McFarland's Family of Champions

Jason Galvin is an anchor for KGET TV-17, an NBC affiliate, in Bakersfield, California.
This is a Emmy-nominated KGET special examining McFarland High School's legendary cross country program and the family, and coach, that helped mold a town.

[@maribelrodriguez1914]

I'm PROUD to say that was my PE teacher as well as my siblings! My brother was in cross country too we moved in 86 though.

[@user-gx7rn6jn7o]

When Mama hits Coach❤❤❤

[@user-hf2dr7sh4y]

Men and women like the White and Diaz family are what make our country amazing and wonderful. I don't say anything in the name of God just for anything, but for this...God bless America!

[@brick9233]

Mmmmm Amen:3

[@vnimo7094]

J M yep, like how damacio(former cop) is now locked up for drug trafficking

[@privatihrpisser408]

@@vnimo7094 Yep and because of this little thing, its all worth nothing anymore? Illogical af .

[@beaub2409]

AMEN YYYYEEEEESSSSSSS

[@harunhashi23]

very inspirational movie we need more teachers like this

[@Thorny04299]

harun hashi oh yea in Delano I think David is my pe teacher

[@frutilupis7821]

Teacher are so underpaid 😢

[@mexicancuber3018]

back in my freshmen year I saw the movie and it changed my life. The next year I joined my school’s XC team and track team. It helped me become a better person and to have a second family. It showed me things that I never thought that I was capable of. In my first year my fastest time was a 22:01.

[@NathanBlackberry]

Good job😊😊😊👍👍👍

[@barbarahernandez8700]

Super Awesome !!!! Yay!!!

[@junaid1]

I am so glad I found this video. Just saw the movie over the weekend and got very emotional. I know it is not a documentary but it is essentially a true story. How great to see the real Diaz family who are role models and the actual Coach White and his wife who are huge role models. That story really brings out the best of what America is and I wish they would show it in schools. This news feature is just outstanding. Thank you for posting it!

[@jasongalvin7443]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I couldn't agree more about the family and Coach (and Mrs.) White. They, along with the other runners from the town through the years, are the definition of perseverance. I'm glad you enjoyed this story!

[@mannyloko2877]

YOU SHOULD CALL DISNEY

[@junaid1]

Thanks Manny. We should all call Disney. This should have been part of the DVD release. Although I am not Latino I am very proud of the the contributions Latinos have made to the USA. All good peoples make us a better nation.

[@otravis676]

The movie had my crying one minute then laughing my butt off the next. I think the movie is going to hit me a bit differently after watching this video and learning a little more about the young men, the town and its people. Thank you for putting this together it is great work Sir.

[@kermitefrog64]

This was an incredible movie and it deserves the Oscar along with Kevin Costner! It accurately depicts what so many families in the San Joaquin valley go through. I see the same struggles among the students I work with and yet they do not give up. The audience clapped, cheered and cried.

[@badmanskill1112]

It was a great movie. Just watched it. Hope everything is good with you almost 10 years after your comment. 👍

[@Tht_potato]

"That's not Danny Diaz!"

[@Sportsgeek1991]

Danny stop staring at the mountain lol

[@captnicklas2276]

That part gave me chills bro

[@fredpalacios507]

Great job. I was a cross country runner back in 88. Love the sport. I was the Danny Diaz of my team. I watched the movie all the time. I can related been a illegal alien from el salvador. Living in downtown L.A. getting up at 5 in the morning to grab the school bus to go to school in san Fernando valley. Now, I'm almost 50. And thanks to sports. I never become a gang member.

[@jr-xs9tf]

The Diaz family is a very good looking crowd !

[@chrism.1131]

Raising good citizens! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@CaliPrince11]

This was the most inspiring movie I have ever seen. I took my Mom to see this movie yesterday so I had to fight so many tears in front of Mom haha!!! Mom was just in tears the whole time lol. But great inspiring movie. btw I love to run and love competition and will be at San Francisco State FALL 2015 so this movie really inspired me!!

[@angelamezcua3359]

Great movie great story beatifull people god bless America and God bless mexico 🇲🇽 🇺🇸

[@johnlutzel8920]

That was an excellent “package” on the making of the movie, the town, and the families involved. You should be very proud of your work Mr. Galvin.

