1992: Ottawa Bootleggers 17, Moscow Giants 07

In my post from November 3rd I mentioned a book, penned by Warner Miles, about the Ottawa Bootleggers senior team that played in Ottawa from 1988 to 1992.

I purchased it right around the same time, received it a few days later, and saved it for a five-night business trip which took place last week. I started it on the plane upon my departure and completed it during my last night at the hotel.

I don't know that I am qualified to offer a review but one thing that struck me is the conversational tone of it. It's an easy read, and I don't mean that as criticism. I don't know Mr. Miles but reading his book felt like I had just met him and was sitting across the table from him at a pub as he told me about the whole experience of being a Bootlegger. 

The book is nearly 200 pages long but I'm going to quote from the final paragraph.

...Memories are fading and there's no team website, no alumni association, nor a hall of fame to document the team's history.

He's right and that's wrong (but at least now there's a book...).

I had the Bootleggers on the semi-pro page but that makes them too easy to overlook on this site. Therefore I'm in the process of building a page specific to them. They still won't have a website, but they'll have that. The Sooners semi-pro team info will be moved to the Sooners own page, as will the varsity team info. The semi-pro page will cease to exist.

Administrative stuff out of the way, the Bootleggers' history is rather colourful for a team so short-lived and while he didn't dwell on it, Miles reminded me of an interesting game the team held during their final season. They hosted a team from Russia in an exhibition game.

Here's an abbreviated version of that game's recap from the Ottawa Citizen. It is from June 28th, 1992, and written by Bob Ferguson.

 

No shame in getting stung by that dreaded Isaev to Salychev connection...

That isn't quite the end of the story. The following day, the Citizen reported that more than a baker's dozen of the Russians defected.

That's a hell of a twist and might make a good book of its own. I'd be curious to know whatever happened to that bunch.

Much more to come about the Bootleggers.