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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

Growing up: The best movies about coming of age

Some of the most endearing films of all time can be labeled as "coming of age," a story of growing up or young people dealing with some potentially life-changing events. In chronological order, here are 25 of the best.

The best and worst fictional teachers

Television and movie fans have been introduced to some beloved teachers we wish we could have had in class and others who we would have wanted to avoid. Here are 20 of the best and worst fictional teachers.

The best nicknames in NFL history

The NFL season is about to start (whatever that may look like). That means we'll get reacquainted with some of the games best players - and nicknames (Gronk, Matty Ice).

Who are the 25 best fictional football players?

The game of football is a near-perfect, time-tested vehicle for Hollywood dramatization, regularly producing memorable characters and helping to launch the careers of many stars. Here are 25 of our favorite fictional football players of all time.

The 25 most significant political songs

The political climate in the United States is quite contentious at the moment. On the positive side, perhaps some memorable music will come out of this moment when things calm down.

Fight the power: The 25 most political bands

Politics and music go hand in hand. There have been, and continue to be, several prominent groups that have consistently made a good living delivering their respective ideologies to the masses. Here are 25 more notable bands with no problem unleashing their political voices.

The 25 most memorable fictional political villains

Whatever one's political preference, television and film fans can agree there are plenty of rotten and dangerous fictional leaders. Some are ruthless; others are seriously inept.

Non-debut albums that earned artists massive mainstream success

Even some of the biggest bands in the world have had to wait for their moment of greatness — or at least massive mainstream success. Here are 25 of the best non-debut breakthrough albums.

The 25 most memorable TV cops of all time

Whether officers, detectives, sergeants, or captains, the fictional list is long and distinguished for the most part. Or entertaining, at the very least. Here are 25 who stand out, listed alphabetically.

Politics as usual: The 25 best political biopic movies

It will be interesting to see how Hollywood depicts our current political leaders, especially within the United States, as time passes. Let's take a look back at some political film biographies that have worked well over the years.

The 20 best election movies

It doesn't have to be a presidential election year to care about elections or feel the urge to watch a movie about an election. We've got you covered. Here are 20 of the best election movies.

No lie: The best fictional golfers

When golf fans aren't in the mood to watch a real-life tournament, they can check out golf movies, short films, or associated programs. With that comes some of the most memorable fictional golf characters we've had the pleasure of indirectly enjoying a round or so with.

We salute you: 25 totally undeniable rock 'n' roll anthems

Plenty of rock songs are worthy of raising your fist and punching the air. Some have an anthemic sound, complete with power and passion. Here's a look at 25 of such songs that have graced our lives over the decades.

25 college football games to watch in 2020

We know there are plenty of intriguing games already on the college football docket—at the moment. Here are some to keep in mind—should they be played.

The 25 most memorable fictional TV towns

While watching a favorite television show, we thought about what it would be like to live in the fictional towns in which they were set. Here are some of the most notable fictional communities in TV history.

25 college quarterbacks to watch in 2020

There apparently will be a college football season of some sort - at least for now - in 2020. Thus, plenty of eyes will be on the stars of the game, especially at the quarterback position.

Parental advisory: The 25 most controversial songs of all time

The badder the better. Right? There are plenty of musicians and bands who thrive on pushing the envelope and draw attention themselves for being a little naughty.

Ranking TV's all-time best friends

A good friendship is vital. On television, friendship also helps make good characters great and helps the show resonate deeper with audiences. Thanks to syndication and streaming services, there are plenty of best friends to quench our viewing thirst. Here's our ranking of the 25 best TV friends of all time.

Our 25 favorite television couples

Whether married, dating, or just hooking up, television has given viewers some memorable couples through the years. Some were complete opposites that worked well, while others were just meant to be together.

25 actors who are also successful musicians

Some of our most beloved entertainers are quite versatile. After all, it always seems actors want to be musicians or vice versa. Some have actually managed to do both - most notable superstars like Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga, though they were musicians/singers who became successful actors.

The biggest summer movie busts of all time

Aside from 2020, summer is usually a season for movie blockbusters. However, not all are great — or even good for that matter. Even worse is when said movies fail to make a profit or just break even.

The best beach movies of all time

It's summer. And while going to the beach in this current climate might not be possible, there are plenty of movie options to fill that void. Whether drama, comedy or action, beach/ocean/lake movies are summer staples.

Lost in translation: 25 times when TV shows became terrible films

The idea of taking the premise and characters from a popular television show and turning it all into a movie with different actors in familiar roles has been a Hollywood staple. That doesn't mean it's always a good idea. Here are 25 of the worst examples.