Our Canadian correspondent Rob Boag is not resting on his laurels in his relentless drive for more city centre recognition for Olympic gold medal boxer Dick McTaggart.
McTaggart, one of Dundee’s greatest sportsmen if not THE greatest was honoured several years ago with a sports centre named in his honour on Old Glamis Road in Dundee.
That particular facility is now a centre for gymnastics arguably one of the furthest-away sports from boxing.
Local boxing club St Francis ABC have done their bit with a statue in their premises at King’s Cross Road.
However, these are hardly handy to see for the crowds who flock to the city centre all week.
We are also told by the city fathers and others in commerce that hundreds of thousands of visitors will be making their way to Dundee as tourists once the Waterfront is completed with V&A Museum et al.
Rob, though, is pushing on and has written a letter to SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.
Rob, forever a friend to this column, has sent me a transcript.
Hi Nicola,
I am a self-exiled Dundonian living in Canada.
I closely follow the fortunes and misfortunes of my birth city and country.
Proud I was of Dundee when they championed the Yes vote at the referendum Glasgow also came through.
As for the rest of Scotland, you have inherited a strong stable infrastructure that gives you great licence with your future architectural design.
I am a disciple of sports.
You have a Westminster opponent that loses focus and concentration.
Look for these openings these lapses, there will be many, then hit them.
It may be only a jab but you will score points.
As a young lad in Dundee, Ol’ Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra came to perform at the Caird Hall.
Frank’s ticket sales were, well, rather sad.
You, Nicola, sold out in 24 hours!
Now a thank you to Dundee that will hit the headlines.
Dundee’s favourite son Dick McTaggart.
Had he been born in the social media age, he would be a Sir and a millionaire.
There are individuals from every generation (regardless of their calling) that rise and shine above the rest of us with talent that is burnished from natural ability and sheer hard work.
Somewhere in Dundee there is a sports complex with Dick McTaggart’s name assigned to it.
Dick deserves more Dundee deserves more and so does Scotland.
A statue of McTaggart in the core of Dundee that future generations will admire.
That will pique the interest of visitors from all over the world, illustrating that this city produced such a champion.
I think such an announcement on your next visit to Dundee would place you on a pedestal next to Dick.
Let us honour the vertical man, though we value none but the horizontal one.
Regards and good luck, Rob Boag.
If you have a comment, leave one below or give John an email: jbrown@dcthomson.co.uk
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