nd Im blessed to be around such a great group of people every si

The sun is just rising over the railroad tracks when Frank Rodriguez unlocks the squeaky front door to his gym.Franks Boxing Gym is a staple here in Grand Island, Nebraska, and the owner does just about everything to keep its doors -- even if theyre squeaky --open. Rodriguez cuts the grass, cleans the floors, trains the boxers and also?runs a lawn service and works multiple odds jobs to scrape together enough money to keep the gym going.Just the fact that Rodriguez has the strength to open the front door is a miracle unto itself.Rodriguez was born prematurely, weighing less than 4 pounds. His crib wasnt finished yet, so his parents put him to bed in a dresser drawer. No baby clothes fit Baby Frank, so his mom dressed him in doll clothes.Rodriguez eventually grew out of the doll clothes and dresser drawer, but he was always the smallest kid in school and became a teasing target for other kids. But then his dad, Frank Sr., decided to build a gym in their basement, and his son soon became addicted to training. Frank Sr. used to follow his son in a truck as he ran along the dusty central Nebraska roads that cut through corn fields and cow pastures. It wasnt long before the bullies figured out thaty messing with Frank was not a good idea anymore.?Fast forward to six years ago, when Frank was diagnosed with lymphoma that had spread to 70 percent of his body. His doctor placed him on the most aggressive possible treatment, but warned that Frank had only a few weeks to live.Weeks, then months, passed. Against all odds, the treatment had worked -- so well, in fact, that Frank was eventually declared to be cancer free.The treatment had ravaged his strong body, and just when he thought hed turned the corner on rebuilding his physical condition, more bad news: He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.Doctors were able to remove the cancer, but only by removing part of his pancreas, small intestine and gall bladder.The surgery was 11 hours long. When Frank awoke, he vowed to come back stronger than ever.Frank built his gym on the bottom floor of an old apartment building that he purchased nearly 20 years ago. It took him three years to clear out the trash and get the gym ready for use.Frank gives instructions to a class of women. The class is every Tuesday and Thursday. Many of the women come up from Hastings, which is 30 miles south of Grand Island, to work out with Frank.Frank watches as two young boys spar in the ring. Getting them in one-on-one matches helps Frank see how the kids react under pressure.Boys watch as two girls spar in the ring. Sparring is what everyone who takes classes looks forward to. Its when students can showcase skills and figure out what techniques they need to work on most.A young boy watches as two girls spar in the ring under Franks direction.Frank has a talk with Jojo as another young boy works a bag. Franks gym isnt all about boxing. Its about helping kids build character, and that goes beyond the body.Frank is reflected in a mirror at his gym. He built the gym on the bottom floor of an old apartment building that he purchased nearly 20 years ago.Frank practices on the speed bag. Franks recovery from his Whipple procedure has been a long one. He says hes back to normal now, but normal isnt what it used to be. Hes still learning what is body is and is not capable of.Frank does pushups in his empty gym early in the morning. The gym is open Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Being in shape has always been important for Frank. For many years, going through his cancer treatments, he wasnt able to be physically active. Getting back in shape is an ongoing process.The basement of Franks house is a trophy room, a laundry room and a gym. His trophy room is full of newspaper articles about him, trophies he has won and pictures and gloves he has gotten autographed by boxing greats over the years.Frank reads The Grand Island Independent, the local newspaper, inside his house. When hes not working or at the gym (which isnt often) he makes fish tanks, among other things. The fish tank in his living room is attached to a piano.Frank picks a shirt in the laundry room in his basement. Franks laundry room is joined in the basement by an in-home gym and a trophy room.Frank goes through his morning jog. Franks gym is a block off the train tracks and grain elevators in town. Throughout the day, those in the gym can hear train whistles as freight makes its way through town.Frank jump-ropes inside the gym at sunrise. While the gym is only open from 5 to 8 at night, Frank uses it often for his own workouts before and after work.Frank talks to Manny (age 4), the son of one of the women in his class. Manny had been giving his mother attitude on this day, so his punishment was to come to boxing class and listen to Frank. Manny badly wants to participate in some of the gyms activities, and Frank says he can begin participating as soon as he starts acting right.The view from the boxing ring over Franks gym.Jojo gets instruction from Frank. Frank had to find an extra-small pair of gloves for Jojo, the youngest member of the gym at 5 years old.Frank yells directions across the gym before entering the ring with a student.Frank watches as his class of boys runs past. When the kids give him attitude -- even if its only one person -- he has them run sprints in the alley outside the gym.Frank gives some footwork pointers to Jojo (age 5), the youngest member of his gym. Jojo is one of the less fortunate kids at the gym, so Frank does not charge Jojos dad to send his son to the gym. However, Frank says he does ask him to supply a case of toilet paper every now and then.Franks walks past a Muhammad Ali poster on the way out of his gym. Ali is pictured regularly throughout his gym and home.Frank Kaminsky Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Hornets Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/ .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Larry Johnson Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Glen Rice Hornets Jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Ohio State announced its seven captains, the names were familiar and fairly predictable. Except for one: Joe Burger.Those who havent studied Ohio State games closely over the past three seasons probably havent heard of Burger, a senior backup linebacker who walked on and finally earned a scholarship this summer thanks to his work ethic, gritty determination in practice and relentless effort on special teams.Coach Urban Meyer loves guys like Burger. Great student, wonderful attitude, a charismatic natural motivator respected by everyone. Now Burgers teammates have recognized his effort by voting him a captain alongside the teams six returning starters from last season.As good a guy as there is, Meyer said.Burger is a Cincinnati product who had scholarship offers from other big schools -- including Saturdays opponent, Bowling Green -- but decided to walk on at Ohio State instead. Hes played in 34 games over the past three years and has a grand total of three tackles. His biggest play as a Buckeye was last year when he brought down Indiana punter Erich Toth for a 3-yard loss on a fake punt attempt. Ohio State was trailing by 7 at the time and eventually won the game 34-27.Burger said being elected captain was humbling.My name was on the sheet, but I had no idea how it was going to turn out, he said of the vote. When I heard coach Meyer call my name, it was just one of those feelings that you really cant describe. Im forever grateful to my teammates, and Im blessed to be around such a great group of people every single day.ddddddddddddAnd you get the idea he means it.Middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan said Burger is a team leader, regardless of how often hes on the field. His role this year again will be special teams.Ive learned a lot from Joe Burger myself as a linebacker, just the leadership traits he has on and off the field, said McMillan, who is also a captain. He comes in day in and day out and always does what hes supposed to do. Some guys are physically more gifted than him, but he always finds a way to win.Burger said the selfless standard set by the teams best players enabled a guy whos not even on the depth chart to be elected a captain at one of the most elite programs in the country.Besides Burger and McMillan, the other captains are quarterback J.T. Barrett, offensive linemen Pat Elflein and Billy Price, defensive end Tyquan Lewis and cornerback Gareon Conley.I think they kind of set the standard and said hey, we respect the people who work hard, we respect the people who come in every day with a smile and make others around them better, Burger said. So I think those guys are instrumental in allowing this opportunity for my teammates to select me. I think it sets a great example that you dont have to be a superstar on the field in order to be a leader.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy ' ' '