There are many products, including water, which would have been better for this purpose and less harmful than Coca-Cola. Legendary McFarland runner Thomas Valles heading to NYC Marathon Share This November 15, 2021 / Vanessa Villalvazo Thomas Valles is a McFarland legend who was at the forefront of the 1987 championship team and now coaches the girls cross country team at McFarland high school and will be participating in the 50th annual New York City Web131 Words. The runners of McFarland developed chemistry in the fields, yes, but in their own Latino culture as well. She knew that some of us needed a little bit more. From that point forward, those two franchises and those two QBs had very different trajectories. Violence: A man throws a shoe at a boy and causes a bloody cut on his face. A staple on lists of the greatest movies ever made, Jean Renoirs The Rules of the Game is a dark satire set in an opulent country estate, where aristocrats and servants intermingle with occasionally explosive results. He might never have given the incident another thought if not for Whites actions. What is responsible for the fact that this one small high school, year after year has so many good long distance runners? The Whites and this team became my family, my second family," Valles said. Some things he enjoys are watching movies, and running. He showed Valles how running could set him free. He is a mysterious kid and not much is known about him and his background at the start. With grit and determination, Coach Whites unlikely band of runners eventually overcomes the odds to forge not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well. Valles is now a coach at McFarland High School, a motivational speaker, and he's training for his first New York City Marathon. NFL Live and SEC Nation host Laura Rutledge and college football expert Pete Thamel will provide additional commentary. Its changed my confidence. Also Gatorade, Coleman camping equipment, Mayflower truck, U-Haul. Life at home was rough. Sexual Content: Catcalls aimed at a girl are heard. McFarland, USA is about a coach who gets fired from his job due to inappropriate and harsh behaviors towards his colleagues and students. Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide. Even high school wrestlers get more screen time than high school runners. Based on a true story, the movie stars Kevin Costner as the team's coach, who's determined to guide a bunch of farm workers' kids into a team that's good. The disciplinarian was out of the house, Valles said. Language: Infrequent mild profanities and some scatological slang are used. He also is the prime example of friendship. Rather the script focuses on Coach White, who learns to love these boys. A boy is beaten up defending his mother from her abusive husband. On one of those occasions, is dehydrated and needs something to re-hydrate himself. Valles always says we tend to think back and wish we could have done this or that, but we need to enjoy the moment and write our own story. His older brothers started getting mixed in the wrong crowds and experimenting with drugs. I had positive people in my life through sport, said Valles. Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Ponyboy,Dally,Two-Bit,Soda,Darry,and Steve, all the members of the gang, The Greasers,were the brothers that he never had and, the best friends that a boy could ask. Along the way, Jim and his family realize that they finally found a place to call home and both he and his team achieve their own kind of American dream. Release date February 20, 2015 Violence C+ Sexual Content B Profanity B- Substance Use B- Why is McFarland, USA rated PG? Admittedly, the White family and the students have a lot to learn about each other but when Coach White notices the boys exceptional running ability, things begin to change. He was happy, however, to have Sergio Avelar, a former McFarland High School cross country runner himself, play him. Get personalized recommendations. Now in teal., MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades. Gordon Gray and Mark Ciardi are producing, with Mario Iscovich and Mary Martin serving as executive producers. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The word "picker" is used both pejoratively and matter-of-factly to describe the farm workers. Its hard to believe those two guys faced off in their first playoff appearances, and that Washington actually led 14-0, with Seattle finally taking the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Jim is hired to teach physical education and life science, but his goal is to put in just enough time to repair his resume and get a better job at a more prestigious school. class, but he knew I was going through some tough times in school because I'm dyslexic, grew up in a home with domestic violence, my dad was an alcoholic. I screwed up.. Common Sense Media. A couple of adult characters drink bottles of beer. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ESPN and this ABC station. For Victor Puentes, one of the subjects of the Disney film McFarland, USA, life has not exactly followed a Hollywood storyline. ESPN NFL senior draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. will join him, as well as analysts Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland, Chris Mortensen, and Adam Schefter. Common Sense Media reviewers include writers, editors, and child development experts. Currently, theres one McFarland runner in the COS team. "We grew up working in the fields, in agriculture. We won't share this comment without your permission. And then of course Kevin Costner. He became one of the most popular and respected students in his school, and by his senior. My parents always encouraged us to work hard.. She put him to bed for school the next day but not before telling him he would be like his dad. In 1987, Valles was captain of the legendary McFarland High School running team that became unlikely champions by winning California's first cross country state title and for Valles, it was a transformative achievement. Coach White (Kevin Costner) and his family have to relocate to McFarland, a town populated by farm growers. One day, White follows one of his students, Thomas (Carlos Pratts), who can run an almost five-minute mile. The boy contemplates suicide. Without them, there wouldnt be a legacy.. Over the past year, thanks in part to the movie, Puentes began cleaning up his act and is no longer using drugs. All rights reserved. Its an opportunity for 32 teams to partially transform their rosters essentially overnight. WebWhere are McFarland runners now? 1. The McFarland team went on to win various State Titles. The Disney film 'McFarland, USA' was released in 2015 and is based on the true story of a team of novice runners from a predominantly Latino high school in rural California which guided to greatness under the leadership of an outsider, coach Jim White. Ponyboys love for literature and academics make him different from the rest of the gang. Hie Father Mr.Cade, abusive and his Mother Mrs.Cade pretended that he never existed. He later joined the U.S. Coast Guard. Valles said his coach, Jim White, recruited him and his classmates in middle school to start running and they received a lot of support from the community. The NFL is about to witness human flight?, No, Chet, its a figure of speech. Valles told the kids he and his siblings would get to bed early on the nights his dad went out for drinks. Read more about how we rate and review. She called the cops it wasnt the first time and they took him to jail. However, strong responses will include the following: long-distance running is a sport of endurance, where the athletes must endure fatigue and pain; the success of these students appears to be based on superior training (the consistent practices and the summer running, for example) and the fact that their tedious, hot, and painful work in the fields, hour after hour, forced them to learn how to endure physical discomfort; this combined with the natural talent of some of the runners seems to have made the teams successful. Mikey is a small teenager with a big mouth that always gets him into trouble. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes. Hopefully, this type of inspiration of young people is something repeated in the U.S. and other countries in sports and education year after year. The movie made me a better person, Puentes told Runners World Newswire. He was inspired by how far Valles had come. For fun, he enjoys playing with Legos, watching movies, going to the pool and playing video games. I give my thanks to her because shes the foundation of [that] home and she opened her doors to every single runner that went through [the program].. Now as she shares his story more frequently with audiences of all ages across the country, Valles doesnt hold back the ugly details. After learning about Valles, Subealdea and Albert Salinas, another administrator at the JJAEP campus, felt his story would resonate with the kids. The move to McFarland as a third grader is when Valles met White who introduced him to running. Expert analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis will join Stanford head coach David Shaw, Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, and FOX Sports college football expert Joel Klatt. Many of the students are working in the fields by age 10 to help support their families. In Caminar Carlos,the main character is very risking-taking and very honest.Imagine that danger is going on in your village and nobody is man enough to step up and try to stop it but you are the only one that is and you have to risk your life to save your lovely village. By the time he hit junior high, he was one of the fastest runners among his peers and White took notice. Mrs. White encourages her husband to acknowledge that McFarland is full of friends and people who've welcomed their family. The next day, Jim asks the principal whether he can start a cross-country team and puts together a motley crew of runners that range from the reluctant Thomas, who only participates in exchange for not getting suspended, to wise-cracking Johnny (Hector Duran), vain Victor (Sergio Avelar), and the three Diaz