His alumni now coach the cross-country programs for the elementary, junior high, high school, as well as McFarlands Parks and Rec teams. (LogOut/ Maria Marisol: [reading Jose Cardenas's paper] We fly like blackbirds They knew he truly cared about them, and the guys would work extremely hard because of the respect they had for him. The all-Latino cross-country Cougar teammates at McFarland High School, residents of Californias farm-heavy Central Valley, arent the storys only underdogs. Their first night in McFarland is difficult. Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France 10 McFarland USA Fun Facts That Will inspire You #McFarland Maria Marisol: [reading Jose Cardenas's paper] We fly like blackbirds through the orange groves, floating on a warm wind. ), Aging beloved YA author Judy Blumes inevitable foil isnt so bad after all, Review: The entertaining Peter Pan & Wendy charts a familiar course to Neverland, Rihanna has Smurfs on the brain for her next movie: Hope this gives me cool points, Review: In Guardians 3, ultra-weird superhero fun doesnt have to be Rocket science, The new Tom Cruise just might be a London office worker with a taste for risk. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. When ourfire burns out, we need friends to help carry us for a while. Besides Mr. White, other good-hearted adults looked after the towns needy youth. 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. I enjoyed your essay as well. Jose has done speaking engagements as well since the movies release. 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 In reality, White had been coaching the cross country team for seven years (since 1980). I think its really inspirational for people, and we did come from humble beginnings, he says. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Johnny Ortiz, an actor who held roles in the Kevin Costner-led film "McFarland USA," and "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie," has been charged with attempted murder, Fox News has confirmed. When we run, we are the gods. The emotional trip-to-the-ocean scene in the film really did happen, though not in 1987. Jose Cardenas, 67, stands at U.S.-Mexico border fence in Tijuana that has been painted with the names of deported U.S. veterans. Ms. Diamond, Jim is so distraught by this incident that he begins to seriously consider leaving McFarland and accept the job offer at the wealthy school. The country code given is in the ISO2 format. 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. Try to see differently. I agree, Griselda, he is an inspiration to people all over the world. I knew a movie involving one of the biggest disappointments in my youth might be made someday. You will guide her throughheartbreak or disappointment byscrolling through your youth,looking for a moment that fills yourreservoir of empathy. Every word was right on. The head coach complains to Principal Camillo and has Jim removed from his post as assistant coach. I never get tired of reading the essay & watching the movie. See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by . Aix-les-Bains | History, Geography, & Points of Interest "He thinks hes out there still, so someone needs to be there to kind of calm him down and stuff. I too did not see your performance as a failure. Learning from the film McFarland USA: As a leader, make a difference in In 1999, police caught him driving a meth dealer around, and he was convicted of drug conspiracy. After a difficult first half, a disrespectful player talks back to White in the locker room during the coachs half-time talk. 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. 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. McFarland, USA (2015) - Plot - IMDb White taught fifth-grade science and seventh- and eighth- grade PE and woodshop. And that hurts me because I cant do that.". McFarland, USA - Rotten Tomatoes In the rest of the movie, he takes a back seat to the actors portraying the runners who performed better at the race. Open Letter to Jose Cardenas, One of "McFarland, USA"'s Real Life STANDS4 LLC, 2023. 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. McFarland, USA, its leading man Costner and the seven novice actors who play the storys cross-country team run their feel-good story to the finish line in inspirational style. "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.". Learn how your comment data is processed. "Usually, I'd finish fourth. He now works as a physical education teacher at McFarland Middle School. "McFarland, USA" draws on experience of local man Below are 10 McFarland Fun Facts that will inspire and give you a wonderful background about the movie. Thomas, who was suspended for fighting a kid that made fun of his pregnant sister, is given a chance to avoid suspension if he agrees to join the cross-country team. 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. 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. Pretty much our whole team is going to be there, she says. The cornerstone facts are true, but the story itself is not necessarily very accurate. Courtyard by Marriott has donated a room, and Cheerwine has donated bottled water for Saturday. 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. 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. Team God bless you , I really enjoyed your article Mrs. Laura Diamond, and I am watching McFarland as I write. The latitude of Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France is 45.688499 , and the longitude is 5.915300 . Jim White and his wife Cheryl have three daughters. Many other shots of the town and high school were also filmed on-location. Samaniego ran for the track and field team at CSUB because they didnt have a cross-country team. Jim White represents the very best of the best, a quiet, graceful man who somehow let these kids know what was possible, he says. But Cardenas isn't just sitting around and hoping. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When I got deported I didnt even know where I was," Cardenas says. Tragically, in November 2015 he was arrested for bribery and drug charges, including assisting a drug dealer. We are real close. He would often buy shoes and food for his runners. 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 had had a bad race," Valles recalled recently about his teammate who was the team's seventh runner that day, finishing 148th. 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. I love the film as an example for human strengths and will power yours as well. The runners begin their training with doubt about their white coach, whom they nickname Blanco. McFarland USA Film, Jose Cardenas' Poem. - YouTube 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. Jim doesnt want their spirits to sink too low and takes responsibility for the loss, saying it was on him. Your email address will not be published. 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.". McFarland USA will choke up undemanding viewers, but there isn't enough in it to be remembered as a great sports film. I enjoyed your essay as well -jose, You are a Radiant Beam Still Sign up for our daily newsletter. White loses his cool and throws a cleat at a locker. 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 school is notable for its succession of twenty-four CIF Central Section championships in cross country between 1987 and 2013. View JOSSUE CARRILLO CARDENAS' professional profile on LinkedIn. The final climactic race in the film happened exactly as it happened in real life, including all of the drama. We went on to better our lives.. Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury. 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. I lived in a dilapidated one-bedroom house across the street from my church with a couple older brothers who worked in the fields. 'McFarland USA' runner to speak in Salisbury on Saturday
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