[@luvyatubers]

At 8:00, that should have been in the movie. Great movie btw!

[@badmanskill1112]

I'm surprised they didn't keep this in the movie. It builds tension and it actually happened. Can't ask for a better factual moment.

[@miriamschuman311]

That has to be one of the best, most authentic news stories I've ever seen! Congrats and gratitude to you Jason and to KGET for their support.

[@ginacerda2352]

I watch McFarland every night before going to bed. It helps a lot

[@signaturerush]

What the heck😂

[@badmanskill1112]

That's awesome. It's quite the inspirational story. I hope you're overcoming whatever battles you're having. 🙏

[@dallas5609]

I saw this movie twice and both times I cried a good portion of the movie 😢

[@deadonarrivalparanormal981]

What a great movie I was crying of how proud I am to be Latino. We are the Gods!

[@allisonstoutphotography]

great film and a great story. I'm a cross country runner and could relate so much to the struggles that are apart of this sport.

[@rolandwalker8256]

I live in Ghana, West Africa and I've been trying to catch the movie at our city theaters and it seems the distribution has not gotten as far as Africa. I really loved and got inspired by the McFarland story just by watching the trailers several times. Over and over. You would think it was the movie I was watching. Wish I would get the whole movie and watch even online. I guess I have to wait until it's on dvd. Great story.

[@sage0ne619]

Roland Walker message me man, I can show you how to view it online as long as you have moderately fast internet connection.

[@bravoanane]

The full movie is on KZbin

[@lenitaa7938]

Roland Walker It is on KZbin!

[@mlobato1]

Did you finally watched it and did you enjoy the movie?

[@elikemtay]

@@bravoananethe link please

[@belia73]

A story as great as this totally deserved a movie ❤️

[@kfeller]

Just saw this movie last night...oh my gosh...seared me to the chord...inspirational! I so feel for the kids who start working at age 11...just to feed us our produce..Something is wrong here..LOVE the movie :-/

[@mmillerssn]

I watching this movie again tonight and in this time of unrest and pandemic, this movie and this video reminds me of what's best about our country. It's people like the Diaz and the White families and the other families in McFarland who come together and learn about each other and overcome challenges and try to make the world better.

[@craigberg1942]

Emmy-nominated KGET special. Great movie. Greater story.

[@jblanche747474]

Great family we all should take them as a great example of wanting the best for them...and Mr White wanting to help change others lives..The impacted on making there lives and others a better place and future..love seeing this!!..GB.I am going to see the movie..best

[@vnimo7094]

Joseph Blanche Damacio is a former cop, now incarcerated due to drug trafficking. David, former teacher, slept with a student.

[@vnimo7094]

@D. And. yeuup

[@1693108]

I'm going to the movies today with my family. It's sounds like a CLEAN and wholesome movies, a family movie.

[@kfeller]

Took our 12 year old grandson here... Believe you me...He should absolutely see this! true life.

[@1693108]

GOOD FOR YOU!

[@njmeki4944]

It is

[@paulbanales4232]

Great movie! Made me cry. Thank you to everyone who was portrayed or involved.

[@margiegonzalez7110]

I just saw the video or the movie this weekend I cried so much and now I'm so glad I found this video talking about the true story of it its really heart warming that we don't have teachers like that anymore there's still some but not a lot

[@cisco99em1]

Que historia tan chingona. Cant wait to watch the movie XC

[@marianagaspar844]

I LOVE LIVING IN MCFARLAND

[@erikaalvarado5048]

i watched it over and over this weekend like 10 times

[@alessandramontialli4652]

Saw this movie yesterday, worth watching!!!

[@chevychase]

An incredibly beautiful story.

[@johnnowakowski4062]

The "Hoosiers" of track movies. Inspires me every time I watch it...

[@comptongokartracing3426]

McFarland USA is one of my most favorite movies!

[@MN-ix6ou]

This documentary by itself is also a great piece!! Very touching

[@2410jrod]

We need more teachers like him and families like the whites and the diez's truly inspirational film, I'm a runner I hope to be a coach or start a running club one day and I hope I'm an inspiration to young men and women like this coach.

