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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 20 worst MLB single-season teams of all time

Trying to narrow down the 20 worst teams in Major League Baseball history — most notably in the modern era (1901 and on) — is not an easy task. But we gave it a shot.

The most unlikely World Series heroes of all time

The beauty of the Fall Classic is that anything can happen, and any player can shine the brightest. Here's our list of 25 unexpected World Series stars. 

25 MLB managers who found success with multiple teams

Achieving managerial success in Major League Baseball with a single team is hard. Doing so with more than one is a truly remarkable accomplishment. So, we found it noteworthy to highlight those big-league managers who enjoyed successful tenures with different franchises.

Off beat: The worst films starring musicians

Here's a look at some of the more terrible movies featuring music's biggest names. Listed in chronological order.

The 25 greatest World Series home runs

Some home runs in the Fall Classic are just more memorable than others.

The 25 greatest NBA rivalries of all-time

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.

Ace of case: The 25 greatest fictional lawyers

Whether talking literature, comics, television or film, heroes of the law, notably the courtroom, remain popular to viewers of all ages and backgrounds, especially those of the fictional variety.

Was 1993 the greatest year for music releases?

It might not be a stretch to claim, based on the albums released, that 1993 could be the most noteworthy year in modern music history. From memorable debuts to stellar breakout projects, '93 produced some exceptional music — spanning all genres.

Radio on the TV: The most memorable bands from television

There have been plenty of television musical acts that have churned out some memorable tunes. Some were formed before getting a series, while others were made-for-TV.

The most memorable Game 7s in Stanley Cup Final history

There have been 17 Game 7s in the storied history of the Stanley Cup Final. While some haven't lived up to the winner-takes-all hype, others are truly unforgettable to NHL fans.

The most memorable Game 7s from the NBA Finals

Entering the 2023 NBA playoffs, there have been 19 Game 7s played during the league Finals. Some have been quite memorable, while others didn't live up to the hype.

Iconic homes from the large and small screen (and where you can find them)

Perhaps the best thing about some of the most iconic fictional homes and residences in television and movie history is that they actually exist in real life.

20 actors who passed on iconic roles

The sentiment of "what could have been..." in Hollywood is always a fun discussion for movie fans to hold. What if this person played that role? Or, why did they not take such an iconic part?

Cover songs that transcend the originals

It's easy to earn success recording someone else's song. However, in many cases, cover versions are better than the originals, whether by adding an innovative twist, spanning genres, or even changing up the structure of the tune to make it more one's own.

Unlikely music collaborations that worked

Some of the best musical duets and collaborations feature some of the most unlikely talents. Spanning genres while mixing and matching strange musical combinations tend to make exceptional art.

The best MLB closers of all time

There might not be a more pressure-packed position in all of Major League Baseball than the closer. His time on the diamond is rather brief, but highly crucial.

The 25 best 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.

The 25 greatest bass players of all time, ranked

Spanning all genres and generations, narrowing down the 25 best bass players of all time is never easy. We gave it a go.

25 obscure album names and the stories behind them

Plenty of things about the music business don't make sense. Notably, what goes into naming an album. Regardless of the genre or era, the number of creatively strange and random record titles is seemingly endless, but these are our 25 favorites, listed chronologically.

20 late-career albums that were surprisingly great

Even in the twilight of some legendary careers of musical artists and bands, greatness can surface when perhaps least expected. Whether trying to revive a career or deliver one last goodbye, some special music has been produced.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck through the years

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck remain chummy as two of the world's biggest movie stars. Their rise to stardom is inspiring and endearing. It seems impossible to discuss one without mentioning the other, so here's a timeline of their rise to fame.

The greatest high school basketball players from the Los Angeles area

Los Angeles County has produced some of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. Most sowed their seeds for greatness on the high school level. Here is our list of the best prep players from L.A. (Los Angeles County, to be more specific

The best NHL announcers and analysts of all time

Right up there with Major League Baseball, the NHL — and hockey fans, in general — tend to revere their team's broadcasters. Whether those calling the play-by-play action or providing insightful color commentary, the best of the best are beloved within the game — and the really good ones are usually internationally renowned.

The best NBA announcers and analysts of all time

Trying to narrow down our top 25 NBA play-by-play announcers and color commentators was not easy, and we're sure some notables are missing. But we think we've compiled an overall sound list of NBA voices that are highly entertaining.