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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 greatest World Series home runs of all time

Going deep in the World Series is alone an impressive accomplishment, even for the biggest legends in the game. That said, some home runs in the Fall Classic are more memorable than others.

The 25 greatest football players in Big Eight / Big 12 history 

Whether talking the Big Eight (or the Big Seven before) or expanded Big 12, football in this conference has given us some of the all-time greats of the game.

The 25 greatest players in Pac-12 football history 

Whether known as the Pac-8, Pac-10, or Pac-12 (or even the Pacific Coast Conference), this once-legendary league has produced some of the greatest players college football has ever seen.

20 NFL players who were one-season wonders

Most would consider just one great season in the NFL better than none — even if the promise was there for more good times in the future. In the spirit of something is better than nothing, here's a look at our picks for some of the better one-year wonders (in chronological order) in NFL history.

The 25 most unlikely World Series heroes

World Series stars — or heroes — come in all shapes, sizes and with various levels of experience. Pitchers, catchers, light-hitting infielders — doesn't matter.

The 25 greatest college football teams of the 2010s

Let's reflect on some of the successful and memorable college football teams that spanned 2010-19. Obviously not all were crowned national champions, but some still will go down as among the best in college football — let alone the decade — despite falling short of that ultimate goal.

The greatest World Series rotations in MLB history

Pitching tends to win championships, especially if they come from the starting rotation.Here's a look some of the best starting rotations in World Series history (in chronological order).

20 underrated '80s bands who are worth rediscovering

There are many reasons why bands or artists can be considered underrated. Perhaps they resided in the shadow of someone else within a genre, or maybe there was a lack of mainstream appreciation.

20 pro sports teams that could use a new stadium

Fan-friendly, sport-specific stadiums, ballparks, and arenas are all the rage. And, some of the most prominent and storied franchises in all of professional sports are in need of an upgrade.

The 20 most memorable college football scandals

There have been plenty of shady dealings and controversies throughout the history of college football. Here are some of the most noteworthy.

25 notable MLB Hall of Famers who never won a World Series

Among the countless Hall of Famers who never experienced the joy of winning a World Series, there are several notable legends who stand out. Here's our list of the 25 greatest.

The greatest gameday traditions in college football

College football game days are all about spectacle: atmosphere, pageantry, excitement, and, of course, tradition. Here are some of the best game-day college football traditions that any fan of the game can appreciate.

The 25 all-time greatest MLB postseason performers

There are great major league postseason performers, and then there are the elite — the best of the best. Here's our list (in alphabetical order) of the 25 most outstanding MLB postseason superstars.

The most notable NBA players who never made the All-Star Game

Some of the NBA's most successful and lauded players never made an All-Star team. The reasons are plenty, but the 20 that made our list truly stand out.

The greatest fictional bartenders of all time

When it comes to fictional bartenders, these barkeeps have the recipe for success. These 20 we've selected all bring their unique personalities and talents to the rail.

The 25 greatest MLB utility players of all-time

There have been plenty of ball players who enjoyed lengthy major-league careers due to their versatility. These jack-of-all-trades types are invaluable.

The 25 greatest players in Oregon football history

It might be surprising to the casual college football fan just how much individual stardom the Oregon football program has produced, even if the Ducks' prominence didn't truly start until the late 1990s.  Here's our list of the 25 best players to sport those creatively loud Oregon uniforms over the years.

The 20 greatest football players in Texas Longhorns history

When it comes to storied college football programs, the University of Texas has plenty to brag about. Sure, times have been a little lean in recent years, but its football tradition is second to none.  Here's our look at the 20 best football players in the history of the Texas Longhorns football.

The 25 greatest players in USC football history

One of the most storied college football programs of all time, as a winner of 11 recognized national championships, USC has produced its fair share of gridiron legends.

The 25 greatest players in ACC football history

Subjective? No doubt. But that said, here is our list of the 25 best players to suit up for an Atlantic Coast Conference football team, listed by position. 

20 college football stadiums that deserve more love

There are iconic, uniquely legendary college football venues throughout the country, and then there are stadiums that deserve more credit. Here's our list of the latter, listed alphabetically.

The 25 greatest rivalries in NBA history

Perhaps more so than any other professional sport, individual rivalries in the NBA seem to be more celebrated. And naturally, the emphasis toward one-on-one showmanship and star caliber is a big part of the game.

The 25 most iconic MTV VJs of all time

Back when MTV played videos on a regular basis, there were VJs (video jockeys), similar to radio disc jockeys, who introduced the music, hosted said segments and other programming on the network, and interviewed celebrities.

The 25 greatest players in Big Ten football history

When it comes to picking the 25 greatest football players in Big Ten history, the number of worthy candidates seems endless. Here's our list, listed by position.

The 20 most memorable characters from commercials

Trying to narrow down some of the most memorable commercial characters to ever grace a television screen can be daunting. We gave it a shot. Enjoy.