Locker room" is a bit much... it's just fermenting cabbage. That smell is normal and means it's working. I'd just air the kitchen out and let it finish.
Yeah, I tried the vinegar trick a few times and it never really worked for me. The smell just came back after a day or two. What finally helped was making sure I changed the water more often, like every other day. That and giving the crock itself a good scrub with baking soda once a week.