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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 most unnecessary cover songs

Taking on a cover of a classic song is never easy. More times than not, the result is less than desirable to the ears. Here is our ranking of 25 notable cover songs that did not deliver.

The 25 greatest opening song lines of all-time

Many aspects define a great song, including a special opening phrase or line. Some are downright legendary. Here are 25 of the greatest opening lyrics of all time.

The one-hit wonders from the '70s worth revisiting

One hit single is one more than most bands ever achieve. That said, more often than not throughout music history, we tend to remember them as one-hit wonders.

An early look at the top 25 college football teams for 2023

It's spring, but it's never too early to start thinking about who the best teams of the 2023 college football season will be. Here's our early take at the top 25 teams entering this coming season.

Notable non-traditional sports seen on ESPN channels

The hilarious 2004 film Dodgeball : A True Underdog Story  brought to light some out-of-the-box sports or competitions that are highly entertaining. Since then, the ESPN family of channels and platforms have been the place to go when it comes to real life, non-traditional sports watching.

Who are the best MLB switch-hitters of all time?

Successfully hitting the baseball at the major league level is quite an accomplishment. Doing it extremely well from both sides of the plate is even more special.

The 25 greatest soccer players to hail from the United States

The United States has not been a soccer power on the world stage, obviously, but the nation has produced some exceptional individual performers — many who have enjoyed success on the international stage.  Here is our list of 25 American-born soccer players who have stood out over the decades.

The 25 best US Women's National Team players of all time

The United States has produced some of the best female soccer players in the world. Trying to narrow it down to the 25 best is not easy, but we tried it. Our list is listed in alphabetical order.

The greatest heavy metal albums from the 21st century, so far

Sure, the 80s and 90s were the true salad days for heavy metal music of all subgenres. But the dawn of the 21st century has also brought some memorable metal moments as well.

The 25 greatest final albums

Often a band or musical artist doesn't know when it's time to call it a career — at least in terms of putting out studio albums, complete with original material. Sometimes they've truly reached the end of the line, while unforeseen circumstances, such as tragedy, leaves no point to moving forward.

The greatest MLB managers who never won a World Series 

Winning a World Series in the capacity of manager is a significant accomplishment, considering the pressure to succeed. However, there have been many great managers never fortunate enough to win it all, but who are still worthy of consistent praise.

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.

The 20 worst films starring superstar musicians

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

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.

The 20 most memorable TV bands

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 A-list actors who turned down 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?

25 awesome cover songs that were better than 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.