Illya Harrell's Sportswriter Profile

Illya Harrell joined June 2009

Syndicated Writer

14,164article reads
Rank: 1,681
70articles written
Rank: 647
637comments written
Rank: 393

About Illya »

Illya Harrell is a retired grocery store bag boy.

He wishes that he had never quit little league baseball because he is confident that he would have been the next Billy Joe Robidoux. When not obsessing over what might have been, Illya enjoys watching baseball, thinking about baseball, reading baseball articles and books, writing baseball articles, playing fantasy league baseball, and replaying the 1986 baseball season on an obscure baseball board game.

Other hobbies include college football and drinking bubbly water.

The Shortlist »

Favorite Athletes

Riggo, Renee Montgomery, Junior, Eric Davis, Rickey Henderson, Sean Casey, Pennington & Leftwich & Moss, Skip Henderson, Barry Larkin, Art Monk, Patrick Patterson
Favorite Sports Teams

Reds, Redskins, and the Thundering Herd of Marshall University
Favorite Coaches

Rick Sweet, Joe Gibbs, Bobby Pruitt, Rick Huckabay
All Time Sports Moment

That Russian dude beating the U.S. men's team by shooting a length-of-the-courter in the '72 or '68 Olympics.
Most Memorable Game Attended

RFK Stadium with the bleachers literally bouncing up and down while watching Art Monk catch the pass that briefly gave him the all-time reception record. Some guy named Rice eventually ended up with more caught balls than Monk.
Most Unbreakable Sports Record

Throwing three no-hitters in a row seems impossible at the major league level. So I am going with Johnny Vander Meer's back-to-back no-no's. Someone may tie it someday. But to break that record would be super human.
Ruth or Mays?

I'd rather hang with Willie. Ruth wouldn't be very fun at this point.
Unitas or Montana?

Joe. Same reason as above.
Jordan or Russell?

Bill Russell -- NO DOUBT! Jordan would annoy the daylights out of me.
Gretzky or Orr?

The Gret One
Pele or Maradona?

Madonna. I can look past the fact that she dated A-Rod.
Federer or Sampras?

Federer
Tiger or Nicklaus?

Tiger
Petty or Earnhardt?

Lori Petty was awesome in 'Tank Girl'.
Schumacher or Senna?

Schumacher, I've never heard of the other jockey.
Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, or Big East?

SEC (Baseball & Football), Big East (Basketball)

Latest Articles »

What the Cincinnati Reds Can Do with $8.5 Million

11/10/2009

200 reads 4 comments 0 likes

B/R, How Much Money Do I Owe You?

11/09/2009

30 reads 9 comments 3 likes

Cincinnati Reds' Offseason: So Far, So Good

11/09/2009

180 reads 0 comments 0 likes

New York Yankees: Bad for the Bronx, Bad for Baseball

09/22/2009

650 reads 63 comments 8 likes

View Illya's full archive »

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Henry Ball said...

Delete

As President of the Les Miles Fan Club I took a big hit on Saturday Night but is Les really on the Hot Seat?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/295130-is-les-miles-on-the-hot-seat-does-one-second-define-tenure-at-lsu

I'd appreciate your feedback and I hope you like it, if you find me worthy!

Thanks in advance. - HB

1 day ago

Suzette Lampard Brantley said...

Delete

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/292987-new-orleans-saints-9-0-music-to-my-ears

all about the music

4 days ago

Ash Marshall said...

Delete

Hey Illya,

I'm writing articles on the MLB 9s and thought you'd be interested in the Cincinnati Reds' piece.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/290879-mlb-9s-cincinnati-reds-johnny-bench-frank-williams-joe-morgan-on-top

Let me know what you think.

Cheers,

Ash

7 days ago

Suzette Lampard Brantley said...

Delete

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/289040-new-orleans-saintsbelieve

What ya been up to Illya?
Could use your help...if you like it,let me know...and hit the button.
btw...'Tank Girl'...I went on set while filming in New Mexico!

8 days ago

Cliff Eastham said...

Delete

Hey Buddy,

Do you think the Gold Glove goes to the best Defensive Players in MLB? Check this out if you have the time. Thanks

Good to see you back.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/288801-is-the-gold-glove-award-given-to-the-best-defensive-players-in-mlb

10 days ago

Hotnuke said...

Delete

Illya,

I really thought you’d find this piece something you’d want to read on this Veteran’s Day.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/288145-sports-veterans-day-reflect-understand-and-soften-your-heart

Thanks,

Daniel Barber aka Hotnuke

11 days ago

BabyTate said...

Delete

Illya, only two people did better than 5-4 last week, we need your expertise!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/286888-college-football-babys-losers-for-the-second-week-of-november

Baby Tate

13 days ago

JW Nix said...

Delete

here is a story of another NFL Legend who has yet to get his deserved respect :

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/286573-crazy-canton-cuts-ed-meador

14 days ago

Kevin H. MacLean said...

Delete

For all of those out there who say baseball should have a salary cap, prepare to have some knowledge dropped on you.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/285772-bustin-the-cap-why-a-salary-cap-would-do-nothing-for-baseball

15 days ago

Hotnuke said...

Delete

Illya,

I thought you might like this piece on the Yankees World Series victory. Let me know what you think of it in the comments section, and if you enjoy the article, for God’s sake give it a vote…lol

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/284635-best-money-can-buy-new-york-yankees-27th-title-no-real-accomplishment

Thanks,

Daniel Barber aka Hotnuke

17 days ago

Suzette Lampard Brantley said...

Delete

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/276131-a-second-helping-of-saints-gumbo

dinner time

32 days ago

J.C. Ayvazi said...

Delete

For the dozen or so of you wondering what it would take to drag JC off the IR and post something new, here is the answer:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/275645-jcs-dodger-line-drives-oct-20-dodgers-extend-gm-collettis-deal

33 days ago

Joseph Jove said...

Delete

If your ever bored, I really enjoy debating opposing views in just about every subject under the sun.

I am usually very Intellectually sincere most of the time, so I would probably agree with your opinions if their fundamentally true.

You seem like an interesting fellow, I find enlightenment in the most unusual places.

Lets start with this...Do you believe this country is imperialistic?

And if so, is the president of the United States an Emperor?

Are rich people evil?

Can a poor person be evil in the same sense?

34 days ago

Suzette Lampard Brantley said...

Delete

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/274119-saints-fans-saysorry-eli-not-this-time

what up Illya???

35 days ago

Lou Cappetta said...

Delete

Here's how we all voted. Thanks so much for the help. Enjoy.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/273191-the-2009-bleacher-report-featured-columnist-baseball-awards

37 days ago