Yardbarker

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

Ranking the 25 greatest Richard Linklater film characters

Here is our ranking of the 25 best Linklater film characters.

Was 1993 the greatest year in movie history?

The caliber of movies released in 1993 begs the question: Was it the most memorable year in the history of the big screen? Encompassing comedy, drama,

Was 1993 the greatest year for sports movies?

Some of the most successful and memorable movies were released in 1993. That includes many recognizable sports-themed films. Here's our ranking of the best sports-related movies released in 1993.

Ranking Clint Eastwood's 25 best roles

Of course, Eastwood has enjoyed an extremely successful career as a director, but he's also delivered some of the most memorable and legendary film roles. We narrowed it down to the top 25. Here we go.

The 30 most impactful drummers in music history

It's quite the task to limit a list to only 30 drummers who have paved the way for others, incorporated some trendsetting technique, or provided technically masterful playing. That said, we gave it a shot, listed in alphabetical order.

Ranking the 25 best artists' SiriusXM channels

Several musical artists and bands have received their own channels. We ranked the 25 best, included on SiriusXM as of February 2023, but subject to change. 

Ranking Nicole Kidman's most memorable performances

For parts of five decades, Kidman has been one of the biggest Hollywood actors and entertainers on the planet. And there are no signs of that changing any time soon. Here are our rankings of Kidman's 25 best roles.

Ranking every single Bruce Springsteen studio album

In 2022, Bruce Springsteen released his 21st studio album. January 1973 marks 50 years since he put out his debut record. In honor of all that, we've ranked each of Springsteen's studio albums. 

The 20 best 'Family Guy' supporting characters, ranked

There have been plenty of personalities on Family Guy through the years. Yet, those reoccurring supporting characters are some of the most memorable in the show's long history.

The 25 best 'Degrassi' characters, ranked

Since the 1980s, Degrassi has risen from the underground to mainstream cable popularity in North America and the rest of the world. In the spirit of everything Degrassi, here are our rankings of the franchise's 25 best characters.

The greatest Yacht Rock songs of all time

Popular in the late 1970s and into the '80s, there are some notable tunes of the ilk (smooth rhythms, light or "breezy" vocals, well-polished and produced) from earlier in the '70s that fall into this category.

The greatest players in Purdue men's basketball history

The Boilermakers program has produced some of the greatest players the college game has ever seen.

The greatest players in Michigan men's basketball history

The program has just one national championship to date. However, the Wolverines have finished runner-up on six occasions. That's even more baffling considering the number of great, even legendary, players the program has produced.

The 25 movies, shows, and music that defined 2022

Here's our list of what turned heads in entertainment for 2022. Broken down by category and alphabetical order.

The 20 top Twitter stars of 2022

Some are quite popular, while others are worth seeking out.

The most inspiring sports moments of 2022

From trailblazing athletes or coaches to those dealing, retiring legends, and overcoming physical limitations to thrive or motivate others around them. And much more in between.

The 25 athletes who defined 2022

It's quite daunting to nail down the 25 best individual athletes from the 2022 calendar year. Spanning professional and amateur sports, so the lot to choose from is pretty vast.

The 25 best sports teams of 2022

Individual accomplishments are special, but nothing truly beats team success. In 2022, there were many impressive team performances, spanning both professional and amateur sports.

College football post-Christmas bowls: Picks and previews

The college football bowl season is in high gear, and the College Football Playoff semifinals are fast approaching. Here are our previews and predictions (point spreads courtesy of DraftKings, and subject to change) for the post-Christmas Day bowl matchups.

The best Samuel L. Jackson roles

What makes Samuel L. Jackson such a great actor? Maybe because he stands out in just about any part, from any genre. Or simply because he's just so freaking cool.

College football pre-Christmas Bowls: Picks and preview

The college football bowl season is upon us, starting with those taking place before Christmas and featuring some intriguing early matchups. Here are our previews and predictions (point spreads courtesy of DraftKings, and current at the time of publication, but subject to change).

The 25 best players in Miami football history

Graciously known as "The 'U,'" for those who lived it, the University of Miami Hurricanes football program seems like its own universe, what with the trash-talking, smoke-filled entrances and the Orange Bowl etc.

The 25 greatest Penn State football players of all-time

Regardless of the position (yes, more than just linebackers), Penn State has produced some of the greatest football players in college football history.

The 25 best players in Clemson football history

Clemson has produced some of this century's best college football players. However, the program has long been a football factory for individual talent dating back to the 1930s.