[@erikaalvarado5048]

i cried the first time it camed out

[@josedavila6428]

This is a beautiful story God bless them all

[@anthonyariashernandez6034]

I started working pruning grapes with my dad since 8 years old

[@threexladi]

I too saw this for first time today. Let this mark the END of racism. Kids will rise to the top if given half a chance. Whole movie was good. Young cast so believable. Ending where u see 'where are they now' had me sobbing. EXCELENTE!

[@lenitaa7938]

This ought to have been in the Bonus of the DVD!

[@lollol-ow1tx]

Wonderful i liked this almost as much as the movie!! Some movies can make a grown man cry............

[@luismunoz995]

I love everything about this story (movie and real life). Truly motivational

[@veritojimenez40]

Preciosa película De gran Inspiración ❤ Gracias 🙏🏽

[@aisulutemirkulova2079]

Amazing story! It's really inspired me now at 5 a.m...Thank to people like Jim White & his wife, to all parents who raised such obeying children, and first of all to our Lord, who gave such a power of hope to others through this place I've never heard M C F A R L A N D !!!

[@spideyspowderdtumblers707]

Long time no see Gabe. Good job movie was great. Class of 95

[@fluffycampos5306]

I just wana say diaz brothers the teachers i knew back 08 theyre real they care and theyre fair and humble . I take my hat off for entire diaz family i sat in the class room it was real life experiences nice fun

[@Aubz_]

Truly inspiring, thanks for sharing!

[@pablokid5092]

This is very inspirational !

[@ervinhoward9806]

Magnificent and powerful reporting. Thanks.

[@rherrera4177]

My life exactly, I decided those fields weren’t for me. I’m going to school and getting out of here.😊

[@humbertolopez4215]

Love this movie 🇲🇽🏃

[@mmillerssn]

This is great. Thanks so much.

[@marcusflores1320]

Man this movie is Great i wish i info telll email them.They should play this movies in schools i think it woupd really help some of the Youth!

[@WalkingVibes4K]

Great movie...💯✔

[@thelasthokage5370]

The poem by Jose gets me everytime 😭😭😭

[@noelchavez4296]

Best movie I've watched, I was inspired by them to run also.

[@djadams3356]

Only four Diaz boys ran in 1987. Thomas, victor and jose weren't Diaz.

[@cesarrodriguez1491]

DJ Adams I agree and Jose’s back story is very powerful and of triumph

[@sahajp.11]

What about Johnny

[@mariluandrade730]

and johnny

[@taytolley-cutter6402]

I hope you're submitting your video for awards! Wonderful true-life story of courageous, accomplished, and loving people. Thank you! :)

[@jasongalvin7443]

Wow, thank you Tay! Much appreciated!

[@mariekaranja7358]

Great inspiration just watched the movie

[@red5llaw]

Awesome. Really Awesome.

[@otravis676]

For me the movie has gotten even better after watching this. I feel that Mr and Mrs Wight moved to McFarland with two girls and wound up with a whole bunch of son's.

[@racocalifas]

great video thank you

[@Thorny04299]

I love my pe teacher mr Diaz Delano

[@Zambita25]

I got see the movie :) Family's Diaz my RESPECT

[@dannyhrnndz7053]

Amazing Amazing story.

[@rushildesai1]

"THAT'S NOT DANNY DIAZ!!!"

[@anamurphy72]

this is great so glad you posted this

[@germainzihua]

muy buena pelicula!!!!!

[@CycoPatPonfe]

Awesome!

[@Sportsgeek1991]

That's a good dad

[@anthonyariashernandez6034]

Literally every kid from fresno to bakersfield

[@msp507]

I grew up in McFarland and went to school with all these guys I read the comments and all I can due is take a deep breath and think if you only knew the truth....... Disney great fiction great story thou

[@scholarium]

Silvia Pereida what's the truth you know?

[@vnimo7094]

Haha exactly

[@bartbutkis]

Ms P: I can only imagine. I'm still driving up to McFarland this fall to watch a CC meet. I loved the story even though I know their State Championships were won in Division V (smallest schools) and that Thomas Valles did not come in 1st in the final race and that Danny Diaz sprinted in to 68th place as McFarland's 5th runner that day. Still loved the movie. Go Cougars!

