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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 men's college players from the state of Indiana

Here's our look at some of the state's best homegrown (whether born, raised, or both) college players through the years.

Which players will be X-factors in the 2021 NCAA men's tournament?

Some are household names to college fans, while others might be just under-the-radar. Regardless, their value to each team is immeasurable in some cases.

The 20 greatest covers of Rolling Stones songs

Covering a Rolling Stones song is never an easy challenge. Some rock, while others fall short. We're here to celebrate the former. Here are 20 of the better covers of Stones' songs throughout the years in chronological order.

The ultimate Rush playlist

Rush established itself as arguably the best progressive rock band of all time for four decades. Its fan base is loyal, and there aren't many rock fans who will say a bad word about the band. Here is our essential Rush playlist.

20 great covers of the works of Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's catalog is so extensive that it's almost intimidating to sift through. Trying to cover any of Dylan's songs is even more daunting. Here are some of the best covers of Bob Dylan's tracks.

The greatest cover versions of Beatles songs

Trying to cover a Beatles song and do it justice is not easy, regardless of who attempts it. Still, there have been some memorable covers of classic Beatles tunes. In chronological order, here are some of our favorites.

The 25 best movie cameos by musicians

Sure, a lot of successful musicians want to try their hand at acting. Some have even succeeded quite well (Madonna, Jack Black). Others, maybe not so much.

25 popular songs with memorable acoustic versions

Sometimes bands or solo artists like to change things up. That often means toning down an amped-up track with an acoustic take. Here, we feature some popular artists who turned some of their biggest hits into memorable acoustic efforts.

2021 Olympic storylines to keep an eye on

As we wait to see what actually will happen, there's never a wrong time to look ahead at some of the talking points, drama, and storylines surrounding what should be one of the most Olympics ever -- no matter when they're held.

The best musical acts from the Chicago area

The Windy City is not just known for deep-dish pizza and hot dogs without mustard. Chicago is responsible for some of music's most legendary acts. Here are 25 of the best.

Which defunct sports teams had the best uniforms?

Sports fans tend to live for nostalgia. Bringing up the past and telling stories of their favorite players and teams. Regarding uniforms and jerseys, the conversation can go on for days.

The best fictional sporting events

We all have memories of some of the greatest sporting events of all time. In real life. But, there are plenty of memorable moments in the fictional world of sports, especially when it comes to the movies and on television.

PGA and LPGA golfers to watch in 2021

Yes, it would be great to see full galleries at some point attend each tour event in 2021. In the meantime, those watching from home have plenty of talent on both tours to keep an eye on this season.

10 men's and 10 women's player of the year candidates

Whether talking about The Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith, Wooden, or any other such awards, it's not too early to showcase those in the hunt to be called the best in American -- men or women.

25 players to watch in the NCAA tournament

It's not just the stars who come out to shine during the NCAA Tournament. Often, it's the role players, those X-factor guys, and veterans who lead the way or rise to the occasion when the games matter most.

20 way-too-early 2021 college football storylines to keep an eye on

The 2020 college football season, as crazy as it was, has concluded. A victory for all associated. While we don't know what the landscape of the 2021 season will look like, we're already focused on looking forward.

The way-too-early top 25 for the 2021 college football season

This unprecedented, discombobulated 2020 college football season just ended with Alabama rolling to another national championship. So, we decided to look ahead to the 2021 campaign, when we hope there is a little more normalcy to the game.

The 25 greatest biographical songs

Many legendary performers have written about real-life happenings; sometimes, those songs defined their careers. Here are 25 of the better ones.

The best possible fictional hockey team

Hollywood has given us many memorable fictional sports moments, especially when it comes to hockey. If we were to put a team together of fictional hockey players from film and television, here's what it would look like.

The 25 tours we're most looking forward to in 2021

Plenty of big-name tours were postponed or canceled in 2020 but rescheduled for 2021. If and when we're good to go, here are some worth taking in.

Sports storylines to keep an eye on in 2021

There are plenty of reasons to look forward to 2021. None bigger than the hope of returning to a somewhat normal life. On a smaller scale, sports are hoping to show some semblance of normalcy in 2021.

20 TV shows we can't wait to watch in 2021

Here's a look at 20 shows (listed in order of scheduled or projected premiere dates) worth watching in 2021.

The 25 best album openers

One of the more memorable moments from the 2002 John Cusack hit film High  Fidelity , was record-shop owner Rob Gordon's "Top 5 Side 1s, Track 1s" scene .

The best sports moments of 2020

There has never been a sports season quite like this in generations. A global health crisis will do that. Still, there were plenty of memorable and special sports moments in 2020.