brothers, one of whom (Danny) is considerably bigger than the average distance runner. Strongly positive messages centering on teamwork, communcation, and cooperation. As Valles wrapped his speech to the kids, he encouraged them to take steps toward reaching their goals by getting an education, going into a trade or joining the military. If he wasnt at school, Valles was expected to be at home or in the fields helping his dad. Copyright 2018 Fandango. Danny Diaz is now a counselor at McFarland. But Diaz believes Puentes has the tools to turn his life around. Accordingly, she reported that Christophers progress has been evident, especially on his sharing skills toward peers and other people and that he has learned to perform daily activities such as setup and choose within Netflix shows. I was lucky enough to get one of the best looking guyshes the best looking guy of all of them, so Im proud that he played me, Puentes says. On ESPN, two-time host Mike Greenberg will be back for a third straight year, providing play-by-play insights for the first two days of the draft. Based on the British sitcom of the same name, this comedy sequel reunites Will (Simon Bird), Simon (Joe Thomas), Neil (Blake Harrison), and Jay (James Buckley) as the foursome meet up in Australia on holiday. So, it's not a classic "white savior situation.". The team changes and challenges the coach just as much as he guides and pushes them to look beyond the stereotypes of "pickers" and see what gifts hard work and discipline are -- not only in running, but in life. Do you want to put your speech on paper? When Valles entered third grade in 1979, his dad bought a home in McFarland. Valles story is a special one because he grew up working in the fields with his family, so opportunities like these were very rare. Thomas Valles runs in the 1986 CIF South Area championships at Hart Park in Bakersfield. His mother answered and immediately saw the signs. Characters discuss people who have done prison time. Live TV Schedule and Coverage for Rounds 2 & 3. Who Is Singing the National Anthem at the 2023 NFL Draft? What is one story of a young migrant or refugee that you heard?Are there any ways the story opened your eyes? A knife fight lands a couple of kids in the hospital. Out of all the 1987 team, Victor was definitely the smartest of all of us, Diaz told 23ABC News. "Hollywood came calling one day and, you know, was interested in talking about our lives on the big screen," Valles said. We'll get to Coach White in a minute? Valles went on to earn a criminal justice degree. All text and audiovisual content, unless otherwise attributed is One Voice Communications LTD. All Rights Reserved, 8 Kevin Costner Movies You Wont Want to Miss, 10 Inspiring Teacher Movies to Watch as Your Kids Head Back to School, 10 Best Teacher Movies for Back-to-school Time, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World, Three Family Films for Black History Month, Movie Reviews Made Especially For Parent and Family Magazines. You just know that Danny is going to save the day -- why else would the filmmakers bother to show him huffing and puffing over "hills" (McFarland has no natural hills, so they run over covered mounds of almond husks)? However persuading the boys parents is even harder. They still have a home in McFarland, and after Jim retired, they bought one in the nearby mountains, too, "where the air is cleaner." Since Yankees Captain Derek Jeter's departure in 2014 following his epic, 20 year, 5 ring career, the Yankees have been a somewhat rudderless ship. And the results? Why did Thomas feel reluctant to trust White or the idea that the future could be better? Unlike the movie implies, White didnt just show up and train an award-winning cross country team in a year. Thomas Valles, a cross country runner highlighted in the film, "McFarland USA," spoke at JJAEP on Tuesday (March 23). Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Some embracing and kissing are shown. Now is your chance. As he settled into his new home, he maintained the life of a homebody. The true hero is the person who takes the facilitator up on his offer and does the hard work. One day he got a call from White reminding him why he was in school. A man is shown washing blood off of a parking lot. Why is McFarland, USA rated PG? He dresses in black and rides an old BMW motorcycle. No one made those boys run mile after painful mile in the blistering heat. What challenges did Coach White and his wife face living in McFarland? Did you know you can flag iffy content? Im done. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. A mother cuffs her children to get them out of bed. Coach White is dismissed after throwing a cleat too close to his QB's head, making the player's cheek bleed. Best Horror Movies of 2023 Ranked New Scary Movies to Watch, All 52 Billion-Dollar Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer. There are a ton of great children's books about sports, teamwork, and running, including "Running is Totally for Me" by Cassie Celestain, "Salt in His Shoes" by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan, and "The Crossover" by Kwmae Alexander. The script also explores the disparity between the McFarland runners and their competitors from much wealthier school districts. Look no further than the sleek Smith Corona Corsair typewriter. He also explored parts of California, Nevada and took an overseas trip to Taiwan places he might not have been able to visit had it not been for White. For the past several months, Puentes work on a 220-acre ranch, where he helps maintain an almond crop, has kept him busy. Here's who we can expect to see on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. Lots of Coke (also Cherry Coke) in the movie. I dont know if it changed everybody else, but it changed me.. What are the positive things? How does his view of the boys change after he spends the day working in the fields with them? Since he graduated from Californias McFarland High School in 1989, he has battled drug addiction and spent time in prison. Gaelan Connell stars as a David Bowie-obsessed kid whos asked to manage the band of a would-be singer-songwriter (Alyson Michalka). Valles once participated in a run to End Duchenne at the 2021 New York Marathon and raised about $3,000 to support the cause and is excited to have the opportunity to run again and do it for a cause. ET. This finally gave me the strength to say, You know what? This is a poignant, uplifting tale, even though there's a certain predictability in movies about sports underdogs. Victor Puentes, member of the 1987 McFarland cross country team, has battled drug addiction. Thomas Valles, one of the real-life runners featured in the Disney film 'McFarland, USA,' is taking part in his first New York City Marathon. Where he called home depended on where his father could find work in the fields. He is Mexican and despite his troubled attitude, he is quite intelligent. The best part of the movie, though, isn't just the sports: it's that the filmmakers don't portray the community as in need of the White family's generosity. Darry is important to me because he shows how to be a good person. Did you know you can flag iffy content? He cared and he showed it. 775 McFarland Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004. It opened up the doors for me to go to college. Mikey, with his nonchalant attitude, unwisely trashes his marijuana. But sports movies seem to be one genre where the studio consistently captures the spirit of the underdog, the incredible work ethnic needed to succeed and the strength of a team. Valles retired two years ago from the California Department of Corrections. He throws a beer bottle at a wall and then punches the wall as well. Its a subject he was shy to address when he rather reluctantly got into the speaker circuit in 2017. He promised to take him places away from McFarland, California. Ms. Chavez indicated that he stopped talking at the age of 18 months, but consequently, the recommended therapies lead to progress. Copyright Fandango. Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide. In 1987 he was a runner for the McFarland High Cross Country team. Although all of the facts may not be accurate, this movie depicts the taxing individual effort it takes to compete in an endurance sport where running fast is less important than running fast for a long time. Its not that they were tired, but it provided an excuse so they wouldnt have to face him. Coach White isn't perfect, but he's devoted to his runners and helps them run their best, realize what makes them special, and focus on the possibility of education as a way up. The savior is only the facilitator. Because his parents died in a car accident, Ponyboy lives with his brothers. Thomas gets in a fight with someone who insults his sister. He is a drug addict who is physically violent to Marie and gets her to start using drugs. The movie downplayed the circumstances in which Valles grew up. However in P.E. The point is, you cannot save anyone who doesn't want to be saved. Guy Ritchies stylish crime comedy stars Jason Statham, Stephen Graham, Brad Pitt, and an esteemed ensemble cast in a raucous caper centered around a stolen diamond. - Walt Disney Pictures. Why are these important character strengths? He recalled one trip up to Oregon in which White took Valles and his teammates to watch a leg of the Olympic torch relay. NEW YORK (WABC) -- As a boy, Thomas Valles could never have imagined that his running ability would shape the course of his life or someday inspire a Hollywood movie, but that's exactly what happened. And thats a boon for viewers seeking a flood of knowledge about every player and every team. One of Ozus finest works, Late Spring is the tale of a widower who pretends to be engaged so he can convince his lonely daughter to enter into a marriage of her own and leave the family nest. He sees that he's been prejudiced about McFarland; by the end of the movie, he knows it's his home. Growing up, we had to work to keep a roof over our heads, said Valles. Darry doesn't keep his emotions all in,lets them out and is sensitive. I dont need it, I dont want it, Puentes says. The community puts on a touching quinceaera for her, making it clear that White -- whom the kids affectionately call Blanco -- is one of them. On Tuesday, Valles shared a more in-depth version with students at the JJAEP with the hope of inspiring them. "In the movie, it kind of shows two hours and nine minutes in length, the challenges we had growing up in the community and we're still there trying to give back to kids that are still struggling with some of the challenges we had," Valles said. Yes, this is a familiar story -- most sports movies are -- but see for yourself what it means to be American in the Fruit Bowl of California, where running together and running fast lead a bunch of boys to a sense of accomplishment and a coach to a sense of home. