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Gonzalo Aguirregomezcorta is a reporter for ESPNDeportes.com. The reporting for this piece was done in Spanish and Portuguese. The story was originally written in Spanish. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Vidigal favela has some stunning views.Its steep and narrow streets wind upward toward the sky. It is only from up there that you can clearly appreciate the beauty of a unique landscape. The mountains lie to the left, their peaks temporarily shrouded in rainless clouds. The vast Atlantic Ocean stretches out in front and, to the right, a number of small islands make the view even more beautiful. In the middle, a cluster of colorful, overlapping houses that, from this height, appear to be made from paper maché. In the background, the beach, where the sea laps the sand, and the sand gives way to asphalt which in turn gives way to tall glass buildings, in this place far from the favela.Up here, some people with torn shirts and weathered skin rest their forearms on the wooden balconies and cannot help but be taken in by the view every time they look out. A couple of kilometers away, the same views enjoyed by one of Rio de Janeiros more than 700 favelas will set you back 1,000 reais per night (around $300). In Brazil, luxury and poverty are close neighbors separated by nothing more than air. Down below, the haves; above, the have nots. They all share the same beauty.Filgueira is a military policeman who prefers not to admit how badly things are going for the federal police, who continue to make headlines thanks to protests in which they are campaigning for higher wages in line with the risks they face. Filgueira avoids the issue and, when he explains the main reason he enjoys his work in Vidigal, he points his finger and nods toward the landscape. As if this visual spectacle provides him with enough satisfaction while he does his job in one of Rios drug trafficking hot spots. Vidigal is better now, he told me, with some diplomacy.Near the entrance to the favela, a blue building is daubed with graffiti including a phrase that reads, All In | The Fight Institute. As if it were the slogan for everyday life in the community, Raff Giglio chose this name for the school he founded 20 years ago. Today, it is the cradle of Brazilian Olympic boxing. At the entrance, six little girls are trying to dodge a worn-out old ball. They burst out laughing. Giglio spends a little time with them while inside one of the volunteers from his academy teaches the boys. His mission is to offer them a solution to the difficult reality of life in Vidigal through free boxing lessons.He complains loudly, the government does nothing for the kids in the favelas. Alternately, his speech is interspersed with a genuine gratitude that comes from the pleasure of his work. The satisfaction of accomplishment, to receive a mission to one day go to the favela and be able to help the kids. Thats what Im doing. They pay me by winning a medal. Here, profe, theres the Olympic medal. Giglio has plenty to say on the subject of Esquiva Falc?o, whom he spotted as a youngster at a championship in S?o Paulo. Upon hearing shortly after that Falc?o had stopped competing, he took charge of the situation.He lived in the state of Espirito Santo. I brought him to Rio de Janeiro at the age of 17 to live in my gym, Giglio said. I gave him food, a shower, training so that he could continue boxing. In 2007, he took part in his first national championship where he won the silver medal. In 2008, he was called up to Brazils senior team, and from there things just continued upwards.Three Olympians, hundreds of lives cut shortFalc?os journey took him up beyond the heights from where you can contemplate Vidigals stunning views. He won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he lost to the Japanese fighter, Ryota Murata, by one point.When Esquiva arrived back from London, his first stop was Brasilia for a reception with the president of the Republic. Before going to Espirito Santo he came to Vidigal and headed to my gym: Hey man, the medal. I almost fell over, boasted Giglio. I produce champions, the national team doesnt create athletes. When the athlete becomes national champion, they get picked. Patrick [Louren?o] and Michel [Borges] are two examples, he added.Louren?o and Borges are set to compete in this edition of the Olympic Games on home soil, in front of their fans, a few kilometers from the place where they first honed their footwork before being selected for the national team. Giglio plays a crucial role in the chain of developing boxers. He sows the seed and waters it for years so that it is ready to change hands once it blooms. At the All in the Fight Institute they learn to be disciplined, to work hard, to disconnect from extremely difficult situations that often require them to set their passion aside in order to earn a living for their families.They are hard lives because they are all living in the favelas. They experienced very bad situations when there was drug trafficking and all those things, Giglio said. They are poor kids with no money who cannot afford a gym. Everything here is free and we give them an opportunity to pursue a better life. Here we work to educate through sport so that the kids have an opportunity that the government does not give them. We work to ensure they have a chance to continue as a good person, a person who is a good son, a good father, a person who can walk down the street with their head held high. They could also be a great boxer.The younger ones look up to Falc?o, Borges and Louren?o. The latter will compete in this edition of the Games in the 49-kilogram light flyweight class, while Borges will compete in the 81-kg heavyweight class.Donation of the dayThe volunteer who is observing the boys technique stops for a moment and hands Giglio two pairs of gloves. He looks at them from every angle, turns them around, puts them on his wrong hands and sets them aside ... all this while smiling from ear to ear.This donation came from S?o Paulo, he says.The fact that someone shares his altruistic cause is another battle won in his solitary work. The revenue to maintain the gym and the equipment used by the youngsters comes from donations by individuals or companies. They currently have no sponsor and any help is welcome for Giglio, who describes himself as a dreamer who came close to throwing in the towel.I went through some very tough times