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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 best family bands of all time

We're talking family bands, but we took a few liberties. If there's at least two family members playing a vital part to a band's success, it's fair game for praise. Here 20 of the best bands featuring family members.

The most memorable Kurt Russell roles of all time

For seven decades, Kurt Russell has been a major presence in both television and film. Here are 25 of Russell's most celebrated roles from his illustrious career.

Notable songs with names of months in the title

What's even more dependable than the days on the calendar turning and the seasons changing? Songs about those months. Here's some of the better songs with months of the year in the title.

20 notable songs with years in the title

A certain time in history, or in one's life, can be great fodder for a successful song — regardless of the genre. Here are 20 songs with a year in the title that we think are worth a listen, listed in chronological order.

The best fictional pizza places

Who doesn't love pizza? Yes, we know there are plenty out there who don't. But even some naysayers of this comfort-food staple might want to visit some of the most notable fictional pizza places from television and film. 

The best Steve Carell roles of all time

Steve Carell might be best known for his television work — yes, that one iconic character. But his film performances have consistently been praised during his career. Here are some of his most memorable roles.

The definitive Def Leppard playlist

Def Leppard has enjoyed quite the legendary career. The road has certainly been rocky, and downright tragic at times, but the Leppard persevered to keep its Hall-of-Fame career going. Here's our list of the 20 best Def Leppard songs.

The definitive Queen playlist

There's not much to be said that hasn't already been said when it comes to Queen. It's not easy piecing together the perfect Queen playlist. But we'll give it a try. 

The definitive Rage Against the Machine playlist

No stranger to controversy, or sending a message through politically- or socially-conscious lyrics, Rage has delivered a massively influential alternative/rap metal catalog. Here are our top 20 Rage Against the Machine songs.

The greatest all-time sophomore album efforts by recording artists

While the first time is a charm for some, the second can be even better. Spanning all genres, here's our list of the greatest sophomore albums in music history.

The definitive Cars playlist

More than 40 years after the release of their smash debut album, Cars classics can still be heard with regular frequency. Here's our list of the 20 best songs from this widely celebrated Hall of Fame band.

The definitive Iron Maiden playlist

Iron Maiden has influenced countless hard rock and metal acts, from Kiss to Nirvana. In the band's honor, here's our list of the best songs that helped make up the Iron Maiden legacy.

The definitive Beastie Boys playlist

Following Adam Yauch's 2012 death from cancer at age 47, Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond eventually decided to retire the Beastie Boys, though their music is eternal. Here's our list of their 20 best tracks.

The definitive Weezer playlist

Guided by the complex mind of lead singer and principal songwriter Rivers Cuomo, Weezer is still making relevant music today. Here's our list of Weezer's 20 best songs.

Ranking the best roles of Arnold Schwarzenegger's film career

We can argue for days about who is the greatest action film star of all time. Certainly, Arnold Schwarzenegger is near the top of the list. Here's a look at our favorite Schwarzenegger roles.

The best Kate Winslet roles of all time

Since establishing herself in the early 1990s as a promising young actress, Kate Winslet has never stopped. Here are our rankings of her 20 best performances.

The best solo albums from singers of legendary bands

Being part of a successful band is one thing. Doing the same as a solo artist is quite the double play. Here's our list of the 25 notable solo records from singers of the biggest bands in the world.

The best made-for-TV sports movies

Some of the best sports movies of all time weren't released on the big screen. The made-for-television concept was wildly popular in the 1970s, '80s, and even into the '90s. Here's our ranking of the top 20.

The best recurring characters from 'Friends'

We know Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey, and Ross made Friends into a massively popular sitcom for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. Here's a look at some of the best recurring characters from Friends.

The best Seth Rogen characters

While his stock continues to rise as a writer, producer and director, Rogen remains one of Hollywood's most notable actors. Here's why.

The best Jack Nicholson roles of all time

The versatility that Jack Nicholson has shown during his legendary acting career has been one of the highlights of his entertainment legacy. In celebration of the three-time Oscar winner, whose last movie came out in 2010, here's our list of Nicholson's 25 best film roles.

Robert Duvall's most memorable cinematic roles

Since the early 1960s, Robert Duvall has been one of Hollywood's most versatile and depending actors. And like any legend, he seems to get better with age. Here's our rankings of his 25 best roles. 

The best Leonardo DiCaprio roles of all time

Leonardo DiCaprio just seems to be getting better with age. Here are our 20 favorite roles from DiCaprio's filmography.