[@frutilupis7821]

Of course Disney is no gonna tell the truth of these people is fiction

[@marygarcia5171]

I met them at school today

[@wow2026]

Çok güzel bir filim ben defalarca izledim :)

[@stevencampbell365]

God bless all mcfarland💪🙏

[@Matt-hb8ot]

Two of the people came to my school

[@NathanBlackberry]

Great video😊😊😊

[@xoxobeauty694]

I am a cros country and track runner in mcfarland danny diaz is dad of my guy bff

[@peaceandlove544]

The name is misleading, it mostly focusus on the coach and not on the extraordinary work and ability of the McFarland cross crounty Diaz family dinasty runners.

[@neachtarrsainn3216]

Anyone know what the deal is with the red Chevy, lowrider, pick up in the movie? I noticed it appears in several scenes…

[@marianagaspar844]

Mr.cantu is my middle school principal

[@assassinb3ast165]

no lie i live in mcfarland i go to the mcfarland middle school

[@vnimo7094]

You should have done more homework on David and Damacio

[@chickab00m]

What do you mean?

[@dtmenges]

Everyone clapped at the end of the movie.

[@Killcam-ck9cs]

This is why PE teachers are the best!

[@alejandrocalderon6520]

I live in arvin a small city. Close to Mcfarland and i want arvin ti start one i am about to enter high school and i have the arvin mile record 6 minutes and 23 seconds

[@sage0ne619]

This looks like a good movie and a great story. I just have a question regarding child labor laws in the United States. Is child labor legal in the states for young boys and girls under 18 years old? These kids were going to school in the late 80's or early 90's? Not to go off on a tangent but the social system should be strong enough to support a family with that many children to enable those children to go to school full time without having to do manual labor on top of their curriculum. Broken system.

[@bernardopina6509]

Only if u knew in the movie the dad was getting paid for the acres to be done so ranchers didn't care as long as they were being done same as a builder he charge u for a month and in that month its gonna be done

[@andrewshearer6723]

Farm labor has special exemptions from a bunch of laws - 12 year old minimum work age federally - For ‘non hazardous’ jobs the age is 12 - Plus the jobs are often exempt from minimum wage requirements meaning $4.25 an hour for first 90 days (which is often more than an entire harvest cycle)

[@senk0san]

Ngl kinda wish I attended this school. Fortunately my school and McFarland is based in California.

[@cesarrodriguez1491]

Till this day I haven’t seen it

[@renereyes7964]

En la maña el frio para medio dia el calor pero asi es

[@Dylanaccount]

I live there

[@pinkysunshine9289]

I wanna live in McFarland

[@vnimo7094]

maria louisa de gracia trust me, you don’t lol

[@anatorres432]

Por que no Alan SLS

[@frutilupis7821]

Like why?

[@blueballsexotics8596]

Mexicans are good people its a shame our curent president can only see the negative....

[@tami8458]

Don't worry, in two months he'll be out, and we'll all return to the good old-fashioned racism we're used to!

[@josevalenzuela5011]

There racism in every race there's simply good and bad in every race I've seen it everywhere around kern county and certainly California itself

[@realpine]

wow.. mcfarland!!

[@aimeeguzman8908]

during the water tower scene it said luis partida but there was no david diaz. who is luis partida and wheres david??

[@jasongalvin7443]

The movie alters reality a little. There was in fact only two Diaz brothers that were on the first state title Varsity team. That team also had more than 7 real runners (there was already a JV team at that point, and the program was seven years old). Disney had creative rights to the film, and that was one thing they changed...probably the biggest thing, in fact, other than the part where Mr. White was fired. He has never been fired in his life. Jim and Cheryl moved to McFarland in the 60's and he worked for the district his entire career.

[@bartbutkis]

@@jasongalvin7443 WHAT???

[@potaragaming4159]

The only thing I don't get why isn't David Diaz there I though he was one of the seven runners...

[@officialvillalobos2]

nah he wasnt

[@officialvillalobos2]

17:31 the movie replaced david diaz for luis partida david actually graduated in 86

[@georgecolavita6084]

We watched this movie in school and at the end we all said The fat Boys skinny

[@5546dean]

Cavin costner 😘😘😘