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Jeff Mezydlo

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

EXPERTISE:

NCAA football, NCAA basketball, PGA/LPGA, international soccer, sports history, rock music, film history

The 25 greatest designated hitters in MLB history

There are plenty of Major League Baseball players who were born to hit, and when the designated hitter was adopted by the American League in 1973, it made and saved plenty of careers.

New York City's all-time greatest high school basketball players

Trying to pick the 25 best high school basketball players to come out of the five boroughs of New York City is pretty daunting. There are several Hall-of-Famers worthy of the honor, but we have our list.

College football 2025: 25 impactful transfers to keep an eye on

More different experienced faces in new places for 2025. The college football transfer portal might be out of control, but it's intriguing nonetheless.

The 20 most beloved TV grandparents of all time

When it comes to memorable television grandparents, they don't necessarily have to be nice to be celebrated. In fact, some are downright crass and mean, but generally have a soft spot for their grandchildren.

College football 2025: 25 players to watch on defense

Here are 25 of the best defenders to keep an eye on during the 2025 college football season.

The most infamous co-star feuds in film and TV history

Co-stars don't always need to get along, whether working together on a movie or television projects. In fact, some downright hated each other. Here are 20 notable examples. 

Oh, brother: The most insufferable TV siblings of all time

Not every television sibling is cute and funny. There are plenty that viewers love to hate, or at least don't really like. Here's our list. 

College football 2025: 25 players to watch on offense

As the 2025 college football season kicks off, here's our list of 25 offensive standouts to keep an eye on.

The 25 biggest bowl game upsets of all time

The 2023-24 college football bowl season has come and gone, and there were a few notable upsets, but none came close to the most memorable bowl upsets of all time, which we've ranked below.

20 beloved TV shows with insufferable main characters

In the history of television, even the most well-known sitcoms and dramas feature star iconic characters who can truly get on our nerves. Here are 20 such examples.

20 side projects by famous musicians that are definitely worth a listen

One band is often not enough to keep even the most successful musicians satisfied. The more the merrier. Here's a look at some notable musicians and their high-quality side projects.

The 25 most eccentric NBA players of all time

The NBA has produced some memorable characters during its long and storied existence, but some were undoubtedly more peculiar than others. Here's our look at 25 that stand out -- for better or worse, listed in alphabetical order.

The 25 greatest ESPN anchors of all time

In the late 1970s, in the middle-of-nowhere town of Bristol, Conn., ESPN was born. Over the years, it's become the foremost authority in sports media.  It has showcased some of the most notable and recognizable sports media personalities to sit behind an anchor desk.

It takes two: The 25 most iconic duos in sports

When it comes to iconic sports duos, the possibilities seem endless. However, we did our best to rank the 25 best.

Defunct MLB stadiums we wish were still around

Here are our rankings of 25 parks and stadiums still worth holding near and dear to our baseball hearts.

The 25 most eccentric NFL players of all time

There have been plenty of "characters" to step foot on an NFL field. However, there are those who truly turn heads -- for better or worse. Here are the most notable, listed in alphabetical order.

The 20 greatest MLB managers who never won a World Series 

Success in Major League Baseball can be measured in many ways; namely, winning a World Series. As a player, it is truly special. Meanwhile, doing so in the capacity of manager is a significant accomplishment, considering the pressure to succeed.

The most memorable U.S. Summer Olympic performances

Every four years presents another opportunity for American athletes to make lasting memories for both themselves and their country. Here's our list of 25 all-time great Summer Olympic performances from American athletes.

25 iconic sports records that won't be broken anytime soon

Sports records are made to be broken. Then again, it might take longer for some. Here's our list of 25 seemingly unbreakable sports records that should stand the test of time.

The 25 greatest American-born tennis players

When it comes to legendary American tennis players -- men and women -- the pool to choose from is quite large. Narrowing it down to 25 wasn't easy, but here is our list in alphabetical order.

The 20 greatest Canadian basketball players of all time

Canada might be best known for hockey and curling, but the country has also produced some elite basketball players. Here's our list of the 20 best, listed in alphabetical order, with statistics through the 2024-25 NBA season.

The 25 greatest American-born hockey players of all-time

Hockey might be the official sport of Canada, but the United States has also produced some elite talent. With that in mind, here's our list of the 25 best U.S.-born players, listed in alphabetical order.

20 fictional sports uniforms we wished existed in real life

There are many beloved fictional sports franchises or teams out there that are worth celebrating. But how many have memorably great uniforms? Here is our list of the 20 best, presented in alphabetical order.

The 20 most notorious gaffes and blunders in MLB history

From errors to blooper to unfortunate mistakes, here are 20 notable Major League Baseball plays gone wrong, listed in chronological order.

The 20 greatest TV shows that featured athletes as cast members

The transition from the athletic arena to Hollywood can be daunting for those seeking a double dose of stardom. Then again, for others, it's pretty easy.