverman - Guest Columnist, Philadelphia Business Journal Oct 12, 2015 Many leaders have a significant impact on the lives of others. He returned home to take care of his mother and during that time, he began to experiment with drugs. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? 79 were here. Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France Geographic Information, Fontenay-sous-Bois, the le-de-France, France, Saint-Michel-sur-Orge, le-de-France, France, Fleury-les-Aubrais, Centre-Val de Loire, France, Saint-Genis-Laval, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France. The movie was about much more than a state championship race, it was about the people you became. When I got deported I didnt even know where I was," Cardenas says. . We are real close. Convincing the young men he wants for the team to join is an uphill battle. Located in California's agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, McFarland is one of the poorest communities in California. 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. "It was over two decades ago, and there it is - on film. Well, my story is very long with happiness, sadness, accomplishment, rewards, and many more. 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. "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 Kevin Costner stars as the coach of a seven-member team of cross-country underdogs. (9%) are the normal age for attending high school (15-19). Thomas Valles attended and ran for the College of the Sequoias after he graduated from high school. In their first meet in Palo Alto, the boys endure mockery from the other more experienced and well-funded teams, and they suffer the humiliation of finishing in last place. True. As his addiction became worse in the 90s, he got in trouble with the law and served time in a penitentiary. Thomas is the head coach of the McFarland Track Club for kids and I help him with that. The Three Diaz Brothers: Danny, David, and Damacio For me, the story of the championship year and a path to a better life started in middle school. Jim White and his wife Cheryl have three daughters. White quickly learns that the young people of McFarland see nothing but a hardscrabble future for themselves, offering no opportunity to advance up the economic ladder. Maria Marisol: [reading Jose Cardenas's paper] We fly like blackbirds through the orange groves, floating on a warm wind. It saddens me that he viewed the race as the biggest disappointment of his youth, but in the same sense I admire his vulnerability & honesty. Beautiful family. Keep going. He is in excellent physical shape and he continues to exercise even though he no longer competes. If you read some of the stories, some of them are pretty crazy. I think its a pretty darn big deal.. Cardenas, a staff sergeant in the Army stationed at Fort Eustis, was part of that team from a poverty-ridden California town that "comes from behind" to win its first state title. His journey from McFarland was pushed by his love for writing. The rest of the film was shot around Los Angeles and in Camarillo, California. Their coach, Jim White, a non-Latino newcomer to the McFarland community, is, in the eyes of many, a loser, too. McFarland didnt have low riders in 1987, as depicted in the film. "He thinks hes out there still, so someone needs to be there to kind of calm him down and stuff. Like many such projects, the movie was in the works for years. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Besides Mr. White, other good-hearted adults looked after the towns needy youth. In one of the 1987 races, an opponent from Bakersfields Centennial High School is shown. : I love that his story continues to inspire so many people. However, Centennial High School was not formed until 1993. Jim Price, a janitor at the high school, let me live with his family. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly. 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 McFarland team continued to run races in North America, Europe, and Asia. Hey, and I would love to show the film to a certain Donald T. so he could learn from Mexican American Power and warmth and character, tenacity and team spirit. (Spoiler alert for movie fans who arent aware that Disney movies havehappy and dramatic endings). Jim White and his wife Cheryl, depicted as kind, caring people in the film, were that way in real life. When we run, our spirits fly. And though people in McFarland did have jobs in the farms, they weren't picking lettuce, as shown in the film. 1 May 2023. Have a team. 3. The team hot to where they went because of you and others. 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. Cardenas, a staff sergeant in the Army, lives in Virginia Beach, Va., with his wife and daughter. He hadn't lived in Mexico since he left when he was seven years old, and he spoke little Spanish. 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. Jose, you are a success & a hero. And there was cotton," he said. Hurley Family Y. When we run, we are the gods. Eventually sophomore Danny Diaz crossed in 91st (68th) to close out the scoring. 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. Jims wife Cheryl makes friends with Javis girlfriend (Martha Higareda). While he was in the military, Cardenas applied for U.S. citizenship, but he says his application was never processed. McFarland, though unique with its amazing story, wasnt the only underdog small town cross-country team in that area to do well. Victor Puentes, one of the brightest students on the team, went to college but then had to leave school when his mom got sick. To this day, I dont know why I went out uncharacteristically fast. "They wanted the farm kids in the movie," Cardenas said. He then transferred to Cal State University of Bakersfield (CSUB) from 1993-1995. A caption says what became of me, a sort of champ in my own life too, I guess. "I was off that day and, as in the movie, Danny Diaz came from behind to ensure our victory. I used to run in races when I was around the age of twelve, and much like Mr. Cardenas did duringg the state championships, I pushed too hard at the start and didnt last. He's rallied, marched and met with California politicians as part of a group of deported veterans lobbying the government to allow them to return to the U.S. based on their military service. Jose Cardenas, 67, stands at U.S.-Mexico border fence in Tijuana that has been painted with the names of deported U.S. veterans. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? On The Scene With Kathy King. The film depicts the McFarland team forming and winning the state championship in the same year (1987). 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. His teams won nine championships in 14 years. 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. Marsh says she hopes the movie will help her runners understand that hard work pays off. He's fighting to get back to the country he and his family have served for decades. McFarland USA will choke up undemanding viewers, but there isn't enough in it to be remembered as a great sports film. Although White isnt a track coach, he sees great potential for a cross-country team at McFarland High. This past weekend I saw McFarland, USA, a movie about one phase of your life, growing up in the agricultural town of McFarland, California. Too often I have found that our own will criticize those of us who want something better and different. "McFarland, USA Quotes." I hope to write a book one these days. The film depicts McFarlands opponents as snobby, rich, and rude to the poor McFarland team. We speak the birds' language. 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. I too thought he was much too hard on himself in that article. Damacio Diaz went to college, then became a police officer and a 17-year veteran of the Bakersfield Police Department as a detective. Many other shots of the town and high school were also filmed on-location. Aix-les-Bains, city and Alpine spa, Savoie dpartement, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes rgion, southeastern France, southwest of Geneva. It was awkward doing the red carpet, he says, but it was a lot of fun.. Again, thanks for your article, and thanks to Mr. Cardenas for your inspiration. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The opening sequences of the film are fictional. Lupe has Javi fix Cheryls car after it breaks down and gives Cheryl a free manicure in her salon while she waits. Mr. White was our physical education teacher, and thats when he first encouraged us to run cross-country. Do you have any thoughts about those experiences youd like to share? I hope you continue writing even as you pursue your career in the Army. Despite all the setbacks, their hard work pays off, and the team does well enough in their next race to qualify for the state championships. 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. Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury. The community teams up with the White family to raise money for better uniforms for the cross-country team, and they throw a delightful quinceaera party for Julies 15th birthday. After high school, Cardenas went to a junior college "half-an-hour up Highway 99 and continued running, but on paper. I think its really inspirational for people, and we did come from humble beginnings, he says. Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes has about thirty thousand residents and it is a very important cultural center of the region, with plenty of various cultural events and sports competitions taking place there year round. Victor Puentes: Michael Aguero . I was never good at sports I chose ballet after my volunteer coach shamed me in pee-wee baseball and appreciate all the more how people can rise after defeats.

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