when I thought about quitting, he says. I have a family, I have daughters, four daughters, and several times I thought I had to look for work, I had to earn money for my family. Something told me not to stop, to keep going: work and things will turn out well.I carried on and carried on some more, and the lesson was just that, to believe in the dream and continue working with discipline.The discipline he learned in judo, he passes on to his boys. The intense stubbornness that has earned him a name not only in Vidigal but outside the favela he made his home two decades ago. He used to have his gym in Leblon, closer to Copacabana. He lost it as a result of problems with the local authorities and settled in this community where he has rebuilt his emotional and professional life.The sun sets in the west, but looking from the east it has been hidden behind the mountains for some time. The lights come on at the foot of Vidigal. Darkness descends, but not before delivering a festival of colors beneath the illuminated mantle of those overlapping houses. Another day draws to a close and some people sit and watch the womens soccer match between Brazil and China (3-0) with a cheap beer.Others head home with bags in hands while some cars give way to others due to the narrow road. The motorcycles do their own thing. Giglio closes the doors of his gym. There are no girls playing at the entrance now, just a constant stream of adults. Filgueira, the military policeman, insists on jumping in our car and escorting us to the exit of the favela. Xavier Williams Jersey . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. 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LeSean McCoy Jersey . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. DALLAS -- Oklahoma already has a record nine Big 12 championships, and last season took the league into the College Football Playoff for the first time.While the smallest Power Five conference could soon be expanding, the Sooners and Bob Stoops -- now the longest-tenured FBS coach -- seem to have everything in place to push for another playoff run out of the 10-team league.Since their last national title in 2000, the Sooners made another BCS Championship Game in 2008 and last season played in the Orange Bowl, losing the CFP semifinal to Clemson after the Big 12 was snubbed for the first four-team playoff in 2014.I dont reflect back much on it, Stoop said of the national title in his second season at Oklahoma. I look forward and try and continue to improve, and be a more powerful team is what Im constantly preaching.Big 12 leaders have to decide whether to add two, four or no teams. Even without expansion, the league is restoring its championship game in 2017, with a likely split into divisions again. For now, the Big 12 remains the only Power Five conference with a round-robin league schedule.Weve been in five different conferences, and weve done it about every way that you can, said TCU coach Gary Patterson, whose Horned Frogs go into their fifth Big 12 season. I dont think theres any tougher way of playing it as when you have to play everybody.THE FAVORITESBaker Mayfield is back for his second season as Oklahomas quarterback, with the option for another year after this in Norman for the former Texas Tech walk-on freshman starter thanks to a Big 12 rule change about in-league transfers. The Sooners also have the running duo of bruising Samaje Perine and explosive Joe Mixon.Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor all also won at least 10 games last season.Healthy quarterback Mason Rudolph is among a wealth of returners for the Cowboys. Dual-threat quarterback Trevone Boykin is gone, but TCU has 13 starters back from last season, plus six other starters who had season-ending injuries a year ago.Baylor, the nations best offense the last three seasons, still has plenty of talent. But the Bears lack depth in transition after the offseason dismissal of coach Art Briles following allegations that the program didnt properly handle sexual assault allegations against some players.TOP PLAYERSBaker Mayfield, QB, OOklahoma.dddddddddddd A legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate who threw for 3,700 yards and accounted for 43 touchdowns (36 passing, seven rushing) with only seven interceptions.Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas. While starting every game as a true freshman and recording 61 tackles, Jefferson also became a key leader.Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech. The dual-threat quarterback, the national leader with 393 total yards per game, is now a one-sport athlete. He got his first full offseason focusing solely on football after giving up baseball.Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma. Quiet off the field, the junior already has 3,062 yards and 37 TDs in two seasons, just 1,056 yards shy of Billy Sims school record.Seth Russell, QB, Baylor. The top-rated FBS passer when he suffered a season-ending neck injury seven games into last season, Russell is healthy but has no proven backup.Josh Carraway, DE, TCU. Already one of the leagues top pass-rushers (nine sacks), and with help with the return of fellow end James McFarland from injury.James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State. A deep-ball threat who can outleap defenders, his 10 TD catches averaged 49 yards.NEW FACESIowa State coach Matt Campbell. At 36, Campbell is the youngest head coach of a Power Five school after four full seasons as Toledos coach. The Cyclones have one winning record the past 10 seasons.Baylor coach Jim Grobe. The former Wake Forest coach came out of semi-retirement for a one-year deal as acting head coach.TCU quarterback Kenny Hill. After initially thrilling Texas A&M when succeeding Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, Hill gets a fresh start near home.Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. Gilbert brings a philosophy to be fast and physical, have fun and score points after initially balking at the job.ON THE HOT SEAT- Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia. The Mountaineers came into the Big 12 after sharing consecutive Big East titles, and a 10-3 debut season for Holgorsen. They are 26-25 since, 15-21 in league games.- Charlie Strong, Texas. The Longhorns havent had three consecutive losing seasons since 1954-56. If they match that, Strong (11-14 so far) could be three-and-out in Austin.PICKOklahoma repeats as league champion. ' ' '