Now is the time for all good Nantucketers to come to the aid of ... Brockton
by Steve Sheppard Independent Sports Editor
While conducting extensive sports research recently, I happened upon this headline that could have been ripped from any newspaper of today: "Nantucketers Go to Brockton, Get Whipped, but Have a Fine Time."

Getting "whipped" in Brockton could have any number of meanings these days, but in 1908 it referred to members of the island's Athletic Club losing a bowling match to the city's esteemed Commercial Club. No matter, for, as was gleefully pointed out: "That the islanders had a good time no one need be informed, for never was there a Nantucketer who went to Brockton who did not have a good time."

And then came the kicker: "Some how or other, Nantucket and Brockton always seem to belong to each other, and one place is always loyal to the other."

News to you? It shouldn't be. The similarities between our idyllic island and our sister city to the north are striking. Consider these parallels:

•Both places are known for their sports teams. Nantucket has been to nine Super Bowls, while Brockton has won 11.

•Nantucket has restaurants; Brockton has restaurants. •Nantucket's citizens wear shoes; Brockton is known as "Shoe City." •Nantucket has the Madaket Ditch; Brockton has the Salisbury Brook.

•A train runs through Brockton; Nantucket once had a train.

I could go on and on. Through the decades a favorite pastime of Nantucketers was their annual pilgrimage to the Brockton Fair. The fairgrounds remain to this day and its buildings, like so many of our revered historic houses, are still standing but could use a little work. There are scores of islanders who can claim deep ties to the officially-sanctioned "City of Champions," but, because they are humble by nature, you'd probably never know it.

And so it was that I came upon this news item last week: "Brockton Feels a Low Blow: Boston to get statue honoring Marciano." The gist of the story is this - the World Boxing Council, headquartered in Mexico City, wants to honor Rocky Marciano, the only undefeated boxing champion in history, the "Brockton Blockbuster," by erecting a statue of him in Boston. The reasoning behind the arbitrary decision is that more tourists visit Boston and, hence, more people will see this tribute to the legendary boxer. Who knows, the story pointed out, perhaps the statue will prompt some to make the trip down to Brockton.

Foul, the people of Brockton cry. Another shot below the belt for the once proud city that, did you know, is the place where the very first department store Santa Claus appeared. You can look it up. Judging by the line of people waiting outside the Pacific National Bank to see Santa at Saturday's Christmas Stroll, it's a tradition that seems to have caught on.

It's time to reinvigorate the Nantucket-Brockton connection and come to the aid of our Plymouth County brethren. Let's erect the statue of Rocky here, on Nantucket, where boxing was once a staple at our old, historic fairgrounds and where the great John L. Sullivan wanted to visit. Speaking of visitors, the people in Mexico City should know that we get loads of them, from all over the world. I'd lay down good odds that there are a few boxing aficionados among them.

Nantucket needs a statue anyway. Where could it go? At the foot of the Pacific National Bank atop Main Street, just like that other statue atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Now, Philadelphia, like us, certainly prides itself on its place in American history, and if Philadelphians can see fit to honor a fictional fighter, why can't we pay homage to a real sports hero, one who went undefeated in 49 professional bouts, with 43 knockouts?

Is it a coincidence that our own legendary football coach Vito Capizzo, like Rocky, is also of Italian heritage? I think not.

People in Brockton say they've wanted to erect a statue in Rocky's memory for some time now, but the price tag is too high, around $70,000. In the spirit of our generous summer residents who have recently seen fit to save our beloved Dreamland Theater and purchase the Island Spirits property for the island's use, couldn't we come together as one island and assist those who so graciously hosted our forebears? In Nantucket dollars, $70,000 doesn't seem to steep a price to commemorate the Nantucket-Brockton connection. Wouldn't it make you flush with pride to read: "Erected by the citizens of Nantucket in thanks for Brockton's 'unbounded hospitality' which 'brought pleasure to our eyes and a full measure of joy to the inner man' a century ago."

Kind of makes you want to go a few rounds, doesn't it? In this season of giving, the people of Brockton deserve our best.

If nothing else, we can e-mail the World Boxing Council (info@wbcboxing.

com) and let them know where they can put their statue. I