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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 most unexpected MLB pitchers who threw a no-hitter or perfect game

The no-hitter and perfect game in Major League Baseball knows no bounds.. It doesn't matter how efficient or attractive said performances look, both are still a special moment in the game.

The greatest high school basketball teams of all time (non-prep school)

Hoops fans won't find the likes of Oak Hill Academy or Monteverde, or their ilk here. Those prep schools that welcome talent from all over the country are in a different world. So, high school basketball fans, get ready to agree — and certainly disagree — with what we have here.

25 notable matches in the England-Scotland football rivalry

There is no older rivalry in the international football world than that of England vs. Scotland. These United Kingdom nations, as of February 2024, had met on the pitch 116 times.

The 25 most memorable MLB Opening Day moments

Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season is all about making memories for those on the field and in the stands. In the spirit of this special sports day, here's our chronological list of our most notable Opening Day moments.

The 25 greatest Final Four games of all time

It's NCAA Tournament time, and we're offering a history lesson. In this case, the lesson is our top Final Four games in the history of the event — one of the perennial great days on the sports calendar.

The top scorers in NCAA men's basketball tournament history

These are the best of the best when it comes to scoring the basketball in the NCAA Tournament.

The best 1-seed vs 16-seed games of all time

Here's our ranking of the all-time best 1-vs-16 matchups.

25 best first-round NCAA Tournament games of all time

From memorable upsets to overtime thrillers to buzzer-beating baskets, here is our look at the best first-round matchups in NCAA Tournament history.

Call it a comeback: Musical acts who saw a late-career renaissance

There are plenty of bands and musical artists who achieve worldwide success, then cool off or disappear altogether. Then, for whatever the reason, or reasons, they'll resurface and get a second chance at fame.

The 20 concert tours you can't miss in 2024

Whether a fan of rock, pop, country, rap, hip hop, or just about every other style of music, there is something for everyone when it comes to the 2024 concert scene.

The 25 best rock songs from 2023

Trying to list the 25 best rock songs in a single year is quite daunting. Subjectivity reigns supreme. However, these 25 offerings, listed in alphabetical order based on artist, are pretty strong.

The 25 breakout stars of 2023

Checking out 25 notable personalities from the world of film, television, music, sports and pop culture who enjoyed breakout moments in 2023. Listed in alphabetical order.

The 25 biggest entertainment stories from 2023

Our list of the 25 stories America, and the world, couldn't stop talking about in 2023. Listed in chronological order.

U.K. footballers who managed to find notable post-career success

When it was time to say goodbye to the game they love, there have been plenty of United Kingdom footballers to enjoy success in a post-playing world. We've narrowed it down to 20 worthy of being highlighted.

20 notable NBA players who never made an 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 25 best movies about high-school sports

The subject of high-school sports has made for some of the most popular — and even beloved — movies of all time. Here's our chronological list of the 25 best.

The most notable two-sport professional athletes of all time

Starring in one professional sport is hard enough. Doing so in more than one is practically legendary. Here are 20 notable athletes who pulled it off.

The 25 greatest players in Texas men's basketball history

Texas might still be looking for that elusive NCAA national championship, but the Longhorns program has produced some of the college game's greatest players.

Which teams will make up the first 12-team College Football Playoff?

It's never too early to start thinking about the 2024 college football season, even when predicting what the first 12-team College Football Playoff field will look like — and how it will play out.

An early Top 25 ahead of the 2024 NCAA football season

Yes, we're early into 2024, and a lot has happened in the college football world that can shape the upcoming season. So, it's actually never too early to offer up our initial Top 25 for the 2024 campaign.

The 25 best players in Tennessee football history

The Tennessee Volunteers football program has produced not only some of the most iconic players in college football history, but also many more deserving of consistent recognition.

The most heartbreaking moments from English national team history

England national football history has been filled with disappointment and underachievement, with only one major trophy to boast — and that came nearly 60 years ago.

The all-time United Kingdom football roster

How daunting of a task is it to pick the greatest roster in the history of United Kingdom football? Impossible, perhaps? Well we have given it a shot.  There will be disagreements and arguments, maybe.

20 great soundtracks from forgotten films

There are countless movies that miss with critics, bomb at the box office or are simply too hard to find and easy to miss. Some of those films also boast exceptional associated music.