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. In conclusion Darry always sticks around his buddies in bad times and good times. We thought that was normal, Valles said. Poignant story about Latino runners a winner for families. WebA good way to organize the responses is that they will be either about young people, Mexican-Americans, or about the country as a whole. He coached Valles in elementary physical education. This, of course, occurs without the necessary context and the questions that arise from his confession, the who? and the what?, remain unanswered for some time. Jon becomes very abusive to Mikeys sister, Marie, which is something she does not realize until a long time. Thomas Valles is a McFarland legend who was at the forefront of the 1987 championship team and now coaches the girls cross country team at McFarland high school and will be participating in the 50th annual New York City Marathon. After losing his job in Boise, his only option is to move his family to McFarland, California where he gets a position in a high school beleaguered with poverty, teen pregnancy and gangs. S.E. Possible suicide attempt. Victor Puentes, member of the 1987 McFarland cross country team, has battled drug addiction. In what ways do the members of the community reach out to the coach and his family? Ellysa Harris is the editor for the Plainview Herald. Terry Zwigoffs funny, haunting, brilliant documentary about underground cartoonist Robert Crumb is a fascinating portrait of a cranky, influential artist and his deeply dysfunctional family. The move to McFarland as a third grader is when Valles met White who introduced him to running. One of the greatest movies about the movies, Federico Fellinis 8 1/2 stars Marcello Mastroianni as a director devoid of inspiration who looks to his past for the source of his spiritual confusion. If the NFL had been this big in the mid-1960s and had been televised on NBC, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley might have tag-teamed on all 20 rounds, with Huntley providing straight commentary and Brinkley bringing the pizzazz. As Jim learns to coach runners and the guys learn to compete as a team, they set their sights on California's first statewide cross-country championship. Director Niko Caro (Whale Rider, North Country) changes that and turns the camera on the sport of distance running in McFarland, USA. WebMcFARLAND, USA is based on the true story of a town in rural Northern California that had nothing going for it except fields to pick and a prison that reminded its youth that their options were limited. His oldest brother accuses him of lacking common sense but, ponyboy is a reliable and observant character. Families can talk about the power of sports stories like McFarland, USA. Highway 99 cut straight through its center, the heartbeat of agriculture, its weary sign proclaimed. 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? The circumstances brought Valles to a low point. WebMcFarland, USA Movie Trailer Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is the new PE teacher in McFarland, an economically challenged town in California's farm-rich Central Valley. Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More, 50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More, 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12, YouTube Kids Channels for Kids Who Love Cartoons, Exploring and Celebrating Multicultural Families with Entertainment. Over the years, Puentes says he has remained close to his cross country teammates, many of whom, like himself, still live in McFarland. All rights reserved. He gave of himself, fully, year after year, with sensitivity and insight. Mr. White found me and recruited me in junior high to run because I was in his P.E. White sees the athletic potential at the predominantly Latino high school and decides to put together a cross country team. These days, the announcing business looks nothing like it looked two generations ago. ABC will feature a second set, with Sunday NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder joining Robert Griffin III for more insights and analysis. You can help us help kids by Valles is now a motivational speaker and speaks at schools all over the world. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. How does Coach Whites attitude toward the boys change during the course of the movie?