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

These classic television shows deserve the reboot treatment

Reboots and remakes of popular television shows seem like a dime a dozen these days. Some are worthy; others, we wish never happened. Here are some TV shows we'd like to see return to prominence in some form or another.

The most memorable characters from Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse

Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse has brought us beloved films such as Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. Those movies are memorable because of the characters. Here are 20 of the most entertaining.

The definitive Ramones playlist

The Ramones are one of the great punk and rock and roll bands. The number of bands the band influenced is countless. The classic lineup of Joey, Johnny, Tommy, and Dee Dee Ramone is collectively iconography. Here are the 20 best Ramones songs.

The most memorable fictional college sports programs

College football season is special. The pageantry, excitement, and passion make for plenty of drama and memories. In the world of television and film, fictional football collegiate football programs have also become notable in pop culture. Here are some of our favorites.

The definitive Green Day playlist

For the better part of 30 years, Green Day has carried the flag for the pop-punk movement. Here's our definitive list of the 25 best Green Day songs.

The definitive Journey playlist

Though the lineup has changed, Journey is still going strong. Since the mid-1970s, the band has been a staple on the arena and mainstream rock scene. Journey's songs have aged exceptionally well. Here is our ranking of their 20 best songs.

All class: The best back-to-school movies of all time

It's back-to-school time. So, why not look at some of the most memorable movies about the beginning of the school year? There are plenty of classic films on this list, which are in chronological order.

The best defensive players in college football for the 2021 season

Here's a look at 25 of the top defensive players heading into the 2021 college football season. Listed in alphabetical order.

Predicting the 2021 college football award winners

While we might have a good idea of who will stand out among the best of the best in college football this season, it's never easy predicting who will call themselves an award winner by the end of the year.

25 college football under-the-radar names to remember in 2021

We have a pretty good idea who college football's current stars are entering the 2021 season. But there are those who might not necessarily have brand-name recognition just yet but can play at a high level, nonetheless.

The most memorable TV 'rascals' of all time

"Rascals," otherwise known as troublemakers or weasels and annoying beyond fault, have been staples on television for decades. Viewers love to hate them. Most, however, are extremely entertaining. Here are the most notable of these such characters.

Fictional homes that we'd like to live in

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in one of those memorable homes or apartments seen on television or in a film? Whether a spacious mansion or a matchbox apartment, fictional residences play a big part in some of the most beloved TV shows and movies through the decades.

Our favorite Owen Wilson roles

Owen Wilson has become one of the biggest film stars over the last 25 years. Whether taking his shot at a comedy or drama, Wilson usually delivers. Here is our ranking of Wilson's 20 best acting roles.

The definitive Oasis playlist

The brothers Gallagher (Noel and Liam) have made quite the spectacle of themselves over the years. They've also created some memorable music with Oasis that's spanned the globe and resonates to this day. Here are the band's 20 best songs.

The most memorable television character rivalries

There are great television characters. Then, there are great TV character rivalries. Here are 20 of the best TV character rivalries.

The definitive Smashing Pumpkins playlist

Regardless of what one thinks about Billy Corgan, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman and leader is responsible for some of the greatest alternative rock music of all time. In celebration of his Pumpkins, here are the top 20 songs that have helped define the band's musical legacy.

The best fake films from "Seinfeld"

There are many reasons why Seinfeld is considered one of the great sitcoms of all time. That includes intricacies such as fictional films referenced during the series run. Here is our ranking of the top 20 made-up movies in Seinfeld's history.

The 25 best amateur golfers of all time

Some of the greatest golfers of all time enjoyed a majority of their success while sporting amateur status. For some of the greats, there was never a need or inclination to become a professional golfer.

The 25 most memorable moments from the Tokyo Summer Olympics

Played amid the lingering coronavirus pandemic, sweltering heat, and severe storms, at times, the Games went on and would be deemed a success -- for the most part.

10 college football teams on the rise and 10 on the decline in 2021

Here's a look at 10 teams that could see improvement in 2021 and 10 who might falter -- in some cases further -- this season.

2021 college football conference champion predictions

The 2021 college football season is near and even before the first pass is thrown, we should have a good idea of who will stand out above the rest -- or at least win a conference championship.

The definitive Eagles playlist

The band's memorable catalog remains a staple of classic rock. Here are our 25 notable songs from the Hall of Fame band.

The definitive The Who playlist

The term classic rock is all-encompassing and is a simple way to describe The Who. Here is our ranking of 25 classic songs by The Who.